On October 9, 2025, Venture Philanthropy Blueprint (VPB) unveiled a partnership with Entrepreneurs Across Borders (EAB) to launch the Diaspora Network in New York City—bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders to explore how capital, capacity, and community can converge to create lasting change.

The Diaspora Network is part of VPB's Global Impact Hub—a growing community created to accelerate impact-driven ventures and connect changemakers.

Key Themes from the Kick-Off

1. The Vision of Venture Philanthropy Blueprint

Alain Leroy, Founder of VPB, shared his journey as the child of Caribbean immigrants turned entrepreneur, investor, and educator. He described VPB as more than a framework—it is a platform and movement of Builders, Backers, and Believers committed to helping social enterprises grow sustainably.

Unlike traditional venture capital that prioritizes unicorn exits, VPB focuses on impact ventures—enterprises that blend profitability with purpose, powered by capital, capacity, and community.

2. The Challenge of Capital Structures in the Caribbean

Chris Cochran, Executive Director of EAB, outlined the systemic barriers to establishing investment funds in Jamaica, citing outdated legal frameworks and tax policies that penalize both investors and funds. Despite these constraints, attendees agreed on the urgency of finding innovative pathways to unlock diaspora-driven investment in Caribbean ventures.

3. Entrepreneurs’ Stories of Innovation and Resilience

The event spotlighted four inspiring entrepreneurial voices:

• Adam Cummings – Serial entrepreneur and former national track athlete building Appirion Digital Pro and Dwella, transforming property management through technology. Read more

• Melissa Powell – Founder of Pocmi, an HR tech and labor migration platform, and Chief Strategy Officer of Quill, Nigeria’s first video commerce platform. Read more

• Lynda Simon-Taylor – Founder of Lighthouse Mental Health Counseling and Co-Founder of Mentara Health, tackling gaps in professional development and continuing education for therapists. Read more

• Dr. Paul H. Dorestant – Co-Founder of BK9 Restaurant & Bar and higher education leader using entrepreneurship as a tool for cultural expression and community advancement. Read more

Their stories revealed both the untapped potential of the diaspora and the systemic barriers—from administrative red tape in Jamaica to scaling challenges in New York—that limit entrepreneurial growth.

4. The Power of Diaspora Support

At its core, VPB provides a structural framework for building and scaling impact ventures through three pillars:

• Capital: Flexible funding to provide the runway needed to validate ideas.

• Capacity: Access to growth operators—professionals who can build marketing, technology, and operational systems.

• Community: Mentorship and peer networks that connect founders with seasoned guides who’ve scaled similar ventures.

As one participant shared:

“Imagine the younger version of yourself, full of ideas but without resources—how would you support them today?”

5. A Call to Action for Builders, Backers, and Believers

Whether as mentors, investors, service providers, or advocates, members of the diaspora have the opportunity to collectively fuel innovation across borders.

👉 Want to be part of this movement?
Share how you’d like to contribute—by mentoring, investing, or providing services—through our brief Survey.

Beyond the Kick-Off

The Diaspora Network will continue to grow with in-person convenings in New York, Miami, and beyond, complemented by virtual gatherings that keep the global community engaged.

EAB’s EAB Connect platform already hosts hundreds of entrepreneurs in Jamaica, with plans to expand further. Learn more about EAB

Through VPB’s Growth Operator Fellowship, founders in the United States and abroad gain access to the technical systems, professional networks, and strategic capacity needed to position their ventures for investment and scale.

The fellowship program pairs founders with growth operators who help implement marketing, automation, and data systems—turning infrastructure gaps into measurable growth and impact. Learn more about VPB

Why It Matters

The kick-off made one thing clear: the Caribbean diaspora is a sleeping giant of innovation and impact. By channeling its wealth, knowledge, and influence into structured pathways like VPB and EAB, we can build ventures that uplift communities, create jobs, and generate intergenerational wealth—on both sides of the ocean.

Next Step

Be part of the movement.
Take 30 seconds to complete the Survey and tell us how you’d like to help build a stronger, more connected ecosystem of Builders, Backers, and Believers.