A Saint Lucian couple will receive US$50,000 in funding after participating in Dubai’s 2023 Expo Innovation Competition.
Karlis Noel and Laura Jn. Pierre-Noel (both hailing from Laborie) will receive the aforementioned sum for their business as well as an all-expense paid trip to COP-28, the UN’s Climate Change Conference, which will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
INVICTUS, (the couple’s company), is a sea, air and land based environmental and climate change data collection company offering unique solutions and a variety of services using advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.
“We’re an organization driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and a strong foundation of support. We make sure our partners are empowered by creating opportunities for individuals and communities,” the couple noted on their website.
And now, because of their participation in the competition which supports novel solutions that addresses “pressing environmental/ climate challenges with the promise of a brighter future for our planet”, and more importantly their ingenuity, the two will be rewarded.
Out of 11,000 applicants (with over 40 countries participating), The Noels were selected, placing 15th overall out of 36 winners; selected start-ups will each receive a USD 50,000 grant, ‘Opportunity Desk’ noted.
In addition to providing grants, the expo will leverage the upcoming conference to showcase global Innovators, connecting them to an international network of global leaders, businesses, and visitors.
It also has four objectives:
1. To make Expo City Dubai a hub for global innovation that both inspires and acts as a catalyst for creative and scalable solutions.
2. To establish a network for collaboration between nations, organizations and innovators around shared global challenges.
3. To foster a community of agents of change by first sensitizing individuals to climate challenges and then engaging with them to collectively create impact solutions.
4. To create tangible impact that improves the lives of people around the world and the status of our planet, by supporting the development and application of new solutions.
“The Innovation Impact Grant Programme focuses on start-ups, SMEs and social enterprises,” ‘Expo Dubai’ noted.
Funding levels depend on the stage of maturity of a project, its intended duration, and the extent of its impacts in the subtheme areas as well as at community level; the grant programme will fund projects that are beyond the ideation stage.
“The intent is to build a portfolio of projects that range from prototype stage (testing and validating a working model), implementation (in-market and continuous product or service improvement), to scale up (expanding the product or service to a larger scale),” ‘Expo Live’ noted.
The couple said that ‘INVICTUS’ “is setting industry standards, positioning us as category leaders island wide. Setting the bar with our unwavering commitment to quality, and performance, we go above and beyond to ensure needs are not just met, but exceeded.”
“We are driven by a single goal; to do our part in making the world a better place for all. Our decision-making process is informed by comprehensive empirical studies and high-quality data evaluation. We strive to build productive relationships and make a positive impact in all our pursuits,” the duo added.
According to them, “dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. Our team members are technology veterans, committed to providing smart solutions for any size of project. No matter how unique or challenging your request is, you can count on us to find the right solution for you.”