The Diaspora

Network Kick-Off

April 9, 2026 • 6:00 PM • Miami • Invite-Only

(Virtual Option Available)

An invitation-only launch uniting Caribbean diaspora and impact leaders for dialogue, connection, and action.

Share With Your Network

Download the official flyer to invite aligned founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.

Alain Leroy

Founder & Managing Director, Venture Philanthropy Blueprint™ (VPB)

Martin Babinec

Founder & Managing Partner, UpVentures Capital

Jodi Brockington

Co-Founder & Chief Partnerships Officer, Venture Philanthropy Blueprint™ (VPB)

Chris Cochran

Executive Director, Entrepreneurs Across Borders (EAB)

About The Event

Who This Is For

  • Founders building or exiting with Caribbean ties
  • Investors deploying capital into diaspora ventures
  • Operators scaling impact-driven companies
  • Ecosystem leaders, hubs, and policy advocates
  • Caribbean allies shifting capital and capacity into impact ventures
Next →

What You Gain

  • Direct access to decision-makers across capital, ventures, and ecosystems
  • Visibility into emerging opportunities across diaspora markets
  • High-trust relationships that extend beyond the event
  • Entry into coordinated initiatives within the Diaspora Network
← Previous

How To Attend

This is a private event. To maintain alignment and intimacy, all registrations will be reviewed. Approved attendees will receive RSVP confirmation by email.

Event Format Highlights

  • Curated networking
    Intentional connections across founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders — not random mingling.

  • Open collaboration time
    Space for follow-up conversations, deal flow discussions, and partnership exploration.

  • Short, focused talks
    Insights from speakers and co-hosts designed to frame key themes without dominating the room.

  • Post-event follow-through
    A summary of key themes, opportunities, and pathways into the Diaspora Network.

In Partnership With

What Previous Attendees Are Saying

“It’s rare to be in a room where everyone cares deeply about the Caribbean and also understands venture scale. These convenings manage to do both.”

Partner with Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLP

“The caliber of people in the room—and the intentional facilitation—made it easy to move from warm conversation into concrete next steps for our ecosystem work.”

Spearheading Social Justice Initiatives in Funding

“I left with three concrete collaborations and a clearer sense of how diaspora capital can be organized to actually move the needle for Caribbean founders.”

Level Up Ventures

Community Partners

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Interested in co-hosting or bringing your organization in as a community partner? Become a Community Partner

Apply To Attend

Note: If you don’t see the “Verify Your Email Address” message from VPB, check spam folder.

We review requests on a rolling basis and typically respond within 5–7 business days. Space is limited.

Inside Previous VPB Gatherings

Diaspora Network | New York City

October 9, 2025

Power Brunch | Kingston, Jamaica

May 4, 2025

Power Brunch | New York City

April 17, 2025

Questions About Diaspora Network Events

Is this event free to attend?

There is no general ticketing for this event. If there is a participation fee or contribution for a specific edition, this will be clearly shared with confirmed invitees along with sponsorship and scholarship options as relevant.

Do I need to be of Caribbean heritage to attend?

No. While many attendees are from the Caribbean or its global diaspora, we also welcome aligned allies, investors, operators and ecosystem leaders who are actively building with and investing in the region.

What criteria do you use to select attendees?

We prioritize founders, operators, investors, ecosystem leaders and partners who are: (1) actively building or backing impactful ventures across the Caribbean/diaspora, (2) able to make or influence meaningful decisions, and (3) ready to collaborate with others in the room.

Will the sessions be recorded?

Core conversations are off the record to create space for candid, high-trust dialogue.

Select moments may be captured for highlights or future storytelling, but there will be no public livestream of the gathering.

Only registered virtual attendees will be able to tune in during the live program.

How does this connect to the broader Diaspora Network?

This event is one activation within a broader VPB + EAB effort to connect capital, talent and infrastructure across the Caribbean and its diaspora. Attendees will be invited into follow-on touchpoints, working groups and opportunities as they take shape.

Diaspora Network - New York City: October 9, 2025

VPB Power Brunch - Kingston, Jamaica: May 4, 2025

VPB Power Brunch - New York City: April 17, 2025

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Diaspora Network

A growing ecosystem connecting capital, capacity, and community across the Caribbean and its global diaspora. The Diaspora Network is developed in collaboration with Entrepreneurs Across Borders (EAB), a global organization advancing cross-border entrepreneurship and ecosystem development.

Next steps

© 2026 Venture Philanthropy Blueprint™ (VPB). All rights reserved.