The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation has committed nearly $10,000 to support this month’s Lumina Festival Financial Literacy Summit, including subsidised tickets for entrepreneurs and students.

BEDC, a returning sponsor of the event, said its support would fund one of the summit’s workshops, tickets for entrepreneurs and students, and plans to make general admission tickets more accessible.

A limited number of the tickets will be available to BEDC members for $150 through a discount code available from the corporation.

“General admission plus” ticket holders will be able to attend both the summit and a cocktail reception, giving entrepreneurs another opportunity to meet other business owners.

Donte Hunt, BEDC’s micro, small and mid-sized enterprises director, said: “Returning to support Lumina for a second year reflects our continued commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen the knowledge, confidence, and financial capability of Bermuda’s entrepreneurs.

“Financial literacy is fundamental to building and sustaining a successful business.”

He added that while entrepreneurs may have strong ideas, products and services, they also needed to understand the financial side of their businesses for long-term success.

Mr Hunt said that the cost of professional development opportunities could be a barrier for some small business owners.

“Through our sponsorship, we want to help remove that barrier and enable more of our clients to participate, learn and take that knowledge to build stronger, more sustainable businesses,” he said.

The Financial Literacy Summit will be held at the National Museum of Bermuda in Dockyard on September 25, from 9am to 5pm.

It will include panel discussions, workshops and interviews with financial experts and entrepreneurs. International keynote speaker Armando Pantoja and local keynote speaker Craig Bridgewater are due to take part.

BEDC also supported Lumina’s inaugural Financial Literacy Summit last year, which drew more than 500 attendees, including high school and college students and clients of the Department of Financial Assistance. The 2026 event will feature discussions on entrepreneurship, digital finance and generational planning.

Tickets start at $149 and are available through luminafest.com and ptix.bm.