UCC Business Model Competition Crowns Calvero MC Top Winner Among Five AI-Driven Ventures
Members of the winning team Calvero MC celebrate their first-place finish in the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean’s (UCC) annual Business Model Competition, held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the UCC main campus. Hosted by the UCC Business Development & Consulting Institute (BDCI) and sponsored by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), the competition highlighted artificial intelligence, innovation and entrepreneurship. Sharing in the moment is, from left, Giovanni Maddix, Project Officer at DBJ, Roshane Campbell, Paul Brown, Brithny Hamilton, Tajae McDurmoth, and Adonio Palmer.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA - Wednesday, April 15, 2026: The University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) Business Development and Consulting Institute (BDCI) hosted its annual Business Model Competition on Friday, April 10, 2026, at its Worthington Avenue campus. The event featured a panel discussion and business pitch competition focused on the future of entrepreneurship through the integration of artificial intelligence.
Structured to provide university students with a platform for entrepreneurship, the competition showcased five teams, each presenting business solutions for a share of cash prizes exceeding JMD $1 million.
This competition fully supports one of UCC’s main goals, which is to build a culture of teaching excellence and innovation, as well as higher learning achievement and sustained research outcomes which are relevant and impactful. The economic landscape is constantly being reshaped by the ever-changing drivers of growth and competitiveness. It is no longer possible to rely solely on efficiency and cost cutting for economic success; research, innovation, flexibility and adaptation to change have become key ingredients.
UCC students are encouraged to embrace opportunities and leverage innovations that can accelerate growth and development.
Emerging as the 2026 winner was ‘Calvero MC’, a fashion and merchandise company that offers customers a unique virtual experience. The student entrepreneurs demonstrated how artificial intelligence can enhance business operations and create a competitive advantage in increasingly saturated markets.
Targeting youth, creators, and the diaspora, Calvero MC is designed to meet the growing demand for meaningful and expressive fashion. By combining customization, storytelling, and digital innovation, the brand moves beyond traditional apparel to deliver an immersive experience that encourages customers to wear their identity.
Reflecting on the team’s triumph, third-year Information Technology student Tajae McDurmoth of Calvero MC stated, “There were many late nights, moments of stress, and even times when we felt overwhelmed while developing the app and ensuring our presentation came together seamlessly. However, those challenges shaped us and pushed us to deliver our best.”
Second-place winner, Business Administration student Nyone Pearson, pitched ‘Ego’, a social media software solution designed to augment algorithms across multiple platforms. The software recommends trends and auto-generates posts to improve efficiency and user optimization. The concept also earned the title of ‘Most Innovative’ business idea, along with the opportunity for further investment in the solution.
Third-place team ‘Caridra’ developed a digital platform that enables customers to buy and sell products and services, while also offering consulting, app development, and pop-up event solutions tailored for entrepreneurs. Group lead, Kyle Grant, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the pitch competition and noted that the experience strengthened the team’s confidence in the viability and growth potential of the venture.
Representing the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Technical Officer Giovanni Maddix commended the competitors for their efforts in developing viable ventures. He noted, “At DBJ, we believe in innovative entrepreneurship, and it is within university spaces that many sustainable businesses are conceptualized.”
As a next step, the winners will be enrolled in programmes through the UCC BDCI to support the expansion and scaling of their ventures.
The Business Model Competition continues to nurture the vision and ambition of future leaders by guiding business ideas from conceptualisation to profitability. As a champion of innovation, UCC remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that prepare students for real-world impact.
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