Nine Bermudian entrepreneurs— some barely out of high school, others deep into second careers — stood under the lights and pitched ideas they believed could change lives, shift industries or simply fill a gap on Monday night.

By the end of the evening, every single one of them walked away from the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club with funding.

The third annual Wave of Opportunity Pitch Competition, held as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, drew a sold-out crowd of 212 and more than 900 livestream viewers.

The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation and Global Atlantic staged the event as a showcase of competition finalists and the island’s growing entrepreneurial energy.

“This competition highlights the incredible vision and determination of Bermuda’s entrepreneurs,” said Darryl Herrick, the president of Global Atlantic Re and co-head of reinsurance. “The creativity and drive on display reflects the best of Bermuda’s business community.”

Sixty applicants were narrowed to nine finalists — three in the youth category and six adults — offering solutions that touched everything from food security to digital wellness.

Youth winner Sydney West, the founder of Internship Insights Co, made her pitch with a blunt assessment of the island’s talent pipeline: “We make internships actually work for both sides. We train both sides. We fix the system locally.”

In the adult category, the judges selected three winners: Antonia Holder of DigiRoo, Tamika Pacheco of Off Grid RV Bermuda, and Greg Wilson of Food Forest.

Ms Holder warned of the long-term health risks children face as devices pull their gaze downward.

“If we don’t help integrate technology safely into our kids’ lives, we run the risk of future generations looking like this,” she said, pointing to an exaggerated meme featuring an emaciated, hunchbacked figure. Her patented DigiRoo case lifts tablets to eye level to encourage healthier posture.

Ms Pacheco offered a tourism solution aimed squarely at affordability and wellness. “Off Grid RV Bermuda delivers an affordable, sustainable, wellness-driven accommodation alternative,” she said. “We bridge the gap between high cost and the unmet global demand for nature-immersive wellness escapes.”

Mr Wilson focused on a fault line in Bermuda’s economy: imported food. “Today, Bermuda imports over 90 per cent of its food,” he said. “We call it Food Forest — a sustainable, regenerative, organic market garden, where we grow healthy food in a sustainable way.”

The People’s Choice Award, determined by in-person attendees and online viewers, went to Kamel Dickinson of Echelon, who received more than 450 votes.

As BEDC executive director, Erica Smith, put it, the competition is designed to create access to capital, visibility and courage.

The night ended with an unexpected twist. Moved by the quality of the pitches, Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, announced an additional $5,000 for each remaining finalist, ensuring no entrepreneur went home empty-handed.