From Ideas to Impact: FinTech Partnership Opens Doors for Young Entrepreneurs

25^th August 2026

Nassau, THE BAHAMAS – A partnership between University of The Bahamas’ UB Ignite Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and OKX Bahamas Fintech Company Limited is giving young Bahamians with promising FinTech business ideas the knowledge, mentorship, and connections to help turn those ideas into viable, sustainable enterprises.

The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, brings together entrepreneurship and digital innovation for a stronger pathway for entrepreneurs.

One of the steps towards that outcome is a pitch competition, called The Bullpen, being organized to give those on the enterprise journey a platform to present their ideas and practical exposure to the people, knowledge and networks that can help make those ideas real.

“The Bullpen is about creating a platform where Bahamian students and emerging entrepreneurs can move from having an idea to demonstrating its potential. At OKX, we believe that innovation is most powerful when it is connected to real opportunity,” said Business Strategy and Operations Director Deno Cartwright. “Through our partnership with University of The Bahamas, we want to help give young Bahamians the exposure, networks and practical experience they need to turn their ideas into businesses that can contribute meaningfully to our economy.”

Selected from a shortlist of from 114 applicants and cohort of 27 incubator participants, five finalists will pitch their ventures before a panel of six judges on Thursday 27th August. Their pitches will be judged on innovation, market potential, feasibility, financial viability, Bahamian impact, clarity, overall product, or service and response to questions and feedback. The event will be held at UB’s Performing Arts Centre and is open to the public.

Through their partnership, UB and OKX are working together more broadly on FinTech-focused training programmes, workshops, short courses and masterclasses covering areas like financial technology, blockchain, digital assets, cybersecurity, compliance and risk management.

For Keturah Babb-Higgs, Executive Director (interim), UB Ignite, the initiative is part of a broader effort to rethink how young Bahamians prepare for economic opportunity.

“The Bullpen FinTech Venture Pitch Competition is a powerful platform that brings together entrepreneurship, innovation and opportunity. Through UB Ignite, we are committed to equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge, resources, mentorship and networks they need to transform their ideas into viable businesses,” Babb-Higgs said.

She added the goal is not simply to prepare young people for traditional careers, but to help them become owners and creators of businesses and capital.

“Continued partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential to strengthening our entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem and we appreciate OKX Bahamas for recognizing the vision and investing in the future of Bahamian FinTechs,” she said.

Under the agreement, OKX is providing technical expertise, industry insight and guidance in developing fintech and entrepreneurship courses and targeted boot camps. It is also helping to engage more ecosystem partners. UB Ignite, meanwhile, is coordinating programmes, recruiting participants and facilitating access to entrepreneurs, startups, students and other partners.

UB President Dr. Robert Blaine, III, views the larger impact as both economic and entrepreneurial.

“We are excited to see UB Ignite’s partnership with OKX in the FinTech venture capital space. University of The Bahamas serves the changing needs of Bahamians, adapting to the spectrum of ways in which education can be delivered and impactful,” said Dr. Blaine. “UB Ignite is our innovation arm, expanding our outreach to the country’s current and future entrepreneurs. We want to ensure Bahamians have as many avenues as possible to be owners of capital, in addition to preparing them for traditional career and professional pathways.”

As The Bahamas develops a more digitally driven economy, the aim is to create a strong foundation to move beyond a good idea to accessing to the right people, knowledge and opportunities to thrive.