Ignite will commence the 6th cohort of the core accelerator programme October 4 with boot camp for 34 new members.

The “Fuel Your Ambition Series” starts online October 19 for over 40 new members.

Ignite Bermuda is the trade name of Bermuda Accelerator Limited, a not-for-profit company with a mission to build a community of entrepreneurs and community leaders that make an impact locally and globally.

A formalised curriculum is offered to improve skills and mindsets and provide a network of mentors and investors.

More than 100 local entrepreneurs, community leaders, and mentors recently met at the Grotto Bay Hotel to “reconnect, reimagine, and help with the economic and social recovery of Bermuda”.

The event included a trade show of local businesses showcasing new products, services, banking and technology.

The audience heard from a panel of leading entrepreneurs, including Marico Thomas, Rebecca Singleton, Holger Eiselt, Laura Purroy and Lorene Philips.

The panellists shared their experiences of success and failure, as well as personal insights on managing teams and their mindsets.

Sean Reel, the executive director, said: “This event was critical to reconnect and support the community and would not have been possible without support from key event sponsor KPMG and technical sponsor PSI Limited, who provided state-of-the-art equipment for this event.

“We cannot go without thanking our broader base of sponsors and volunteers who are with us every step of this Ignite journey.”

During the event Laura Purroy recommended that fellow entrepreneurs surround themselves with people who share their values.

She told them: “As a leader, you are the embodiment of that company. This means: my sense of integrity, honesty, and compassion are the values of my company.”

Rebecca Singleton spoke of resilience noting that it was the team and collective values that helped her company survive the pandemic.

Marico Thomas told the group that he had 150 staff and was actively recruiting another 151. Many of the challenges he shared also related to resilience and being comfortable with the fact that not every initiative will work.

The event also included guest speakers Dr Kristy Potter from Solstice, Nina London, and an impromptu address from Ignite alumna, Tiffany Paynter.

The event was led by Laura Lyons and the Ignite Bermuda team, keen to reconnect with the five cohorts that have now been through Ignite’s core accelerator programme.

The Ignite community now includes 420 members covering a wide range of start-up and scale-up businesses as well as many community leaders.

www.ignitebermuda.com