The UVI Research and Technology Park, in partnership with Southern Equity and the University of the Virgin Islands, is set to host Startup Battle USVI 2026 on Thursday at the Eldridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center on UVI’s Orville Kean Campus. The event runs from 6 -9 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
The centerpiece of the evening is a live pitch competition featuring six finalists, four early-stage startups and two student-led ventures, who will present their business concepts before a panel of judges and a live audience. A total of $100,000 in investment capital will be awarded, with $80,000 designated for early-stage startups and $20,000 for UVI student-led ventures.
The competition has previously helped launch Virgin Islands businesses with significant impact. In October 2022, St. Croix-born brothers Khalid and Zayd Salem won the $100,000 top prize for their meal delivery service, Boomerang Eats. At the time, the brothers had been operating on St. Croix for just three months and used the investment to expand their service to St. Thomas and St. John, with plans for broader Caribbean growth. The event drew approximately 400 attendees to St. Thomas, including nearly 150 University of the Virgin Islands students.
The four early-stage finalists for 2026 are:
EstateShield VI: A technology-enabled platform providing holistic estate planning services for families in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Juju & Cece’s Lemonades and Treats: An agricultural enterprise that processes local crops into packaged foods and beverages using modern distribution technologies.
RePlastic Recycle: A climate technology company developing AI-driven infrastructure to support circular economies in island and coastal markets.
cpStacks: A financial technology firm building cloud and AI applications designed to broaden access to trading tools and address wealth gaps.
The two student track finalists are:
MAPPIT: A geospatial mapping and drone imagery company providing spatial data services in the territory.
CTF Consulting: An environmental consulting initiative focused on converting organic waste into fertilizer.
In addition to the pitch competition, the event will feature live musical performances by Virgin Islands artists PUMPA and Kruziano. Local vendors will be on-site, and attendees will have networking opportunities with founders, investors, and community leaders.
For more information, contact Sydney Paul, Director of Marketing at the UVI Research and Technology Park, at sydney.paul@uvirtpark.net.
