Three young Saint Lucian entrepreneurs have brought their global expertise home with the launch of the Orbtronics Innovation Hub in Rodney Bay on March 31.
Dylan Paul, 28, Keeghan Patrick, and Shergaun Roserie, both 26, – all alumni of St Mary’s College – are realising their vision to create what they call the “Silicon Forest of the Caribbean”.
“The goal is to create an ecosystem and an environment to allow innovators, entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts to come where they can work together, create and develop new ideas,” founder Dylan Paul, currently pursuing an MBA at Harvard Business School, told St Lucia Times.
The hub represents Orbtronics’ latest initiative, supported by a $500 000 government allocation in the 2024/25 budget.
Located in Rodney Bay Commercial Centre, the retrofitted space offers modern resources, including computers and 3D printers for hardware prototyping. Designed to foster collaboration, it will host networking events and eventually connect creators with potential investors.
“The last part of the approach is to bring in investors potentially, as well as companies, to come in, see what folks are building and see if they can utilise their technologies in their workspaces and offer long-term investment,” Paul added.
Founded four years ago, Orbtronics began by focusing on STEM education across the Caribbean before expanding into software development. Their six-person team has worked with organisations like the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank on digital literacy programs and rebuilt systems for government agencies including the Fisheries Department.
The founders’ academic credentials at US Ivy League schools mirror their professional ambitions: Patrick holds a Master of Engineering from MIT, while Roserie is completing his master’s in mechanical engineering at Stanford. Their exposure to Silicon Valley inspired the Silicon Forest concept – a Caribbean-centric approach to technology development.
“[We want to] build our own technology for ourselves and for our governments as opposed to outsourcing a bunch of stuff,” Paul said. “Oftentimes, the technology sent down to our islands is often the lowest tier. They don’t really cater to our specifications and our specific needs.”
Paul said the trio is committed to striving for excellence: “I always like to make sure folks back home know what is possible and what can be done no matter what.”
Looking ahead, the team envisions a network of innovation hubs across the Caribbean. “Fostering co-collaboration, co-creation, co-development of our entire region through technology is what we’re trying to achieve,” Paul said.
Congratulations for this phenomenal achievement. I am so very proud of and for each one of these global innovators! In a time when they could have easily served other countries with this technology, the fact that they returned home-PRICELESS!!!
I have a televised show called “Talk2Tongie” on BDS, and I would love to have them as Guests of the show. Would you please provide information on how to procure this interview?
Good vibes! Absolutely awesome. Thank you guys for flying the flag high in your arena. Thanks for redeeming St Lucia’s good name amidst the negativity associated with the crime, politics, bad roads and poor medical services. It is good reason to celebrate! St. Lucians continue to make us proud and remind us that this small nation has and continues to produce phenomenal sons and daughters.
Good job. Just stay humble and many doors will open up to you all.