Hi everyone,
Tim here from Innovarors Buzz/ReFi Paramaribo!
I wanted to take a moment to share my experience with Prezenti and how it has impacted our organization, Innovators Buzz. Applying for and receiving a grant from Prezenti has been a game-changer for us, and I’m excited to share our short but impactful journey within the Celo ecosystem.
Background
Before we received the grant from Prezenti Grants, we had just started Innovators Buzz as a non profit to foster innovation within Suriname and the Caribbean region. We had ambitious goals but lacked the resources necessary to reach those goals. As an operator of a ReFi Local Node, we saw alignment with the Celo ecosystem to build a community that is rooted in regeneration and innovative technology. Thankfully we were accepted into the grant program by Prezenti.
Experience with Prezenti
The application process with Prezenti was smooth and straightforward. The team, especially @Wade & @MayaRB, was incredibly helpful and responsive throughout the entire process, providing guidance and support whenever needed. Our application consisted of mainly three important goals that we aspired to reach.
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Grow our community
As the organization itself was fairly new, one of our main goals was to grow our community within the timeline of our grants. In order to achieve this we set up our website, social media channels and organized events to spread awareness. -
Education
There were two topics that we focussed on, and those were financial literacy and implementing Celo for small and medium enterprises. This was achieved through workshops and one on one sessions to further guide the process. -
Empowerment
It is important for us to not only share knowledge and resources but also to empower those individuals through monetary tools and assistance. For those reasons we created a mentorship and mini accelerator program. The programs were designed to cater to those in the ideation stage of their project.
Impact of the Grant
The impact of the grant funding has been far-reaching, connecting with individuals and organizations in our community. Through initiatives supported by Prezenti, we were able to provide valuable resources, education, and networking opportunities to aspiring innovators. The outcomes of these efforts have been tangible, with numerous success stories and positive feedback from beneficiaries.
For example our continuing partnership with UNASAT (local college) which resulted in a workshop for students and more planned for the year.
Here are some numbers to show the progress throughout the program.
- We had over 260 sign ups for 3 events with over 240 attendees.
- 2 founders received a grant for cUSD 1000 each through our mini Accelerator Program
- 18 entrepreneurs assisted through our Mentorship Program
Social Media by Numbers
Twitter: 373 Followers
Instagram: 57 Followers
Facebook: 34 Followers
LinkedIn: 63 Followers
Mailing List: 281 Subscribers
Celo Activations: 25 Consumers/Entrepreneurs & 2 Developers
Gratitude and Conclusion
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Prezenti for their unwavering support and partnership throughout this journey especially to Wade and Maya who have supported us every step along the way. Their belief in our vision and commitment to driving positive change have been invaluable. The collaborative spirit and shared dedication to making a difference have truly made this partnership a success.
As we conclude this chapter of our partnership with Prezenti, we are filled with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. The impact created through our collaboration will continue to reverberate within our community for years to come. We look forward to exploring future opportunities for partnership and collaboration, as we continue our mission of building a more regenerative and equitable future for Suriname with Celo in mind. 
Thank you all for taking the time to read about our experience with Prezenti. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please feel free to reach out. Together, we can really create positive change and make a difference in our communities.
Best wishes,
