Gavin Carter, the entrepreneur behind Gavin’s Butter, has won the $25,000 People's Choice Award in the Wave of Opportunity Pitch Competition.

The competition is a collaboration between the Global Atlantic Re foundation and the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

Mr Carter prevailed after a public voting period spanning two weeks.

He said: “We are overjoyed to receive this well-deserved recognition. This award serves as a testament to the hard work, passion, and dedication that the Gavin’s Butter team has put into creating such a remarkable product.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Global Atlantic Re and the BEDC for hosting such an incredible event that has provided a platform for us to showcase Gavin's Butter. It has been an honour to participate and be recognised among other extremely talented entrepreneurs.”

Darryl Herrick, the president of Global Atlantic Re, said: “We want to congratulate Gavin and we are excited to help his business continue to grow and to thrive on island.

“The significant voting participation for the People’s Choice Award is a tangible example of how the competition truly resonates with all Bermudians.

“At Global Atlantic, we are sincerely grateful to all the entrepreneurs that participated and everyone who cast their vote and we are already eagerly anticipating the next pitch event in 2025.”

The People’s Choice Award is part of a larger, multi-year collaboration between BEDC and the Global Atlantic Re foundation.

Together, they have pledged to inject up to $150,000 every other year into Bermuda's small business ecosystem through capital grants associated with the Wave of Opportunity Pitch Competition.

They said the pitch competition served as an impactful platform for entrepreneurs to present their ideas and vie for business support, not only financially but also through mentoring and building connections.

In the main competition, held on September 28, Tia Crockwell, of OnSight Optometry; Kisha Tyrrell, of Enzuri Beauty & Wellness; and Davida O'Brien, of Vida Fusions, won the top three prizes. Sabriuna Wilkinson of Nurture Laiche received the youth entrepreneur award.

Each winner was awarded a $25,000 grant to help elevate their business endeavours.

The BEDC and the Global Atlantic Re foundation said they were committed to nurturing Bermuda’s entrepreneurial spirit and encouraging all local entrepreneurs to engage with this transformative programme in the future.