Born and raised in Guyana, Christopher Clarke, was afforded a few years in a different environment during which time he has worked with giants like Microsoft and Amazon, completed his PhD at the University of Michigan, specializing Human-AI Interaction and Personalized AI Models and made a name for himself with several top-tier academic publications.

Beyond his remarkable accomplishments, what truly inspires me is Chris’s unwavering passion to give back and develop Guyana’s tech ecosystem. In this excerpt from our hour-long conversation, Chris and I delved into the challenges we face, despite our naturally occurring talent, we still lack the environment to truly activate and retain it. It’s not just about upskilling individuals; it’s about creating the ecosystem where they’re encouraged and incentivized to innovate solutions tailored to our unique culture and needs…

Chris believes that our people need homegrown solutions developed from a local perspective and with the right investment, focus and internal belief, we can build an ecosystem that not only retains our talent but allows it to flourish.

Stay tuned for more chapters from our conversation.

Every so often, you get to witness a story unfold that perfectly captures why we (at V75 Inc.) do what we do. It’s in these moments that the true value of our work comes into brilliant focus. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on our journey with TrueSelph, Evolve Business Solutions and the IDB Lab, and I am filled with an immense sense of pride at the ripples of change we’re helping to create right here in Guyana.

This story isn't just about building an AI; it's about building an ecosystem.

It started with a shared belief at V75 Inc. and our AI product company, TrueSelph Inc.- a belief that the power of AI shouldn't be an imported luxury, but a homegrown utility. Winning the grant funding from IDB Lab was a pivotal moment. It validated our vision for endogenous innovation and allowed us to launch the AI Enablement Programme. Our mission was clear: to democratize AI by working hand-in-hand with Guyanese businesses, turning their challenges into tangible, AI-powered prototypes.

The Spark That Lit the Fuse

A high-functioning technical team is only part of the equation. The real magic happens when you find the right partners. We were fortunate to collaborate with phenomenal local companies, but one success story, in particular, became a beacon for others. Evolve Business Solutions, one of our AI enablement beneficiaries, worked with us to build Avi AI - a prototype so powerful it went on to win the Innovate Guyana Prize.

Watching Evolve’s triumph was a moment of pure clarity for us. It was proof that with the right tools and support, Guyanese innovation could compete and win. But the most rewarding part was yet to come.

The Right Partners, The Right Moment

Success, we’ve found, has a way of inspiring more success. Ms. Avia Lindie, the powerhouse behind Evolve, had become a true pioneer, and I'd like to believe this inspired other potential adopters of the AI tech like Shanti Persaud, the visionary behind Silvie's Industrial Solutions. Shanti saw the utility and with the guidance provided by Ms. Lindie we were off to answer Shanti's question: "Can we do that for my business?"

This was a defining moment. Instead of going it alone, we fostered a channel partnership with Evolve Business Solutions. Together, we were the right people for the job. This collaboration wasn’t just efficient; it was symbolic - it showed how knowledge, when shared, multiplies.

What This Means for Guyana

The result of that partnership is Silvie AI. Today, it’s deployed on WhatsApp and their website, handling hundreds of inventory queries daily for Silvie's staff and customers. It has become a seamless utility, a trusted part of their operations.

But look deeper, and you see what this truly represents. This is a testament to Guyanese excellence. Together with IDB Lab, Evolve, and Silvie's, we've showcased the extraordinary capabilities within our country. We’re helping to shift the convention, proving that complex technological solutions can and should be built here, by our people, for our unique challenges.

This is more than a project launch. It’s a statement of what we can achieve when passion, talent, and the right opportunities unite. We are incredibly proud to be a part of this chain of value and to see the ripples of our initial vision creating waves of progress across Guyana's private sector.

This is the evolution of our local #techecosystem. And we are just getting started.

It's not just about implementing software; it's about nurturing a framework that ensures meaningful digital progress for the entire country.

In our conversation about the critical role of building a robust technology ecosystem for Guyana's future, Deenauth Mohabeer and I kept coming back to one vital theme: unless academia, industry, and government work in harmony, we'll struggle to achieve the digital transformation Guyana deserves.

Deenauth emphasized how academic institutions provide essential foundations but can only truly prepare future technologists through practical collaboration with local tech companies. Drawing on examples like the Guyana Energy Conference Suite and FerryPass, we discussed how homegrown products prove that capable talent exists here - ready to deliver solutions for large-scale projects.

However, private endeavors alone aren't enough. For sustained innovation, government support must go beyond basic policy, fostering incentives and infrastructure that allow local digital products to thrive. When these three pillars, academia, industry, and government are aligned, Guyana can accelerate tech adoption, develop indigenous solutions, and gain global recognition.

In this episode of Developer Stories, Deenauth Mohabeer openly shares his remarkable professional journey - from being a struggling high school student in Guyana to becoming a respected tech leader and Director at V75 Inc. He highlights key turning points, especially his spontaneous last-minute decision to join an apprenticeship programme in conversational AI offered by Nexus Hub Inc., a move that profoundly reshaped his career path.

Transitioning directly from high school into the tech industry, Deenauth quickly mastered Oracle APEX development and soon found his passion in solving real-world problems through technology. He reflects on his growth, from a reserved student into a confident communicator and leader, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, supportive environments, and courageously embracing unexpected opportunities.

Ultimately, Deenauth’s powerful reflections on his journey inspire listeners to let go of self-doubt, trust unplanned moments, and remain open and adaptable on the road to meaningful innovation in Guyana’s tech industry.

Guyanese tech expert and CEO of V75 Inc., Eldon Marks has issued a powerful call to action for authorities to create an environment that not only nurtures but incentivizes local talent to remain in Guyana and contribute to growing the country’s tech industry.

In this week’s episode of the Energy Perspectives Podcast – powered by the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo- Marks highlights the urgency of digital transformation as Guyana sits at a pivotal point in its history as the world’s fastest-growing economy.

He also delves into the innovative digital tools recently developed by V75 Inc. for the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, ensuring it remains a leader in innovation and an engine for new opportunities.

-Kiana Wilburg

I recently had the privilege of presenting at the WCCIG, WE3A Conference on a topic that is reshaping our world—AI in business. The theme, "Digital Intelligence Unlocked," couldn’t be more relevant as we witness AI's transformative impact across industries.

Raising AI Awareness: Adapt or Get Left Behind

In today's fast-paced business environment, productivity is the name of the game. AI isn't just an optional upgrade—it's a necessity. Adaptability to AI is no longer a luxury; it's crucial for staying competitive.

Generative AI: A Fad or a Shift?

One hot topic I delved into was generative AI. Is it just a passing fad, or is it a significant shift? Spoiler alert—I firmly believe it's both a fad and a shift. Generative AI is revolutionizing how we approach problem-solving and automating tasks with interspersed sensationalism.

Key AI Concepts You Should Know

To understand AI's full potential, there are a few core concepts every business leader should be familiar with:

• Generative AI: Think of it as feeding data into a system that learns to solve problems autonomously.
• AI Model: These are the algorithms and statistical methods that power AI.
• AI Agent: Automated systems leveraging AI models to perform complex tasks for us.
• RAG: Retrieval Augmented Generation - AI Agents can "look up" volumes of textual data on the fly to augment their responses.

Viewing AI as Just Another Tool

I wanted to strip away the mystique surrounding AI. Let’s not put it on a pedestal. It’s a more advanced tool in our digital toolbox, but at the end of the day, it's a tool. Use it like you would any other software to streamline operations and enhance productivity.

Practical Applications of AI in Business Operations

AI in action is where things get truly exciting. Here are some practical applications we explored:

• Content Creation and Social Media Management: Imagine an AI that forages for headlines, creates stories with images, and posts these to your social media profiles.
• Real-Time Updates: Keeping commuters informed about bridge schedules and incident reports through WhatsApp/SMS and social media.
• Appointment Management: An AI that handles multiple calendars and appointments for clinics via WhatsApp.
• Document Preparation: Taking meeting transcripts and crafting client proposals, annual reports, and more.
• 24/7 Customer Engagement: Cataloging expert knowledge to engage customers round-the-clock.

Beyond these cases, AI can monitor sales trends, communicate in multiple languages, and maintain a cheerful demeanor—across various platforms.

Understanding the Economics of AI

Every business has unique needs, and there’s no one-size-fits-all AI solution. While custom AI setups can be costly, ranging from $10K to over $10M, the average ROI is a compelling 3.5X investment.

That’s where solutions like TrueSelph come in. We aim to simplify configuring, deploying, and monitoring AI systems, offering powerful, customizable AI agents at off-the-shelf prices. Our goal is to remove the tech barrier, making it self-serve and cost-effective—think of "hiring" AI agents that work 24/7 for less than Guyana’s minimum wage.

Closing Thoughts

AI is not just the future—it’s the present. Embracing it means unlocking unprecedented productivity and efficiency. Let's demystify AI, integrating it seamlessly into our business processes.

Stay innovative!

P.S. this post was written by AI after being fed the transcript of my presentation.. it took 2152 tokens and 3 seconds.

Apart from the brief remarks given in this micro-documentary about techpreneurship as part of the EU's push for Women in STEM, I'd like to highlight where it was shot and who was featured in this intriguing find from my recent past on YouTube.

In 2016, I cofounded a coworking space to test a model that proved sustainable in a developing economy like Guyana. I even wrote a paper on it here.

This video was filmed in that coworking space, including footage of a young woman working on her laptop. That young woman, Filisha Duke, was essentially one of our first members. At the time, Filisha was dedicating all her energy (and her resources) to her fledgling startup, SureGig.

It was definitely her focus, kindness and incredible perseverance, which drew me into supporting her resolute efforts to give SureGig a fighting chance. Although our membership fees were modest, there were months when she couldn't make the payments. In response, I got creative and proposed a barter arrangement: she and her team would help run the space in exchange for a waiver of her fees. Eventually, I wrote off all her past debt to the space.

From that point, I had a strong feeling that everything would work out for her. Indeed, there were some low moments, but a pep talk or two helped her navigate through them. We later collaborated on several projects, one of which involved managing the shipping logistics software my tech company, V75 developed for PAS Cargo USA. Her team excelled, paving the way for them to eventually oversee PAS Pak, the company's small shipments outfit here in Guyana. Today, Filisha Duke has grown SureGig into a multimillion-dollar enterprise and continues to rise as a highly successful woman serial entrepreneur. There's not a day that goes by that I'm not one bit surprised by her journey...you simply attract more of what you are.

Today, I had the immense honor of sitting alongside key figures in industry and government: Allistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana; Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment; Hon. Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Natural Resources; and Kiana Wilburg, CEO of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE). I represented V75 Inc. in our capacity as the Exclusive Digital Provider for the Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo.

Here, I had the privilege of unveiling the Guyana Energy Suite – an ambitious and pioneering collection of interconnected technological solutions. This suite redefines the conferencing experience starting from an operations standpoint and finishing up with a streamlined attendee experience. This first release is the product of months of hard work from our dedicated team at V75 Inc., our cybersecurity partners at Privateer Cybersecurity, and the collaborative efforts of the GECSCE team.

The Guyana Energy Suite encompasses a redesigned, interactive web presence, mobile applications, and a robust back-office platform. These components are engineered to create a seamless and comprehensive experience for all participants and stakeholders, while automating and streamlining the operational aspects of conference management.

The unveiling of the Guyana Energy Suite is not merely a technological advancement; it is a testament to our nation’s capacity to innovate and lead. This suite marks the first phase of a visionary three-phase journey culminating in the 2025 conference. It provides a strategic technological foundation for the GECSCE, offering flexibility and resilience to grow and adapt, ensuring its continual evolution under the stewardship of V75 Inc.

At the heart of this initiative is a resolute belief in the potential of Guyanese technological talent and a commitment to excellence. This project underscores the GECSCE’s dedication to progressiveness and its patriotic choice to collaborate with a homegrown technology company. The scale and ambition witnessed in this partnership speak volumes about the forward-thinking ethos that the GECSCE embodies.

It is a proud day for us at V75 Inc., and we are committed to driving this momentum forward. We aim to ensure that the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo continues to be a beacon of excellence and innovation for years to come.

Here's to a future built on ingenuity, collaboration, and relentless innovation.

This week I gave a THAG talk about practical applications of AI Agents in tourism and hospitality where I shared a demo of our agentive platform, TrueSelph. We now have the technology to enlist digital employees to address talent shortages, work 24/7, respond immediately on all digital communication channels, conduct a multitude of conversations simultaneously, remember every preference of every guest to provide recommendations, integrate with existing back office systems, speak 50 different languages to engage a multilingual customer base, gather and analyze guest feedback, train human staff..all for less than the monthly minimum wage.

Access the full presentation here

THAG approached me to kick off their very first installment of their new THAG Talks series where I presented on "Digital Transformation in Hospitality: Leveraging AI for Success". THAG, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to serving and advocating for the interests of Guyana's dynamic tourism and hospitality sector. In this talk I shared on the key AI concepts that everyone should know, what AI can really do for tourism and hospitality in the Caribbean region and how much it costs to implement leading-edge AI in your tourism enterprise.

For more information on The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) see here.

If we can agree that our education system has traditionally aimed to produce those who can produce, then we must also recognize the inevitability of advancements in the tools that enhance their productivity. Today, we are witnessing the emergence of generative AI, a significant leap forward in this ongoing evolution. While these AI models grow increasingly sophisticated and powerful, the necessity for humans to think critically and solve problems remains unchanged and fundamentally human. Educating individuals to possess these essential cognitive skills will be the cornerstone mission of our education system for generations to come, regardless of technological advancements.

In the face of the shift brought about by generative AI, it is imperative that the education system goes back to formula. We cannot simply retrofit new, cutting-edge tools onto an outdated framework that predates these innovations. Instead, we must fundamentally redesign our educational approaches to integrate these advanced technologies appropriately while ensuring that the core objective of nurturing critical thinking and problem-solving skills is not only preserved but enhanced. This reevaluation is crucial to prepare future generations for the complexities and opportunities of an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Excerpted from my remarks from the panel discussion on the Use of AI Tools in Education: Implications for Academic Integrity organized by the University of Guyana's Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning (CoETaL) in collaboration with the Educational Onlining Support Services (EdOSSS).

In an insightful presentation at the IDB Lab meetup on May 7, 2024, Eldon Marks, founding director of V75 Inc. and co-founder of TrueSelph Inc., shared groundbreaking achievements in democratizing artificial intelligence (AI) in Guyana as part of an IDB Lab TC Prototype grant project. Addressing over 50 representatives from the IDB Lab across LATAM, the Caribbean, and their Washington D.C. Headquarters, Marks delineated the strides his venture has taken to make AI technology accessible and transformative at a local and international scale. He discussed the significance of his projects, particularly through V75 Inc. and a notable collaboration with Dr. Jason Mars, setting a foundation to elaborate on their AI product 'TrueSelph'.

'TrueSelph' is an AI platform he and his team in Guyana engineered to be globally relevant while powering cost-effective AI solutions at scale. This platform aims to empower developers, researchers, organizations, and consumers to utilize powerful AI technologies responsibly. A standout feature of TrueSelph is its affordability and adaptability across multiple digital platforms such as kiosks, social media, and IoT devices which can potentially alter the interactions between technology and everyday life.

Marks highlighted that with the rise of generative AI in 2022, there was a profound shift in the industry, necessitating platforms that could bring AI's potential into practical use with real-world applications. He introduced attendees to the AI Enablement Program under TrueSelph that helps startups integrate AI into their operations by providing them with necessary tools, innovation strategies, and support. To date, the program has supported 15 startups and organizations in Guyana, demonstrating the practical utility and confidence building in AI technologies among emerging businesses.

The broader impact of TrueSelph was showcased through its diverse applications across sectors such as tourism, healthcare, legal services, and education. Marks gave an example of IRIS, a multilingual AI designed as a public service tool for citizens, predominantly aiding in education by interacting with students to help with homework and other study activities.

One of the significant collaborations was with the government to create 'Jesse', an AI that amalgamates information from multiple government agencies to provide streamlined public services. This initiative has already seen a reduction in repetitive inquiries, showcasing the efficacy of AI in enhancing public service administration.

The AI-4D event hosted in November 2023 was another highlight from Marks' presentation. This first-of-its-kind exhibition in Guyana attracted over 600 attendees and facilitated meaningful dialogues on AI applications, generating prominent partnerships with the United Nations, the Industry and Innovation Unit at the Office of the Prime Minister, and other significant stakeholders planning to incorporate AI into governmental and private sector processes.

In conclusion, Eldon Marks passionately advocated for the pivotal role of generative AI in propelling societal and economic advancements in developing regions. He emphasized overcoming regional challenges such as brain drain and technology ecosystem development through targeted interventions like extensive training, retention of human capital, and continuous innovation.

With such initiatives, Marks' TrueSelph is not only a testament to the potential of AI in transforming lives but also sets an exemplary model of how technology can be leveraged for broad, impactful change, marking a significant step forward for Guyana and possibly other regions in the near future.

At the Caribbean AI4Education Conference 2024, organized by Camille's Academy in collaboration with the Caribbean AI4Good and Permaculture Institute and in association with the AI4D Showcase, Eldon Marks delivered the keynote address, highlighting key themes and expressing gratitude to the event organizers.

The most important thing at this point in our history against the backdrop of AI is to support the nurturing and retention of human capital within this specialization. That is the only way that we, as a nation, as a region, will be able to properly capitalize on this amazing era and its technology to lift ourselves in spite of the impediments, above and beyond.

Eldon Marks, who introduced himself as both an AI practitioner and an educator, shared insights into his five-year experience in AI. He mentioned how his team in Guyana developed a conversational AI named Iris, which is used for various applications like storytelling and homework assistance.

He also discussed the intersection between AI and education, acknowledging the crucial role educators play in raising and shaping a nation. Stressing the need for greater recognition and compensation for teachers, Eldon reflected on his 13-year teaching experience and the profound impact one dedicated educator can have on numerous professionals.

Eldon concluded his address with a powerful message about the importance of nurturing and retaining human capital to fully leverage AI's potential. He urged governments to support educators and local technology ecosystems to ensure a prosperous future shaped by advanced technologies and well-trained individuals.

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) in collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs yesterday launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent named “Damion” with whom consumers can communicate via the Commission’s WhatsApp number 625-0557 on a 24-hour basis to source consumer protection information.

The launch was in observance of World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) and was part of a mini expo.

In a statement, the CCAC said that the launch of the AI agent was quite appropriate since this year’s WCRD theme is “Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers”.

Speaking at the launch, Eldon Marks, CEO of the technology firm V75 Inc. and developer of the AI agent said that, “Damion’s” real utility is that it absorbs large amounts of data specific to the local demographic and serves as a “central source of truth”.

“It breaks down barriers to access to information and represents taking his body of knowledge to empower consumers”, Marks said at the launch.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond was among the first to interact with the AI agent Damion during the pop-up expo.

“The government is already examining policy and legislative measures that will enable Guyanese to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence for collective benefit while maintaining appropriate safeguards to our rights”, Walrond said in her WCRD message.

Damion is the second AI agent launched for a government entity.

The Diaspora Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an effort to significantly enhance engagement with the diaspora globally, unveiled ‘Jessie’ yesterday. ‘Jessie is a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence agent that seeks to redefine how Guyanese interact with the Diaspora Unit. The AI agent was engineered by the Chief Executive Officer of V75 Inc, Eldon Marks and has the ability to speak 16 languages and understand Guyanese creole.

The monumental step taken by the Diaspora Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to not only improve the efficiency of unit but also to make government service more accessible to Guyanese globally.

Rosalinda Rasul, Head of the Diaspora Unit at the launch yesterday posited that the unit has been inundated with queries from the diaspora and the introduction of ‘Jessie’ will allow staff to focus on “more substantive duties and responsibilities”

According to Marks, ‘Jessie’ is not a chatbot and is in fact light years ahead of chatbots. The AI agent is powered by generative AI technology within an AI product package engineered here in Guyana by Guyanese for Guyanese and represents cutting edge AI technology applied to revolutionize information access and productivity at the Ministry.”

In a world where the impact and usefulness of artificial intelligence is now undeniable due to advancements being made daily by companies in the developed world, the technology behind ‘Jessie’ is impressive. This is because ‘Jessie’ is powered by Trueselph. Trueselph is a platform engineered here in Guyana by Marks and his team which has the capacity to “ ingest documents and make content intelligently accessible to AI models. This allows AI models like ‘Jessie’ to interpret the intent of the query by finding the useful content it ingested before finally formulating a “tailored reply”

Moreover, as Artificial Intelligence and AI models like ‘Jessie’ increasingly become part of how we access services locally, the issue of data privacy has to be addressed. Marks contends that data privacy and accuracy of information were addressed in the engineering of the AI agent. He assured that ‘Jessie’ is engineered with declarative services which anonymize data. Further, the WhatsApp medium facilitates end to end encrypted conversations. We also use commercial AI models which preserve privacy and do not utilise any data passed to the model for training.”

In relation to accuracy of information, if ‘Jessie’ encounters any unfamiliar query, it will advise the user to seek information from alternative sources.

In response to questions by The Guyana Economist on whether the AI agent has the ability to streamline the process for those persons interested in trade or investing in Guyana, Marks stated that the ‘Jessie’ is being rolled out in phases and in phase 1, it will only provide “ general information on investment topics which it has ingested from content provided by the Ministry” However in subsequent phases Jessie “will possess the ability to interview potential investors in order to provide a more tailored response.”

Overall, ‘Jessie’ has the “potential to be a single source of truth for very accessible information in a sea of outdated websites and conflicting interpretations of content shared in passing by others”

V75 Inc, through its innovativeness and creation of AI models and agents continues to be beacon of hope in Guyana’s technology sector

‘Jessie’ will be available for use by the public next week.

The paramount goal of national or regional development in our age of artificial intelligence has to be the nurturing and retention of human capital.

Regardless of how well thought out our plans for AI may be, we would be hard pressed to lift them off the ground without a thriving, local tech ecosystem to foster, empower, and retain our skilled workforce.

Guyana, along with the wider region, continues to battle a daunting exodus of talent, signaling an urgent need to prioritize the development of our local technology ecosystem as a key strategy in driving national progress.

Over the last five years, our solitary AI enterprise in Guyana has created over 50 tech jobs for Guyanese, upskilled hundreds in tech and pioneered a shift in the paradigm of exporting talent to exporting AI innovation. It has played a pivotal role in activating the local tech community through digital industry exhibitions, hackathons for social good and of late, an AI for development showcase. It has contributed to digital transformation in the country with solutions like Ferrypass, which positively impacts thousands of citizens. This has not been easy and we need to make the way more frictionless for budding tech founders and startups alike.

The AI-4D movement amplifies this mission, breaking new ground by showcasing platforms and programs in our age of generative AI, that are not only designed to support tech ecosystem growth but also encourage the retention of the brightest minds to sustain it. We are already witnessing the fruits of this initiative and need to raise awareness around this intervention point for development. Partnerships are pivotal as we strive to fortify the very foundation of our technological growth—our people.

Find out more about this movement here: https://ai4devent.org

and here: https://bit.ly/46K5tRU

We are in the midst of the most opportune time for us to leverage generative AI technology as a great enabler for human capital development and tech-powered economic growth in developing countries like Guyana.

Supporting the growth of local tech ecosystems is the best chance we have at keeping apace with industry advancements and harnessing the technologies of our time for national development...

Thanks to the community of teammates, collaborators and supporters for making the AI-4D movement a resounding success! Onward!

https://ai4devent.org/2023event/

Truth be told, this is just the beginning - a view from the other side of 18 hour days over the span of several months of envisioning, planning, building, failing, adapting, coordinating, sacrificing, but ultimately believing and achieving with a phenomenal community of teammates, collaborators and supporters.

I’ve learned that the only things which separate vision from reality are persistence and time….and only action can bring traction...

So very thankful to: IDB Lab, SBM Offshore, United Nations- Guyana, Industry & Innovation Unit, Office of the Prime Minister - Guyana, DFFRNT.ca, Jaseci Labs, V75 Inc., Lorena Solórzano, Nick Brown, Jason Mars, Richie Etwaru, Mehdi Snene, Ph.D., William Evans, Marcelo Cabrol, Dominira Saul, Shahrukh Hussain, Rosh Khan, Arifa Mohamed, Vashtie Dookiesingh, Christopher Clarke, Peter R. Ramsaroop, Rosalinda Rasul, Geselle Duke, Gimel Dick, Sean Singh, Tharick Jairam, Asa Brouet, Rolex Alexander, Rajni Persaud, Timothy Shiwprasad, Shawn Jemmott, Prudence Brouet

– as AI-4D concept launched in Guyana

Chairman of Guyana-Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, along with Dr Rosh Khan and others at the event The highly-anticipated ‘AI-4D Showcase’ was launched on Friday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel under the theme “Democratizing AI for Development.” The event showcased homegrown AI innovations that are propelling the nation into a significant role in the global AI arena. The exhibition kicked off with a captivating series of endogenous AI innovations, and culminated in the grand unveiling of “TrueSelph,” a globally applicable AI product promising to redefine the AI landscape in Guyana and beyond.

The visionary behind the AI-4D Showcase, Eldon Marks, has said, “The AI-4D Showcase is not just an event; it’s a movement. We are on a mission to ensure that AI becomes a force for good, accessible to all, and a catalyst for positive change in Guyana and beyond. TrueSelph, along with the other remarkable AI innovations we’re showcasing, represents the future we’re building together.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Intelligent Company, Nick Brown has said, “As we engage with these cutting-edge AI innovations, it’s clear that Guyana is on the path to becoming a hub for technological advancement. The AI-4D Showcase is a testament to the nation’s dedication to harnessing the full potential of AI for positive change.” The IDB Rep Lorena Salazar, during her presentation, said the event underscores Guyana’s commitment to innovation, and its emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape.

“The democratization of AI is not just a concept; it’s a reality we are witnessing here today,” she underscored. CEO of Guyana-Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, noted that the showcased innovations and TrueSelph exemplify the transformative power of AI in shaping the future of developing nations. The AI-4D Showcase was transformed into an expo-style spectacle, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to interact with AI innovations at their respective engagement stations. This immersive experience deepened participants’ understanding of the transformative potential of AI.

The event has set the stage for Guyana’s continued progression in the field of AI, and promises a future where innovation, accessibility, and positive impact are at the forefront of technological development. The AI-4D Showcase has undoubtedly marked Guyana’s emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape.

GUYANA, on Saturday, witnessed a historic moment in its technological journey as the highly-anticipated “AI-4D Showcase” was launched at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. According to a press release, under the theme, “Democratising AI for Development,” the event celebrated homegrown AI innovations that are propelling the nation into a significant role in the global AI arena.

The showcase kicked off with a captivating series of endogenous AI innovations, culminating in the grand unveiling of “TrueSelph,” a globally applicable AI product promising to redefine the AI landscape in Guyana and beyond. The event was attended by representatives from the government, public sector, private sector, students and the general public.

Eldon Marks, the visionary behind the AI-4D Showcase, expressed the event’s essence, stating: “The AI-4D Showcase is not just an event. It’s a movement. We are on a mission to ensure that AI becomes a force for good, accessible to all, and a catalyst for positive change in Guyana and beyond. TrueSelph, along with the other remarkable AI innovations we’re showcasing, represents the future we’re building together.”

Other key speakers echoed Marks’ sentiments: “As we engage with these cutting-edge AI innovations, it’s clear that Guyana is on the path to becoming a hub for technological advancement. The AI-4D Showcase is a testament to the nation’s dedication to harnessing the full potential of AI for positive change,” Nick Brown, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Intelligent Company, said.

“Today marks a significant milestone for Guyana as we witness the unveiling of TrueSelph and the broader AI-4D Showcase. This event underscores the nation’s commitment to innovation and its emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape,” Lorena Salazar, IDB Country Representative, stated.

“The democratisation of AI is not just a concept. It’s a reality we are witnessing here today. The showcased innovations and TrueSelph exemplify the transformative power of AI in shaping the future of developing nations,” Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, CEO of GO-Invest said.

The AI-4D Showcase transformed into an expo-style spectacle, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to interact with AI innovations at their respective engagement stations. This immersive experience deepened participants’ understanding of the transformative potential of AI.

The event has set the stage for Guyana’s continued progress in the field of AI, promising a future where innovation, accessibility, and positive impact are at the forefront of technological development. The AI-4D Showcase has undoubtedly marked Guyana’s emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape.

Guyana witnessed a historic moment in its technological journey as the highly-anticipated ‘AI-4D Showcase’ was launched at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. Under the theme, “Democratizing AI for Development,” the event celebrated homegrown Artificial Intelligence innovations that are propelling the nation into a significant role in the global AI arena.

The showcase kicked off with a captivating series of endogenous AI innovations, culminating in the grand unveiling of “TrueSelph,” a globally applicable AI product promising to redefine the AI landscape in Guyana and beyond.

The event was attended by representatives from the government, public sector, private sector, students and the general public. Mr. Eldon Marks, the visionary behind the AI-4D Showcase, underscored the event’s essence, stating: “The AI-4D Showcase is not just an event; it’s a movement. We are on a mission to ensure that AI becomes a force for good, accessible to all, and a catalyst for positive change in Guyana and beyond. TrueSelph, along with the other remarkable AI innovations we’re showcasing, represents the future we’re building together.”

Other key speakers echoed Marks’ sentiments. Lorena Salazar, the INter-American Development Bank’s (IDB0 Country Representative said, “Today marks a significant milestone for Guyana as we witness the unveiling of TrueSelph and the broader AI-4D Showcase.” She said the event underscores the nation’s commitment to innovation and its emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape.

Guyana Standard understands that the AI-4D Showcase transformed into an expo-style spectacle, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to interact with AI innovations at their respective engagement stations. This immersive experience deepened participants’ understanding of the transformative potential of AI.

The event has also set the stage for Guyana’s continued progress in the field of AI, promising a future where innovation, accessibility, and positive impact are at the forefront of technological development. The AI-4D Showcase has undoubtedly marked Guyana’s emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape.

IN a landmark event for Guyana’s technology sector, V75 Inc, a prominent Guyanese technology firm, in collaboration with TrueSelph Inc, the International Development Bank (IDB) Lab, and Jaseci Labs LLC, is gearing up to host the eagerly awaited AI for Development (AI-4D) Showcase, scheduled for November 24, 2023, at the Guyana Marriott Conference Centre in Georgetown; the AI-4D Showcase promises a transformative expo experience, highlighting AI innovations across various sectors.

Themed “Democratising AI,” the one-day event aims to unveil cutting-edge AI innovations in transportation logistics, healthcare, customer service, education, and more. It marks a historic milestone in Guyana’s technological evolution, positioning the nation as a key player in the global AI industry.

A highlight of the showcase is the grand unveiling of “TrueSelph,” an internationally applicable, endogenous AI platform. TrueSelph, funded by IDB Lab and with technical support from V75 Inc. and Jaseci Labs LLC, aspires to propel Guyana’s technological journey.

The platform aims to foster endogenous innovation, facilitate upskilling and job creation, and inspire research and development.

TrueSelph Inc. is on a mission to bridge the digital divide in developing countries, targeting 15 local organizations to benefit from fully funded AI enablement support.

Engaging various sectors such as hospitality, medical, customer service, insurance, human services, and transport logistics, TrueSelph Inc. is committed to making AI accessible and beneficial to diverse industries.

Eldon Marks, Founder of V75 Inc and co-founder of TrueSelph Inc, emphasised the practical aspect of the showcase, aiming to dispel myths and showcase AI’s incredible potential for boosting productivity and saving costs.

Marks stated, “We wanted to give regular folks an idea of what AI can bring and why they need to have a level perspective from a practitioner’s point of view of the amazing technologies that we have at our disposal today.”

The AI-4D Showcase will feature esteemed speakers, including Eldon Marks, Founder of V75 Inc and co-founder/CEO of TrueSelph Inc, Jason Mars, Founder of Jaseci Labs LLC and co-founder of TrueSelph, and Lorena Solorzano Salazar, Country Representative for IDB Guyana.

Marks encouraged a broad audience to attend the event, particularly those in the business sector considering the integration of AI into their operations.

Free sign-ups for funded AI enablement support will be offered, providing an opportunity for individuals working on AI-related projects to receive advice and potential funding.

Expressing gratitude for the support received, Marks acknowledged the crucial role played by IDB Lab, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the industry and innovation unit in driving innovation in the country.

To learn more about this ground-breaking advancement or register for the event, interested individuals can visit the AI-4D or V75 Inc event page on Facebook. The showcase promises to be a pivotal moment in Guyana’s technological landscape, marking its ascent as a significant player in the global AI industry.

Although artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to transform the workplace, it has the potential to have an even greater impact on our societies by helping us address many of the development challenges that countries, such as those in the Caribbean region, need to address. Eldon Marks, of V75 Inc. and TrueSelph Inc. in Guyana, is back with us again to share his thoughts on, among other things: how AI has evolved since our first conversation in 2019; why Caribbean countries are not part of the global AI conversation; ways in which Caribbean countries can capitalise on AI4D; and what is needed for Guyana to become a powerhouse in AI, or more broadly, tech.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been all the rage these days, as big tech tries to figure out how to capitalise on the opportunity and we, users, enjoy the efficiencies that have been emerging.

In the Caribbean region, tiny pockets of AI development exist. But as has occurred with other tech innovations and trends, we are on the periphery and somehow were not able to make any meaningful inroads. The same seems to be happening with AI.

It is also important that we consider AI for Development (AI4D), which similar to ICT for Development (ICT4D), is about using technology to address development challenges that countries are experiencing – which in the Caribbean region are several. But to what degree is it possible for an advanced technology to be integrated into solutions addressing some of our challenges is unclear.

In this podcast episode, we discuss AI and Caribbean innovation along with the role AI4D can play in the region.

Introducing our guest

Eldon Marks is a seasoned tech innovator, educator, and social entrepreneur. For nearly two decades, he has passionately driven the growth of Guyana’s tech landscape. His journey began as an academic, inspiring a tech community while teaching at the University of Guyana. Fuelled by a desire to retain local talent, Eldon founded V75 Inc. and Nexus Hub Inc., a leading technology company and a non-profit dedicated to nurturing Guyana’s intellectual capital and expanding its tech ecosystem. In the last five years, Eldon’s leadership has directly created opportunities for numerous young professionals and upskilled hundreds in the tech sector.

Notably, his initiatives have introduced the conversational AI specialization to Guyana, paving the way for AI engineers to craft solutions used globally. Eldon Marks’ current focus lies in pioneering innovative tech industries in Guyana. With expertise in AI, he is driving industry development and opportunity creation in developing tech ecosystems by harnessing the potential of the generative AI industry.

Insights into our conversation

Eldon was one of the first persons we had on the Podcast who indicated they were using AI and it is exciting to bear witness to the strides he and his ventures have made. It was thus fitting to have his views on the recent developments in AI and to discuss innovation and tech entrepreneurship within that context.

Although tech innovation, and AI innovation in particular, is occurring across the region, as Eldon found in Guyana, it might not be as plentiful as one had anticipated, which in turn may make it challenging to create the requisite ecosystem. However, AI is being used in numerous ways with everyday technologies thus allowing the solutions that are being developed to meet people where they are, as Eldon highlighted in projects that will be displayed in an upcoming AI4D event that will be held in Guyana on 24 November.

Below are a few of the questions posed to Eldon during our conversation.

1. To start us off, tell us a bit about yourself.
2. From your perspective how has AI evolved, and what do you think of the ways AI is currently being leveraged, since our first conversation in 2019?
3. Currently, there is still a lot of excitement and hype in the AI space, and a lot of jockeying for first-mover advantage, but Caribbean countries are not part of the global conversation. Why do you think that is the case?
4. AI4D is not an area that you hear about much. But why do you think AI4D is an area Guyana (and perhaps the wider Caribbean) should be focusing on?
5. To what degree are organisations in Guyana embracing AI?
6. V75 Inc. is partnering with TrueSelph Inc. in organising the event. What is TrueSelph and why did you create it?
7. What are some of the ways TrueSelph be applied?
8. What is needed for Guyana to become a powerhouse in AI, or more broadly, tech?

The 98.1FM interview in with host Amy Yong and CEO of Truselph Inc, Eldon Marks to get a sneak peek of what's in store at the most exciting AI-4D Showcase Event on November 24, 2023 at the Guyana Marriott.

The 2023 AI for Development Showcase (AI-4D) is a one-day event aimed at showcasing practical AI applications for industry and development as well as inspiring meaningful discussions on AI adoption and strategy in developing nations like Guyana.

Under the theme “Democratizing AI”, the event showcases a series of AI innovations, the highlight of which is TrueSelph – a globally applicable endogenous AI product which will be revealed for the first time at the event.

The Home Improvement mobile app was launched on Wednesday by the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Central Planning and Housing Authority, in collaboration with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and V75 Inc., to cater to Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHAUP) applicants. Beneficiaries of the Core Home Support and Home Improvement Subsidy, under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme can now track the status of their application from start to end with the help of a new mobile app.

It is through this initiative, that applicants can now enjoy real-time updates on when they will receive the keys to their core home or receive materials to enhance their home. As the Ministry continues to explore and incorporate the use of technology in its service delivery to citizens this is the first such App coming from the agency. Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, in his feature address, pointed out that, as long as individuals have access to the internet, they will be able to utilise the online platform from anywhere in the world.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said that the app allows beneficiaries to have the power in their hands. “Everybody has a mobile device these days, and so, access to information gives you power and gives you control over your own participation in this programme.” Minister Rodrigues noted that the initiative has several benefits that can be acquired through the new access to information. She said, “One that is being very convenient for you to know the status of your application; for you to monitor your payments, for example. So, it’s very convenient for updates.” Minister Rodrigues pointed out that many of the Ministry’s beneficiaries are elderly and that lack of communication can cause them to become anxious. That she said will no longer be possible with this programme. Once selected as a beneficiary, no one is forgotten. Director of V75 Company, Asa Bouret, in his remarks, said that the application will allow persons to monitor their applications, whether it’s tracking the status of applications and much more.

This app acts as a central repository for easy, fast, and safe access to applicants’ data, timely notifications, and several other features. The solution, Bouret remarked, has three components. These are (i) the central database, where all information is stored and can be accessed at any time by applicants; (ii) the staff portal which can be accessed by staff of the CH&PA and Ministry of Housing and will facilitate better handling of applications, and (iii) the mobile application. Meanwhile, with the App officially live in the Google Play Store and the Apple Store, five families were, on Wednesday, presented the keys to their new Core Homes after being notified, via the app, that the keys were available, while another six beneficiaries for the Home Improvement Subsidy were notified that delivery of construction materials is slated for today ( Thursday, September 21, 2023.)

In an invited comment, Pauline Harry, a person who is blind, said that she is eager to receive the keys to her home. The 67-year-old woman who had reconstructed her home said she had been living uncomfortably for a year now, and was happy to have her own home once again. Meanwhile, Sabitri Persaud said that it will be her first home, adding that it will allow her to save more money. The new home-owner said she had been waiting for a year and two months and was grateful for the opportunity.

Another beneficiary, Paulette Niles, said she felt great. Niles said that, like her mom, she too did not have the chance to own her own home. She noted that she had been living with her sister for a number of years before deciding to apply. The woman said she attended every meeting, even if she was late. She encourages others to just have faith and they will get through it.

SINCE the launch of the Transport and Harbours Department’s (T&HD) online ticket-booking service, Ferry Pass, over 7,500 vehicle owners have utilised the service.

The platform, which costs some $6.8 million, was developed by the local technology company V75 Inc, and launched in October 2022.

It aims to mitigate issues encountered by ferry passengers as they relates to securing a place on the vessels.

In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Founding Director and CEO of V75 Inc, Eldon Marks, highlighted how the platform works and how many users were captured utilising the app.

“On the web interface, we have applied Google Analytics, and it’s been tracking the traffic that comes through the ferrypass.gy since it launched. This shows a live readout of users or usage of the Ferry Pass system. Twenty-six users per minute are interacting with the ferry pass making bookings and looking at future bookings. “I reported on the 5th of October, when it was launched to January 4th and we see that 13,000 users have hit up the site. The Parika to Supenaam route from the 5th of October shows the vehicles that have been booked and recorded that have paid via MMG and we see across the various classes it has been 7500 vehicles,” he said.

Marks noted that the interface of ‘Ferry Pass’ is simple to use and has a system manifest that allows T&HD staff to see all the departures as per the schedule and identify other reports, such as how many individuals were booked per departure, and it gives a great collection of data.

“It also enables workers of T&HD to see future bookings ahead of time and the recorded number of passengers booked versus reserved, the recorded numbers of vehicles booked, and the various classes of vehicles boarded,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marks said the ‘Ferry Pass’ project captures the essence of ‘software with an impact’ as he highlighted the importance of public-private partnership.

“The idea with the public-private partnership in this particular case is that within the private sector, there is a specialist and those specialists are knowledge workers and they are able to exercise the competence that they bring to the trade and that when married with a vision brought forth by the government, can do wondrous things for the population. So, this is why we believe public-private partnerships are crucial to the advancement of any society,” he said.

The online booking platform will soon offer other payment options such as credit and debit payments, for smoother, cash-free transactions. (DPI)

V75 Inc. a local technology company has teamed up with Professor Jason Mars, creator of Jaseci – a leading artificial intelligence programme – to create Guyana’s own Silicon Valley. Once established, Guyana’s talented young minds will be able to build their own AI products to be marketed and sold to top companies around the world. Already a team of five Guyanese engineers who recently concluded an apprenticeship programme are employed with Jaseci and are creating their own AI products. Part of the wider intention is to upskill Guyanese in AI and create tangible opportunities to retain those persons here.

— says Minister Edghill as $6.8M online ticket booking system comes onstream The Ministry of Public Works’ Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), in collaboration with Mobile Money Guyana (MMG+), launched Guyana’s first online ticket booking system for water transport, ‘Ferry Pass’, on Saturday.

The platform, which costs some $6.8 million was developed by local technology company, V75 Inc, and aims to mitigate issues encountered by ferry passengers relating to securing places on the vessels.

Delivering his remarks at the launch, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, stated that the launch of the revolutionary new service was in alignment with the PPP/C’s manifesto promise of making life better for all Guyanese.

This includes introducing new and innovative methods of eliminating issues that are faced by citizens.

“At the centre of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic manifesto and work, it is not only about delivering the new roads and bridges, and new four-lane highways, and building better Stellings and hard infrastructure, but at the centre of what we do, it’s people. And whenever we do something that will improve the lives of people, we are achieving what we set out to do,” the minister said.

He outlined the benefits of the service, highlighting that not only does it save time for passengers travelling by ferry, but utilising the online service ensures that persons will be able to secure a place on the ferry; especially those who are travelling with vehicles.

“So, this afternoon (Saturday) as we launch ‘Ferry Pass’, it is making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands who use this ferry service,” Bishop Edghill said.

The launch of the service is a culmination of Minister Edghill’s initiative to improve the level of service delivered by the Transport and Harbours Department.

It will be used concurrent with the existing ferry system. However, persons who book online would take precedence over those who register in person.

Persons utilising the online booking platform can pay primarily via MMG+. However, CEO of V75 Inc has assured that other payment options, inclusive of credit and debit cards, will be added in the future.

Earlier this week I got the opportunity to share the stage at CANTO2022 with some of the most impressive tech entrepreneurs in the region as we told our origin stories and brought awareness to the immense value that regional tech entrepreneurs deliver and how they can be best supported by government and the private sector.

Conferences like CANTO are particularly significant to tech entrepreneurs because they get to make connections, communicate their brand and gain valuable exposure. Our very own GTT organized this worthwhile discussion at CANTO and made it possible for me to be there to represent #Guyana and the work we do at V75 Inc. and Nexus Hub Inc..

I have to highlight that GTT has set an amazing example of how more established private sector entities can better support local tech entrepreneurs and startups. It could be bringing along a tech entrepreneur or two to a conference, making introductions or even being open to a business-to-business exchange of some kind. Thanks GTT, I’m starting to feel that slogan of yours...

The roll video recap from Nexus 2022 where I represented Guyana and shared my entrepreneurial journey on stage.

A new generation of entrepreneurs is making its way and leaving its mark in the business ecosystem, bringing to the table fresh ideas on what being a successful company (and person) actually means. A trio of top tech executives (Andrea Breanna, Eldon Marks and Charles) spoke their mind at Nexus 2022 on what success looks like in today’s business, social and cultural landscape. What are the metrics of achieving success in purpose-driven cultures? How can companies line-up their own goals with that of a diverse array of employees?

A few years ago, I began an ambitious mission of exploring ways to help reduce the numbers of talented tech graduates that leave Guyana each and every year.

I worked with many of these graduates for over a decade while teaching Computer Science at the University of Guyana, and was convinced that though Guyana possesses an amazing abundance of raw talent for IT, it is troubled by an alarming absence of outlets and opportunities to help engage this talent.

With the slow growth of the local IT sector and limited local opportunities available for IT graduates, it was clear to me that targeted Nearshore outsourcing was the answer not only to create engaging outlets for Guyana‘s hungry, young talent but to also introduce the much-needed revenue to grow the local tech ecosystem and sustain our mission for the future.

Read more: Niche AI Startup and Ambitious Founder Aim to Reverse Brain Drain in Guyana

I eventually left academia, got to work and founded V75 Inc., a conversational AI tech startup, as well as Nexus Hub Inc., a non-profit, tech and innovation center, both headquartered in Guyana. With two fruitful Nearshore engagements and IDB Lab support, in three years V75 Inc. has created opportunities for over 40 individuals comprising full-time employees, apprentices and interns while our non-profit has trained hundreds, both at the foundational and industry levels.

We are still growing and learning, and we are thankful for platforms like Nearshore Americas’ Nexus 2022 that stand to accelerate the pace of our journey.

Five Things I Hope to Gain, Learn and Share at Nexus 2022

At this year’s conference, we look forward to learning from others who have walked this leg of the path and exploring future prospects for further growth. Through this, I am particularly looking forward to enhancing Guyana’s national competitiveness around niche tech deliveries like conversational AI.

Further, as a company, we’ve largely remained modest in our efforts to report on achievements and progressively grow a well-known identity for our brand, even nationally. We have come to understand and appreciate the importance of engagement and networking for growth. I believe Nexus 2022 provides the ideal platform through which V75 Inc. would be able to make our much-needed shift towards the prominence that our work deserves.

I hope to bring an awareness to the wealth of raw human potential that exists in Guyana; around its natively English-speaking population, its time zone adjacency with North America, its gifted youth and its ripe economic prospects as a young oil-producing nation.

I hope to learn from more experienced players in the industry, the state of the globalized playing field and the models they have employed for agility and sustained growth.

Finally, I hope to make friends, share my story of impact and purpose and listen to the many inspiring stories of others.

Nexus 2022, here I come!

In November of 2020, I built a proof-of-concept of an idea that I’ve had for a few years, originally inspired by the pre-recorded, interactive holograms in Asimov’s I, Robot..You can play around with a version on https://eldonmarks.com. It was missing a critical piece of technology that Jason Mars would later provide in the form of a patented, next-gen AI stack he built called Jaseci (https://jaseci.org).

Studies show that the US tech sector supports 18M jobs; that’s 12% of their GDP; each tech job created supports almost three non-tech jobs. The periodic exodus of our #regional #talent has already proven that we have what it takes to deliver to tech opportunities around the globe. A shift from exporting talent to importing #opportunities in ways that help to sustainably grow our regional tech sector should be an imperative for governmental and non-governmental entities alike.

Thanks Nearshore Americas for this feature on the work we've been doing in #Guyana which highlights what is possible.

Most recent talk of Guyana has revolved around its oil and gas boom, which, having turned the country’s fortunes on its head, also provided the thrust behind this small slice of South America becoming the fastest growing economy in the world in 2019.

While Guyana’s BPO market is small but advancing solidly, local entrepreneurs are eager to kick off the country’s tech ecosystem.

By developing a laser-focused tech services industry, Eldon Marks, CEO at V75 Inc., a tech company of just under 30 engineers specializing in conversational AI, believes that the country can reduce the far-reaching impact of its brain drain – where half of the population with tertiary education leave the country and 39% of citizens live abroad – while positioning itself as a valuable Nearshore tech option.

“The amount of people leaving has a tremendous impact and what we’re trying to do here, at least in the realm of tech, is to dampen that statistic,” Marks explained.

“In a nutshell, our intention is to pair upskilling initiatives and talent with the alignment of employment opportunities here, to retain our talent and engage them and grow the local tech ecosystem,” he added.

Marks formed V75 Inc. four years ago after a 13 year academic career at University of Guyana. He watched student after promising student leave the country in search of greater opportunities in a booming industry, and decided that genuine opportunities had to be created at home. Through the company and its NGO arm, NEXUS Hub Inc., which helps bridge the gap between formal education and professional expectations, he is among the lead architects in the construction of Guyana’s fledgling tech ecosystem.

In a country where 60% of GDP is based on the export of six commodities from agriculture that are “highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices,” (according to Moody’s), new sources of job creation are vital.

“The country’s economy is growing quickly and we’re in an explosive investment stage at the moment, and Guyana has the advantage of clear government support,” Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer at GoInvest, the Guyanese government’s investment promotion agency, told Nearshore Americas recently.

The IPA is “interested in helping and promoting” the country’s budding tech ecosystem, he added.

Guyana offers strong cost saving potential against onshore talent in the US and Canada. V75 charges US$55 per hour for its top tier AI engineers who have several years of experience. This mix of quality expertise and low cost has helped the firm capture business from several major global corporations including Barclays and Wells Fargo. Its relationship with Clinc, a Michigan-based conversational AI vendor, has been vital to the expansion of the company and that of NEXUS Hub.

“We began with just two engineers trained on Clinc’s AI stack. Through NEXUS Hub, we trained up another 25 conversational AI engineers who are employed here and have worked for directly with Clinc,” said Marks.

XR and Game Development: Innovative Technologies

The focus on a niche specialization – conversational AI – has allowed the company to carve out its own space in the Nearshore market, and to offer valuable expertise that are not found easily elsewhere. This approach was in part a remedy to the country’s limited opportunities for scaling, and part a way to provide a career path for engineers at home.

“From inception we wanted to develop a niche. We could have gone after the India model, the generalist model, but we deliberately went after new and innovative industries because there is a future in that for us. It’s the most effective route to maximize our Nearshore impact given that we’re a very small country,” Marks explained.

In Guyana, half of the population with tertiary education leave the country and 39% of citizens live abroad

V75 is now moving into the Extended Reality (XR) and game development markets, promoting these areas as growth verticals with long-term potential. The global game development industry is set to surpass US$256 billion in value by 2025, while investment into development of wearable technologies for consumers and industry by global tech companies is soaring.

“Our decision to focus on AI was very deliberate and the expansion into game development and XR that we’re in the midst of now is also deliberate. Game development and XR are new, innovative tech industries that have low automation potential when it comes to occupations; there will be job security for the foreseeable future for specialists up skilled in these and other similar industries,” said Marks.

Teething Problems

However, there are hurdles to be overcome before Guyana becomes a rival to niche regions like Eastern Europe. Primarily, The country’s main tertiary education institution, University of Guyana (UG), had only 449 students enrolled in its Computer Science Department for the 2021/2022 academic year.

Part of the reason for low student figures could be the lack of engagement at the government level.

Aside from hackathons and a handful of small promotional events, there have been “no substantial strides to support local tech ecosystems” from the government, said Marks.

“We could have gone after the India model, the generalist model, but we deliberately went after new and innovative industries because there is a future in that for us. It’s the most effective route to maximize our Nearshore impact,” — Eldon Marks

Yet recent changes to legislation, as well as the impact of the pandemic, are helping to develop opportunities for a growing sector to take.

On October 5, 2020, Guyana’s telecom sector was liberalized and a decade-long monopoly by Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company ended. This has led to an improved internet, including the rollout of high-speed connections, and generally helped develop telecoms infrastructure, Marks said: “In developed areas on the coast we can now get 600mbps connections.”

The pandemic is likely to have increased young people’s interest in technology as a career in Guyana as it has elsewhere, and UG’s enrolment figures have more than doubled in five years.

Tax Benefits for Exporters

Other incentives for tech services are provided under government given export tax allowances, which according to the World Trade Organization, “is granted as a percentage of export profits, varying between 25% and 75% for non-traditional exports outside of CARICOM.” Both foreign and local investors receive the same benefit.

“Over 90% of our revenue comes from clients abroad, so we qualify for this allowance and it has helped us tremendously to put money where it matters and help growth,” said Marks.

“This wasn’t set up for the tech industry, but legislation does not preclude tech entities. We need more incentives like these done deliberately by the government to help support the local tech ecosystem’s growth,” he added.

In this presentation at the 2021 IDB Lab Forum, I delve into my journey from academia to tech entrepreneurship, transforming Guyana’s tech landscape. I share the why behind V75 Inc., a leading conversational AI company, and Nexus Hub Inc., its non-profit counterpart. These ventures, supported by industry partnerships and IDB Lab, have created opportunities for young professionals and introduced conversational AI specialization to Guyana. Finally, I discuss how we're driving industry growth and innovation to develop a thriving tech ecosystem and create lasting social impact.

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, the technological landscape in Guyana can often seem to be at a standstill.

Recognizing many of the limitations to developing the sector and also creating an enabling environment for upcoming tech professionals, Eldon Marks would in 2014 develop V75 Inc.

Founded with a mission to invest in and harness Guyana’s intellectual capital through the technology industry, V75 is the only local company to specialize in conversational Artificial Intelligence software.

Aiming to support the development of tech developers in Guyana, V75 through its progressive, non-profit arm NeXus Hub Inc. has focused its efforts on tech ecosystem growth and youth development. This is often done through its paid apprenticeship programmes, internships and other growth opportunities.

With several impactful project-based achievements under its belt, such as building over 90% of conversational deliveries for US-based AI company Clinc Inc. the V75 team is constantly seeking ways within which to improve their work and services. Currently, Eldon in collaboration with Computer Scientist, Jason Mars has developed “TrueSelph,” a software that captures the digital persona of a person for practical applications. TrueSelph creates a “lifelike” digital version of an individual which can, in turn, have conversations with users online to explain concepts and services.

Asked about the inspiration behind TrueSelph, it was not surprising to learn that it emanated from within the elements of science fiction stories with pre-recorded interactive holograms as seen in “I, Robot” and “Transcendence.”

While others (such as this writer) might be quick to see this type of technology as the beginning of a Black Mirror episode, where technology and ethics diverge, Eldon is careful to note that they are already avoiding a host of ethical concerns due to the fact the TrueSelph employs only authentic captures of individuals, meaning consent needs to be granted.

He does foresee TrueSelph being able to digitally recreate deceased loved ones if it is that the appropriate in-person footage exists. These images, however, would need to be volunteered by the person before they are able to move forward. “TrueSelphs have to either be volunteered by the subjects in question, directly or be made publicly accessible in order to compose a meaningful Selph,” said Eldon, adding that TS is not “deep fake technology” which has been known to create ethical issues as it relates to misinformation and impersonation.

For now, though, the primary focus of TrueSelph is to tap into the chatbox market which is currently estimated to grow from USD$3Billion to USD$10.5B by 2026. Commenting on the focus on the chatbox market, Eldon said that while TrueSelph has a 360-degree range of freedom when it comes to possible applications, they have identified real problems when it comes to human-level engagement through chatbox technology. Being able to deliver interactive content in a personalised way will encourage visitor engagement to websites, social media, businesses etc. which chatbox technology currently struggles with. Influencers, marketers etc can interact with their followers and target groups in a way they were never able to before, creating an unforgettable one-on-one experience for the user.

“We anticipate that TrueSelph will be quickly recognized as a new means to deliver interactive content in a personalized way through websites and social media. As such it is expected to become very popular among social media users, particularly influencers; and in a secondary case, sales and marketing teams. TrueSelph’s approach puts the human into automated intelligent interactions. The focus on the AI chatbot market is an initial, low-hanging fruit we consider as a stepping stone to introducing TrueSelph’s capability to the world,” said Eldon.

Asked about the potential of TrueSelph to influence consumer culture and behaviour, potentially impacting people’s freedom of choice within the global market, Eldon stated that while TS is a tool that may be used as a delivery mechanism, its influence is still restricted to the content which it delivers. “This content is based on actual human beings sharing their views, therefore, TrueSelph is estimated to make no more impact on consumer behaviour than current social media influencers, for example.”

Long term, Eldon sees TrueSelph advancing to the point where much of society’s online interactions will be with a Selph of some kind; “a Selph to answer your utility bill inquiries, a Selph of an educator to impart knowledge in an infinitely scalable way; a Selph of a celebrity, in character to provide you with that next level movie trailer experience, a Selph on social media to turn static profiles into interactive ones; a Selph that leaves an interactive form of yourself behind, and the list goes on.”

While Eldon and Jason have filed a patent on the technology, the reality is that developing countries such as Guyana have many inadequacies in enforcing laws that protect intellectual property. Eldon notes, however, that with TrueSelph being a product with global applicability which will soon take to market, “replicating or creating derivatives of the experience that rival the current product will be a tall task to perform considering the intricacies of engineering and research which make the product as good as it is. If this were to be successfully duplicated locally, we’d definitely feel more thrilled than violated.”

Locally-owned social enterprises are not common in the Caribbean; and ICT-based ones are rarer. Tech entrepreneur Eldon Marks of the social enterprise, Nexus Hub, gives us an update on the business since our last conversation in 2019, and why tech entrepreneurs ought to be more social impact-focussed.

Regardless of the sector or area of focus, choosing to establish a social enterprise in the Caribbean region is no mean feat. Traditional entrepreneurship tends to be hard enough, thanks to the limited financial support, mentoring, affordable office space, etc., that is available, along with the personal and reputational consequences that may occur to those whose businesses fail.

In the tech space, where people such as Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Eldon Musk and Bill Gates, to name a few, are held up as role models, although some of them might now have philanthropic endeavours, the tech businesses for which they are famous are not social impact-focussed, but instead, are highly profit-driven. As a result, it may be the exceptional individual (or team), who is socially aware and sufficiently driven to try to make a difference, who might take on the challenge of establishing a tech-based social enterprise.

It is with the above in mind, and for the third instalment of our 2021 series on social impact-focussed tech enterprises, that we are trying to pull back the veil on what it means to be a social enterprise: the benefits; the challenges; and why tech entrepreneurs ought to embrace the concept. We are also taking the opportunity to follow up with a business we discussed in September 2019, which ironically, is a social enterprise, to see how it fared in 2020, and how the pandemic has affected its path going forward.

Introducing our guest

Eldon Marks is the Founder and a Director of Nexus Hub, Inc., a technology and innovation centre in Georgetown, Guyana. Founded in 2018, Nexus Hub is a non-profit that aims to make a meaningful difference in still developing tech industry in Guyana.

Eldon is also the co-Founder of a co-working space, weOwn space, in Georgetown, and the Founder and CEO of V75 Inc., a tech firm specialising in conversational Artificial Intelligence engineering.

Eldon has an academic background in Computer Science. Prior to launching those businesses and for about 13 years, he was a Lecturer and the Head of Department for Computer Science, at the University of Guyana.

Insights into our conversation

When we spoke to Eldon in 2019 about Nexus Hub, we wanted to examine one of the key elements of the start-up ecosystem, the collaboration space: an environment where members of the tech community can assemble, with the purpose of nurturing and advancing ideas. It was thus at that time that we were introduced to Nexus Hub and the wonderful things that have been happening in Guyana, along with activities, which at that time were still in the pipeline.

However, in Eldon being a ‘former’ academic, who would be accustomed to rigorously examining issues, and who currently is an entrepreneur, we felt he was ideally placed to share some thoughts on what it means to run a social enterprise. More importantly, he may be able to provide some insights into why tech-based social enterprises seem to be so few in the Caribbean. Below are some of the questions posed during our conversation:

1. Since we last spoke in September 2019, what has Nexus Hub been up to?
2. What were some of challenges that you, and Nexus Hub, experienced last year?
3. What were some of the adjustments that you had to make personally, and to your business over the past year?
4. What are lessons you have learned since we last spoke?
5. Do you think of Nexus Hub as a social enterprise? If so, why?
6. The Caribbean region is awash with social problems, but tech-enabled social enterprises seem few and far between. Why do you think that is the case?
7. Besides the feel-good aspect of improving the lives or livelihood of others, what are other benefits of running a social enterprise?
8. In many instances, poverty may underpin most of the social problems in societies, which can make sustainability, and more so, profitability, a challenge. Is that a challenge you have experienced? But more importantly, how can that be addressed?
9. What might be change in mindset that a tech entrepreneur needs to adopt if he or she wants to operate a social enterprise?
10. Where would you like to see Nexus Hub in the next 3 to 5 years?

In light of the recent events in our country, I feel compelled to share this message with the leaders within our society, both future and current. It isn’t what you may think. It isn’t about the obvious themes of racism, hate or politics, but of their influencing principles of trust, communication and leadership.

Trust is such a rare commodity in our society but it is vital to bring people together, have them share a common vision and achieve a state of unity. We don’t have trust issues because we are unable to trust each other, we have them because we are unable to trust ourselves. There is a part of us that we fail to trust, that exists outside of prejudice, pride and labels; that human part of ourselves that was there before we accepted the conditioning and opinions and beliefs of others. We need to go there, connect with it, trust it and listen to it.

Communication is an exchange of meaning between people or any thing with a message to share. We communicate with words but sometimes words are not enough and we exchange thoughts, ideas, perceptions and cries for help in other ways. It is important for us to know that if we communicate ideas with others that trust in our message, we are responsible for how they may act on these ideas. It is important for us to know that we naturally resort to the most effective means to communicate or in some cases the only means afforded that will have our message heard. It is important for us to know that in communicating, it is equally important to be able to express ourselves as it is to understand each other.

Leadership is an awareness of the responsibility that you have to those with whom you communicate and those who trust in your message. Based on this, we are all leaders in our own right; within our households, our online followers, our circles of friends, our communities and our supporter base. True leadership is collective and we all need to have an awareness of our responsibility.

Local technology company v75 Inc. on Tuesday launched a Web Application that is solely aimed at assisting in the fight against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The app gives persons an opportunity to interface with it with through a conversation – you can ask anything about the Coronavirus and it will answer.

It is called IRIS – (Intelligent reporting information system) and was the product of a hackathon by the company in March 2019.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of v75 Inc. Eldon Marks told the News Room that given the issues with access to information about the new coronavirus, they felt it was important to launch the app now. To access the application you can visit iris.gy/chat.

IRIS provides real-time information on COVID-19 in Guyana and affected countries around the world.

Information is automatically pulled from the World Health Organisation (WHO) website when it is updated.

The CEO explained that the most unique thing about IRIS is that anyone can access it and it was programmed to understand Guyanese creole.

“We believe that right now is the ideal time whereby we need IRIS, we need IRIS to interface with the citizens because there is an issue with regards to accessing information.

“What we have done with IRIS is we have taken the two primary information sources the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and WHO and we have populated that and produced a conversational experience through IRIS that allows people to ask her questions about COVID-19,” Marks said.

Marks pointed out that there is currently no system in place to collect information on suspected cases and available facilities that affected persons can access. As such, the company is working on another application that will complement IRIS.

This new application will allow health officials to understand the current state of communities and households affected by the new coronavirus.

Technology Developer II at v75 Inc. Deenauth Mohabeer explains.

“If you are in an affected area you can go put in your household information, log what are your current resources, if you are low on food, water and other essentials if there are current affected cases in your household and then that gets sent automatically to public health officials who can then use that data to focus their attention to those affected households or communities,” Mohabeer said.

Meanwhile, Chief Technology Developer at the company Asa Brouet developed the conversation interface for IRIS. He said the app reduces time and also reduces physical interaction which is important during this time.

“Some of the areas of focus deals with what is the coronavirus, how the virus is spread, how to prevent the spread and the statistics as the virus progresses,” Brouet said.

The company is also working to provide the app in different channels such as Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, text messages and a call in channel. The Ministry of Public Health hotline numbers is also available on the app.

The CEO is slated to meet with officials of the Public Health Ministry to have them endorse the app.

From my experience, there is a dynamic that rewards individuals who provide value to society. For an entrepreneur aiming to build a successful brand, it is essential for people to recognize the brand's value and purpose. There is an undeniable link between the value an entrepreneur delivers to society and the rewards they receive in return. Therefore, an entrepreneur’s success hinges on their ability to deliver value.

Successful entrepreneurs worldwide understand this dynamic. It’s not just about making a profit; it’s about understanding needs, bridging gaps, identifying how you can make a difference, and then following through with conviction and purpose to deliver value, first.

In 2019, Clinc's cofounder and CEO, Jason Mars and Kaz Greene, Sales Engineer at Clinc, shared the value V75 Inc. delivered through the Clinc partnership. Within 18 months V75 Inc. had worked on about 90% of Clinc deliveries, became their sole partner, outshining multiple partners with the naturally occurring talent that I have experienced and believed in throughout all my years as an educator and manager. This was a moment of clarity and validation for me personally and I'm sure for all our talented members of the team.

CEO and cofounder of Clinc, Jason Mars...

Sales Engineer, Kaz Greene

V75 Inc.’s entire conversational AI team went off to Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA to attend a team summit organized by our industry partner, Clinc, Inc.

For many of V75 Inc.’s team of young, bright AI specialists, this represents the very first time they have left Guyana. Most notably, these talented youth return in a week’s time to continue their cutting edge tech careers in Guyana, along with their experience of the best of both worlds.

Apart from the expected technical takeaways, we were able to meet the people behind Clinc, in the flesh; some of whom have only been faces and voices in Zoom calls until this trip. It creates good team dynamics and cohesion if you get to know the people you’re working with. On this point as well, we were able to meet each other, but this time in entirely different settings and scenarios which usually show more about a person we thought we knew so well. Either way, we have gained by simply being exposed to new cultures and contexts that span the personal and professional - this is where the true value lies in trips like these.

Thank you Clinc Inc. for making this happen!

Generally, innovation does not occur in a vacuum. It is at its best when there is the enabling environment to support it, such as a collaboration space. In this episode, Eldon Marks discusses the importance of collaboration to realise innovation, through his observations and experiences with Nexus Hub, a non-profit tech collaboration space he founded in Guyana.

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely path. In the first instance, it is not a path for everyone, as most people cannot identify with the risk and uncertainty that is inherent as an entrepreneur. Moreover, the uncertainty of income, and/or success, especially when there are financial commitments that need to be met – which tends to be the norm on that journey – can challenge the best of us.

In the ICT/tech space in particular, where many of us hope – even if it is in our wildest dreams – to disrupt the status quo, we tend to pursue innovation alone. We fear others stealing our ideas, undermining our efforts, or otherwise achieving even greater success than us. However, a compelling case can be made for collaboration, ranging from being around like minds who readily empathise and can identify with the challenges being experienced, to being able to leverage the knowledge, resources and/or creative energies of others.

In our last episode on innovation for 2019, we are examining an important aspect of the ecosystem that tends to be overlooked: the collaboration space. There are many permutations of this collaboration space, which could be physical or virtual, and include co-working spaces, incubator and accelerator programmes, meet-ups, to name a few. Ultimately, it is an environment where members of the tech/business community can meet, with the objective of developing and nurturing ideas and potential business ventures.

Our guest to discuss innovation in a collaboration space is Eldon Marks, who seems to be leading the charge in this area in Guyana. Eldon is the Founder and a Director of Nexus Hub, Inc., a technology and innovation centre in Georgetown, Guyana, through which individuals can collaborate, innovate and create opportunities. He is also the co-Founder of a co-working space, weOwn space, in Georgetown, and the Founder and CEO of V75 Inc., a tech firm specialising in conversational Artificial Intelligence engineering.

Eldon has a background in Computer Science and was a lecturer at the University of Guyana, which were crucial inputs into his entrepreneurial journey, along with the establishment of Nexus Hub. In addition to sharing a bit of his story, other areas covered in our interview with Eldon included the following:.

1. What is Nexus Hub, and what was the impetus behind creating it?
2. How is Nexus Hub doing? Is there a demand for its facilities and services?
3. Although Nexus Hub is designed to operate as a non-profit, does it currently generate any revenue? It is self-sustaining?
4. What is the business, V75, about, and how is it connected to Nexus Hub, if at all?
5. What is conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) engineering?
6. How or why Eldon was able to successfully transition from academia to entrepreneurship?
7. How effective does Eldon think Nexus Hub is in nurturing ICT/tech innovation in Guyana?
8. If someone wanted to create a space similar to Nexus Hub, what might three pieces of advice Eldon would offer?
9. Where would Eldon like to see Nexus Hub in the next 3 to 5 years?
10. What’s next for Eldon Marks?

I LOVE the energy generated by people fulfilling purpose and I am even more intrigued when they are young Guyanese.

Social entrepreneur, software developer and educator Eldon Marks is a young man I admire greatly. For the last few years he has facilitated the Technology and Your Business training for exhibitors for the Women in Business Expo and they received content that assisted in elevating their businesses.

He is on a personal mission to create enabling environments for innovation and tech-industry growth in Guyana and has spent 13 years as a lecturer and mentor to students of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Guyana. During his time at the university, he founded a social-impact-led tech community under the brand Version75 Solutions (currently V75 Inc.), as well as co-founded weOwn space, a shared office space and ecosystem for entrepreneurs.

He left the university in 2017 to pursue these and other social-impact initiatives, full time. In August of 2017, he along with his V75 network planned and executed what was Guyana’s first online digital industry exhibition, devX. The data gathered from the devX online platform revealed key intervention points with regard to growing the local tech industry. With this insight, in July 2018 he and his V75 team founded Nexus Hub Inc., a non-profit technology and innovation centre for tech-industry growth and development.

I have utilised weOwn space for many of my training sessions but was very curious about Nexus Hub, so I decided to find out. Nexus Hub is a non-profit technology and innovation centre. The NeXus model is based on three primary objectives: to foster collaboration (through the physical space, online platform and select tech movements); To support innovation (through the provided collaborative ecosystem as well as an inventory of tech toys); To create opportunities (through paid apprenticeships, scholarship funds, networking and promotion of local talent). It comes in three forms: a physical space, an online community, as well as several tech movements

“My inspiration for Nexus came in 2017, the V75 Network collaborated on devX, which was Guyana’s first digital-industry exhibition ; it was an online exhibition powered by a platform that V75 built and we had accompanying offline events such as themed showcases, tech talks, a code sprint and even a tech fete. This took place throughout the month of August. From the platform we built, we managed to index over 70 local tech entities who submitted over 200 of their works under categories such as tech research, graphics, animation, tech services, robotics / embedded programming, apps and websites.

Around that time we had done our research into the conditions which are necessary for tech industries to grow and economies to benefit; we observed a link among collaboration, innovation, technological change, global market penetration and economic growth,” Eldon Marks said.

With these findings, Marks and team immediately knew that they faced a problem which needed a tailored solution, so they went back to the drawing board and came up with the NeXus Model. Thirty persons on average at the hub during the week and one in six are women. I have a feeling the young women are planning to change that soon.

This hub is great for youth with a keen interest in tech and a passion to learn it. Once on the path, they are allowed to explore and their progression depends on how they use what they are taught to produce. In about 10 months they facilitated the training and employment of 12 Conversational AI specialists who have built conversational experiences for over 20 million users thus far. When I heard this I was taken aback, but was also excited about where technology is going in Guyana and the impact this can have for young people who desire a career in the tech industry

The Nexus model has won an IDB Lab grant (US150K) to continue its work. While Marks has not received funding from the government, they have supported in other ways such as affording a venue for their first Hack Solve.

The team has grand plans for the future which increases my enthusiasm, although I do not consider myself a technologically inclined person. These are a few of the things in the making: a mini-tech park, a complex to house a number of tech entities which assist in training and employing more technologists with full funding to support a steady delivery of marketable, home-grown innovations. Nexus Hub has plans to expand throughout Guyana and possibly beyond these 83,000 square miles.

I am convinced this movement will afford many young people a chance to make their dreams a reality and I have met some of them. Let’s continue to be a beacon of hope for our young people as we continue this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

There’s something very special about the work environment in thriving tech companies - relaxed dress code and working hours, hardly any walls separating coworkers, comfy furniture, rec rooms and above all, the freedom to explore, collaborate and innovate. This freeform tech ecosystem keeps minds relaxed, creative and always in discovery mode for consistent personal and professional growth...

Tech ecosystems like developer circles are definitely more important than we think.

They multiply the developer mindset by raising developers and granting them an engaging ecosystem from right here at home to connect, learn and code the changes we’d all like to see right into our society.

Local technology development company Version 75 Inc. is working to change the world’s perception about Guyanese software developers.

— Hack Solve to create prototype software focusing on Sherriff/ Mandela Road Enhancement Project ABOUT 30 technologists will join forces with civil society members once again for the Nexus Hub Hack Solve event, which aims to create a prototype software that would facilitate the centralised dissemination of public information.

Founder and director of the Nexus Hub, Eldon Marks, explained on Friday that the Nexus Hack Solve is one of the four tech events organised by the Nexus Hub team. It combines technical and non-technical persons who work in conjunction to create a digital solution to a single problem. The most powerful part of the Hack Solve, according to Marks, is the power of collaboration.

This year, as explained by Marks, the aim of this Hack Solve is to create a centralised facility for citizens to access important and useful updates in relation to the infrastructural work being done or that impacts wider society.

This would include nationwide emergency announcements, missing persons’ reports and traffic advisories.

“The initial context of focus for this prototype will be providing this facility for citizens affected by the Sherriff/ Mandela Road Enhancement Project,” he explained.

However, Kenneth Parris, who acts as manager for the Hack Solve projects, indicated to the Guyana Chronicle that the idea is useful in the long run.

“We actually have wide-reaching idea and hopes for this programme moving forward because we see it as a public information system where we can deal with things way outside of traffic advisories. We’re hoping that if we can develop this system and have it as a wide network, is can be used as something that the public can really use,” he said.

Though the idea and components of the programme would have been ‘fleshed out’ on Friday night, before the technologists focused on developing the prototype, Parris indicated that the programme will be developed with cognisance of the different media elements different age groups gravitate to.

“We need to have a centralised way in which we can disseminate information and not only that, but we also want that this way we are disseminating information is popular and widely adaptable where all persons are comfortable using the system,” he explained.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES

At the launching of the event, Project Manager at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Mark Green, made known the many challenges contractors face when engaged in these types of work.

When engaging in rehabilitative and expansion works, he indicated that there is a “traffic control plan” instituted to “maintain some semblance of order”.

This plan is complimented by a communication plan which attempts to disseminate information of the works to road users. But even with these in place, he said they are not always adhered to, or citizens still have trouble accessing information.

“We feel confident, at the ministry, that the Hack Solve is a viable technical solution,” Green said, pointing out that he too shared the view that this system can be used in other areas to resolve similar issues.

On Friday, which was day one, the team reviewed the problem and generated the idea and the requirements for this idea, so that the programme would be ‘fleshed out’ in time for the following days. Members of the public were encouraged to weigh-in on the issue.

On Saturday, persons will begin designing and constructing the digital solution. And finally on Sunday, it is expected that further work will be done on the creation of the programme. When this prototype is completed, as far as possible, the software will be presented.

Parris stressed that in only about three days, it must be noted that only a prototype can be created. Following this, it is expected that there will be further engagements with civil society, to address the functionality and usability of the programme.

This Hack Solve was also funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is a partner in addressing developmental issues in Guyana. The bank had a part to play in facilitating the road expansion project and also opted to fund the event, which aimed to mitigate certain issues that arose.

IDB Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, indicated that while the bank focuses on developmental projects, it is also focused on promoting innovation and technology.

“We thought it was important to give some impetus or some push to sort of bring this [the hack Solve] together,” she said.

“In the future, with initiatives such as STEM Guyana’s programmes to inculcate a solid tech-based foundation in Guyana’s youth, the University of Guyana’s Computer Science, Information Technology and Information Systems programmes as well as the efforts of Nexus Hub Inc. to create engaging tech work environments here, we are looking at notable, positive growth in our tech industry”

As a young entrepreneur, he is determined to chart his own pathway to success utilising the values learned from his humble childhood. Like many of his contemporaries, Eldon Marks had the opportunity to migrate with relatives to North America. Instead, he decided to return home upon completion of university to help build the Guyana he envisions. Eldon, now age 34, proudly describes himself as a social entrepreneur, software developer and an educator who is on a personal mission to create enabling environments for tech development and growth in Guyana. He fell in love with technology at the age of 16. At the time, he had just graduated from Bishops High School and had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. His choice to enroll in the Computer Science programme at the University of Guyana was partly inspired by his older brother, Errol, who completed his Diploma in the same programme at UG.

Eldon recalls that around the same time, he received his first computer. “It was a second-hand machine given to me by a family friend, Mr. Charles Ceres, so I thought, this machine and everything that comes with it looks intriguing, why not?” Eldon recalls. According to Eldon, he coasted through the computer science degree programme at UG, with average grades until his third-year when he built his first graphical user interface (GUI). It was a simple calculator. “This changed everything. The excitement I experienced as a child making my own toys came right back but, in this case, I would be able to code just about anything into existence because it was all digital. This is the moment tech became my creative outlet without boundaries and I couldn’t have been more invested in the field thereafter,” Eldon shared.

For the remainder of the degree programme, Eldon stated that as long as it involved programming, he enjoyed what he did and it reflected in the grades. In his final year of study, students were given the freedom to create their own systems development research project. Eldon built an enhanced chat application with animated avatars that automatically generated key phrases that were typed such as waving when saying “hey or hello”. This was 2004 when the world didn’t have animated emojis yet.

His research supervisor, Malcolm Williams was impressed with his work and the quality of research that went into the project that he recommended that he apply as an assistant lecturer at the University’s Department of Computer Science. He accepted the offer and joined as a young member of staff at the age of 20 before he technically graduated.

“The environment within the Department was an amazing catalyst for my professional growth. The combination of mentors, variety of roles and activities and the relative freedom to explore other knowledge areas gave me the opportunity to discover a wealth of hidden talents and potential that would otherwise be unknown to me had I fallen into a typical occupation. This environment set the course for my career,” Eldon pointed out. He spent thirteen years as a lecturer and mentor to students of the Department of Computer Science. During his time at the University, he founded a social-impact led tech company, Version75 Solutions (V75) as well as cofounded weOwn space, a shared office space and ecosystem for entrepreneurs.

He left the University in 2017 to pursue the management of these and other social impact initiatives, full time. In July 2018, he selected members of his V75 team and co-founded NeXus Hub Inc., a non-profit technology and innovation centre for tech industry growth and development. “It marks the culmination of the mission that started over a decade ago and presents a promising future to work towards,” Eldon stated.

Eldon attended Stella Maris Primary then went on to The Bishops’ High. He thereafter skipped sixth form and enrolled in the Computer Science Degree programme at UG in 2000. He graduated in 2004. Then in 2008, he pursued his Master’s Degree in Computer Science at Howard University, Washington DC, USA. Eldon completed the programme in three semesters with a 4.0 GPA and promptly returned to Guyana.

EARLY DRIVE

Family is everything for Eldon. He is married to Amanda and the union has produced two sons – Ethon and Elias. Eldon is the youngest of six siblings. He grew up in a multi-cultural home in South Ruimveldt Garden with his parents Errol and Adeline Marks. His mother is of African and East-Indian descent while his father is of Chinese, Portuguese and East-Indian descent.

All of his siblings have migrated, but he chose to stay in Guyana. Eldon’s dad was a travel agent and his mother a Probation and Welfare Officer. According to Eldon, his childhood experience was conservative to say the least. His parents worked hard to provide their children with the essentials. “We got what we needed more than what we wanted. I’d like to believe this helped to ground us; it definitely helped to orient my value system as an adult as well as brought an appreciation of the process of working hard towards an achievement,” Eldon stated.

He observed this in how his parents provided for the household and made the children “work” for what they really wanted for Christmas. “I made most of my toys growing up and had a healthy curiosity which left the few store-bought toys in pieces or as part of another creation of mine. There was a minimum six-year age gap between myself and my siblings, which made it difficult to bond with them. This guided me to adopt a sense of maturity and discipline at an early age just to ‘fit in’,” Eldon stated. Additionally, Eldon pointed out that having no-nonsense parents who led by example and had the emotional intelligence to expand on the reasons why as children they were being punished was what he would consider the most important factor in making him the person he is today.

“They taught us to be thoughtful, considerate and generous to others, regardless of how we may be treated in return. They gave us the freedom to express ourselves, creatively and otherwise and taught us restraint thereafter,” Eldon stated.

He described living in a ‘cosy house’ with an extended family. “We all got along, most of the time, and bonded, helped and supported each other. The most cherished times were sharing stories during blackouts and the Christmas season when my mother’s pepper-pot aroma filled every corner of the house,” he noted.

Further, he said, “These times gave me a sense of how important family is and, in a wider sense, how much more individuals can accomplish if they worked together as a family – they may not get along all of the time but as long as they can identify that they share a roof or a country or a planet, then there’s reason enough to live as one.”

NEXT GEN

Eldon stated that Guyana has a nascent technology industry, but a very promising future due to the wealth of raw talent as well as the various civil society technology groups contributing to youth development. “Further, the public sector, particularly the Ministry of Public Telecoms has been a major facilitator in organizing and funding various programmes which directly support tech industry growth and development,” Eldon stated.

Eldon with his sons Ethon and Elias, and wife Amanda.

At the moment, he said, Guyana’s weakness with regards to the technology industry is the lack of a critical mass of mature technology companies that specialize in software product development and software service delivery. Consequently, he reasoned that trained, talented youth migrate in search of opportunities, which better engage their capabilities. “In the future, with initiatives such as STEM Guyana’s programmes to inculcate a solid tech-based foundation in Guyana’s youth, the University of Guyana’s Computer Science, Information Technology and Information Systems programmes as well as the efforts of Nexus Hub Inc. to create engaging tech work environments here, we are looking at notable, positive growth in our tech industry,” Eldon noted. According to Eldon, education is the foundation upon which one is able to build a career and a life for themselves and loved ones. “What you put in is what you get out,” Eldon stated.

His advice for young persons seeking to enter the field of technology, is simply ‘take time to know yourself, your strengths, your interests, your passion’. “Everyone is different, with unique predispositions so you must find a career which adapts to you, not the other way around to offer the greatest value to the world,” Eldon stated. He added, “I understood early on that my predisposition was my creativity and I was able to adapt tech to my creativity. Once it maps well, ensure that you are passionate about every step on your career path, it is this passion, which ensures that you naturally deliver value and quality and you are bound to be supported for it. I’d like to emphasize that you should be motivated by what you do, not what you get in return.” He noted too that mentors will play a great part in a young person’s life. According to Eldon, his parents, especially his mother showed him what it was to have strength of character, to have faith and to constantly strive to be a better version of yourself with each day.

It was Williams his research supervisor at UG who saw the potential in him that he never knew existed and taught him the power of servant leadership. As it relates to the coming of oil and the impact it will have on the tech sector, Eldon stated that if managed well, oil, like any other resource will bring socio-economic benefits to the country. He noted that the presence of major players and their primary contractors in response to the oil has already had a positive impact on the tech industry as recently, two local tech companies, Brainstreet and Version75 Solutions collaborated on building a software product for one of Exxon’s primary contractors.

“With the social responsibility clause in effect, coupled with the necessity of tech in operations, we expect more opportunities for local solutions providers to positively affect the industry in time to come,” Eldon stated.

CODING COMMUNITY

Eldon stated that Version75 Solutions was originally set as a community disguised as a company while teaching at the University. It was designed to help students who were interested in freelancing in tech to build a portfolio and a brand while being supported by a more established brand.

They now operate as a network of consultants, some were students who benefited from the “institution” and went on to build their own company/brand. He said Nexus Hub Inc. is a non-profit technology and innovation centre for tech industry growth and development in Guyana. According to Eldon, this was created in response to the deficits in the tech industry and is designed to foster collaboration, stimulate innovation and create opportunities to grow Guyana’s tech industry.

“In the first three months of its operation, we managed to create opportunities for Guyana’s youth through promoting them in documentaries, running a paid apprenticeship programme and bringing together a group of developers to solve social problems with tech,” Eldon stated.

His philosophy and approach to assisting the community is that ‘we are all connected’. “This world-view inspires my actions. I have witnessed time and time again that the more lives we are able to positively influence, the better the overall quality of life we individually experience. It begins with an approach which asks, “what value do I have to offer” rather than “what can I get out of this” – this value first approach does not impose any restrictions on the rewards you receive in return,” Eldon noted.

Eldon has been instrumental in the development of DevX 2017, the first online digital industry exhibition with offline events. He created an outlet for local tech talent to be showcased both at home and abroad to help create opportunities and grow our local tech industry. An online platform (devxevent.com) was built, which indexed over 200 tech exhibits from over 70 tech entities in Guyana.

According to Eldon, with low rates of collaboration, innovation and global market penetration the odds are not in our favour which meant that we had some work to do if our tech industry was to reliably contribute to economic growth and job creation.

Since the launch of Nexus, the group has completed 25 developer stories, each showcasing a local developer, their specialization, accomplishments and aspirations. Each week, they promote a new “developer of the week” on social media.

“I’m happy to report that it’s already begun to create opportunities – Teekae Jordan’s developer story was seen by a member of Cenedex Solutions, based in California and Teekae is now on contract with them doing Pen Testing,” Eldon shared.

Then there was the Nexus Hack Solve, a hackathon-like event, which was designed to get various developer teams to collaborate, rather than compete while solving social problems with tech.

GUYANA’S FUTURE

Asked about Guyana’s future, Eldon prefaced his response by saying that in Guyana, we are all responsible for the future we share – it’s not solely the government’s responsibility, but that of the collective of individuals, which make up the population.

“At the moment, I see in Guyana’s youth an awakening of the awareness of civic responsibility. There are several civil society groups in operation and more on the way which spell a bright and promising future for Guyana, oil finds aside,” Eldon stated.

He stated that these groups and their actions are building a critical mass and demonstrating our capability to compete on the world stage, which is attracting support from the Diaspora, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the public sector.

Eldon believes that if we continue on this course, in a shorter time that we expect, we’ll experience measurable economic growth.

AFTER an intensive two days of idea generation and software creation, the 17 technologists that participated in the inaugural ‘Hack Solve’ event have managed to create a software prototype that will seek to boost civic engagement in Guyana.

The Nexus Hack-Solve event was hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre under the auspices of local social impact and tech company, NeXus Hub Inc. Beginning Friday evening, the 17 innovative minds were tasked with going through a pool of nine problems garnered from citizens and choose one that they would collectively work on.

According to Eldon Marks, Director of the event and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Version 75 (V75), the company spearheading the event, “The first phase was to just go through the problems and select one,” and he added: “They [the technologists] sat down and they discussed each one of them individually.”

“What’s interesting is that they [the technologists] didn’t necessarily settle on a single problem, they actually choose three problems and two of them were sort of overlapping and they chose to combine those two and work on them first,” Marks related.

Over the course of the weekend, the team worked on the first problem: to boost civic engagement. Marks explained that it is a social network for social impact, which has a two-fold purpose. The first is that it indexes various advocacy, voluntary and generally, civic engagement focused groups in Guyana and details the work that they do by categorising them based on the problems they work to mitigate.

The next purpose of this software is to give citizens a platform where they can voice what problems are affecting them and then match these problems with the organisation working in that area. What is also great about the application, according to Marks, is that it gives various advocacy groups awareness of each other, so there is more of a cohesive effect to towards a common goal instead of working in isolation.

The Hack Solve event was intended to promote collaboration among technologists and as such it differed from the traditional Hackathon event, which is a tech event that pits tech minds against each other to create the best software solution to a predefined problem. The CEO was overwhelmed at how well the persons-who hailed from different organisations and backgrounds- came together to solve the common problem, as one cohesive unit.

“It’s an accomplishment in its own right,” he said and shared that his team thought they would have had to moderate the group more. To this end, the CEO highlighted, “The group actually organised themselves from as early as the second day.” Thereafter, they worked together to create the prototype and a well thought-out model for implementation in the local context.

Marks hailed the event as “an unexpected success.”

FOR two and a half days, 17 innovative minds will participate in the Nexus Hack-Solve to create an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution to a national problem and create a prototype programme for possible local consumption.

The Nexus Hack-Solve event will be hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and falls under the auspices of local social impact and tech company, NeXus Hub Inc., which was launched only last month.

According to Eldon Marks, Director of the event and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Version 75 V75), the company spearheading the Hub, the idea for this Hack-Solve stemmed from V75’s participation in the inaugural Hackathon hosted by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications (MoPT).

“We were witness to the talent that exists in the industry and that’s what actually lit a fire in us to say we can possibly do more– at least ourselves– [and] take a grassroots approach,” Marks said.

The Hackathon event is a tech event that pits tech minds against each other to create the best software solution to a predefined problem. Marks however noted that this is where the Hack-Solve differs from the Hackathon.

“What we’ve noticed in the Hackathon, is that competition is good, but won’t help our culture move past the inhibitions that we have, because I think it’s a situation where we need to focus on collaborating rather than competing,” he posited.

More than that, is that the Hack-Solve will be seeking to integrate technical and non-technical persons in the creation of this solution. The predefined roles are: the Ideator, someone who is great at conceptualising solutions; the requirement engineer, who is responsible for detailing the workings required from the solution and on the more technical side: the designer and the front-end and back-end developers, who deal directly with the programming and creation of the software.

The Hack-Solve began on Friday evening with the technologists perusing nine problems sent in by the general public. The first step was, to choose a single problem out of the set so that they could all work towards creating the solution.

The problems included: an automated system for tracking sex offenders in Guyana; reporting traffic and domestic violence; a system to assist the police with missing or wanted persons; a software to detail transportation data; a court app for court days and general information; a platform for local vendors to showcase their products; a platform to raise civic awareness, particularly about politics; a log system for garbage and finally, a platform to index civic engagement and advocacy groups.

After the technologists have decided on a problem, they will work until Sunday to create a prototype solution.

“It is something that we have no idea of how it will turn out, it is sort of a social experiment,” Marks explained, but shared that he has positive expectations. Aside from creating a solution, the idea is to embed a kinesthetic experience of civic responsibility of solving problems instead of merely talking about them.”

Moving forward however, Eldon said: “Much of what will happen in terms of trajectory and strategy will be taken care of during the ideation session, but what is done with the software solution is pretty much 50 percent their responsibility regarding what happens next.” He however gave the assurance that the MoPT has shown its support and he believes there is scope for collaboration there.

Affirming this commitment was technical adviser to the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Lance Hinds, who shared the ministry’s vision of advancing ICT by creating an enabling environment for it.

He shared that the hackathon event was only meant to show persons the possibilities in the field and it was initiated with the hope that the private sector would one day take over, and as such, he expressed kudos to Nexus Hub for stepping up to the mantle. Similarly, CEO of Metro Guyana Avia Lindie shared her commitment to the exciting and unique industry.

This event falls under the general mandate of the Nexus Hub, which is based on three main objectives. These are: to foster collaboration through a physical space, online platform and programmes; to drive innovation with collaborative environments, tools, funding and mentorship; and to create opportunities through capacity-building, networking and support platforms.

NeXus Hub Inc., is calling on local techies to earn as they learn by applying for the AI Competency Engineering Apprenticeship Programme.

Funded by Clinc Inc., an Artificial Intelligence (AI) company in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA and executed by Version75 Solutions (V75), a local software company based in Georgetown, the programme is looking for persons with the “right work ethic” to be a part of a three-month apprenticeship programme which will focus on designing, training and developing conversational AI experiences for enterprise using a cloud-based development platform. These conversational experiences are comparable to those encountered in Apple Inc.’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa or the Google Assistant but more advanced.

Chief Executive Officer and Founder of V75 Solutions Eldon Marks explained that the apprenticeship programme, will achieve two goals in one execution; build capacity and create jobs, as persons will have the opportunity to become an AI Competency Engineer and start a career building some of the most advanced conversational AI experiences for enterprise.

Regarding the age group which they are targeting, Marks said the programme focuses more on maturity rather than age, and as such, they are willing to consider persons ranging from just out of high school to 40 years old.

Interestingly, not only will apprentices be paid a monthly stipend of $100,000, whilst in training, but it will lead to a full-time position, earning a substantial salary as a competency engineer with Clinc Inc., once they successfully complete the programme and commence their work attachment.

“The whole programme favours those who have the right attitude over qualifications, so as long as they have that resolve and resourcefulness, their success is pretty much guaranteed,” Marks said.

“What is likely, is that once they are attached, they will have the opportunity to travel periodically to Michigan and work with the Clinc team on projects with big name companies such as Ford, Wells Fargo, etc.,” the CEO added.

He further noted that other apprenticeship programmes are not scheduled at this point since this is the first time they will be running such a programme. However, once everything goes right, NeXus Hub Inc. will look to network with other companies to bring them on board with the hope of pulling off similar programmes and extending their reach to create more gainfully employed tech specialists in Guyana.

Stabroek News understands that persons interested in the AI Competency Engineering Apprenticeship Programme must have some programming experience, that is, in PHP, JavaScript, or similar languages, in order to apply.

Additionally, applicants must be available for four days per week, for five hours per day, for three months – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 10am to 3pm. However, flexible schedules may be negotiated, as long as the apprentice’s work output is satisfactory.

Regarding the application process, interested parties are required to prepare and submit applications via email to apprenticeships@nexushubinc.org, with the subject “AI Competency Engineering Apprenticeship Application, a brief statement of purpose describing how this apprenticeship programme aligns with the individual’s personal long-term goals and objectives, and a copy of an updated Curriculum Vitae or Resume, along with three referees.

Once shortlisted, applicants will be notified of their interview date within five working days of the closing date of applications.

Following the interview process, successful applicants will be invited to undergo a one week evaluation with the trainers to grant both parties a first-hand idea of how well the applicant will adapt.

Once the one-week evaluation goes well, the applicant will be officially admitted to the apprenticeship programme, paid a monthly stipend for the duration of the three-month training period and will then have the opportunity of immediately starting a career as an AI competency engineer with Clinc Inc.

The deadline for the submission of applications is August 1, 2018.

Additional information can be found online at: http://nexushubinc.org/apprenticeship/clinc. Applicants can also reach out to NeXus Hub Inc. via their website at http://nexushubinc.org, or via email at apprenticeship@nexushubinc.org or their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/nexushubinc.

Social-impact led Software Company Version 75 (V75) Solutions recently launched the NeXus Hub Initiative, a project which aims to foster an environment of collaboration and innovation among local techpreneurs to bring the industry to a state where it can significantly contribute to job creation.

“All we need is the right environment to shape the industry and create home grown success stories,” social entrepreneur Eldon Marks, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder of V75 Solutions, said.

The Nexus Hub Initiative, Guyana’s technology and innovation centre for tech industry growth and development, includes an online platform for networking, a physical space for developers to interact, and “tech movements.” The latter includes paid apprenticeships, mentoring and funding opportunities, a social networking platform, and a hack-solve event.

The launch, which was hosted at the Herdmanston Lodge on June 29th, saw the attendance of many persons from within the local tech community, who came out to satisfy their curiosity about a project, which has been months in the making. The initiative is a spin-off from another V75 project, “devX,” which was hosted last year as an avenue to network developers and showcase their work.

“It was a Friday in 2015 when we came up with what would become “devX,” an event designed to network developers and showcase their work with a deeper purpose of having us and others witness the potential that we knew we had. We got together with wonderful sponsors and supporters, our collaborators, our network of volunteers and we took action and we made devX 2017 happen,” Marks told the audience.

“It was Guyana’s first online, offline digital industry exhibition and it surpassed all of our expectations. We managed to hold weekly showcases all throughout the month of August; we held a series of informative talks, side events… like a tech fete and a gaming tournament and we even built an online platform that indexed over 70 local developers/developer entities and they uploaded over 200 of their works as exhibits,” he further reflected.

Sunday Stabroek understands that it was through devX that the company was able to collect “valuable data” which offered insights into the local tech industry.

“The insights that we saw were a bit troubling, which spelt a relatively dim future for the local tech industry. We saw that less [than] 12% of exhibitors were team-based. This told us that there were rare cases of collaboration among developers. We also saw that service-oriented works, such as client websites and web apps were predominated and innovation centric works, such as research, robotics, and animation, were in the minority just by 11% of those represented as exhibits. So, there was low evidence of innovation. We also saw that even though the service-oriented works were predominated, less than 10% of those were from clients abroad,” Marks shared.

He further noted that if left unaddressed, these statistics meant that Guyana’s tech industry was not in a state to reliably contribute to job creation for economic growth.

“We saw those deficits with regards to collaboration, innovation etc. and based on research, collaboration itself is important for innovation to take place…Innovation in turn is important for technological change to take place and technology change is crucial for economic growth. The US attributes two-thirds of its economic growth to technological change. So with our low rates of collaboration, innovation and global market penetration, the odds were just not in our favor,” the CEO said.

“But, we have one thing that works for us and that is our world-class potential as developers and I am not saying this because I am an idealist; I have experienced it in the 13 years I spent in the CS Department at UG working alongside brilliant minds in the form of students and colleagues… It’s time we recognize this because others are recognizing this,” Marks said, before playing a video message from Jason Mars, Co-founder and CEO of Clinc, a company that is said to have created the world’s most sophisticated and comprehensive conversational Artificial Intelligence (A.I) platform for enterprises.

In the video message, Mars, as he has done in the past, expressed his interest in the local tech industry and suggested that all that is needed is an environment where local talent can manifest itself in ways that bring benefits to the world.

“As Jason said, all we need is the right environment to shape the industry; the right environment will make us into a true knowledge society that is innovation focused. The right environment will give the diaspora the incentive to invest and support economic development; the right environment will engage Guyana’s best and brightest, so that they choose to stay here, build here and grow here,” Marks opined.

“All this told us that we needed to take an initiative that we started and respond to its higher calling. DevX was taken and evolved into what we would hope is that right environment,” he said.

“NeXus Hub Initiative”

Marks, in his presentation, explained that the Nexus Hub Initiative, which was established in partnership with Clinc and in collaboration with the University of Guyana, is based on three main objectives. These are: to foster collaboration through a physical space, online platform and programmes; to drive innovation with collaborative environments, tools, funding and mentorship; and to create opportunities through capacity building, networking and support platforms.

The initiative, he said, comes in three forms: a physical space for developers to socialize, work and innovate together; an online platform to index and connect developers with opportunities; and lastly, tech movements, which have their objectives translated into action.

“These are not finite tech movements; the idea is to expand on the platform of tech movements as need arises so we got to work with everyone in their room and other entities to build on these tech movements so we can respond to the needs in our society as time goes by,” Marks added.

Among the six movements presented to the audience at the launch are an annual NeXus Connect Event, which is scheduled for August 4th, 2018 and is aimed at connecting developers, investors, business owners and mentors; paid apprenticeships and the NeXus Accelerator Programme.

Regarding the inclusion of paid apprenticeship programmes, Marks said, “We have experienced a lot of raw talent locally and they usually have to choose between getting a job that does not tap into their natural potential to just make ends meet; they have to choose between that and learning the field that they love. With paid apprenticeships, we are hoping to give individuals with that raw talent to learn full time and be supported financially.”

Sunday Stabroek understands that each apprenticeship is based on actual industry needs so trained apprentices have a job waiting for them when they graduate.

Marks had also extended an invitation to other tech companies to join forces so that more persons can be trained. He noted that one of their first paid apprenticeships will be with Clinc, where they will learn how to do competency engineering for their conversational AI.

Similarly, the NeXus Accelerator Programme is designed to allow tech innovators to receive the funding and mentorship needed to take their products to the market.

According to Marks, having funding and mentorship in innovations is absolutely crucial for boosting and stimulating innovations.

We want to be able to tap into connections and resources to bring those opportunities through the hub to you, so we are collaborating with the Department of Computer Science to create a commercialization pipeline for undergraduate research projects with the potential to become actual products. We are also collaborating with the Guyana Economic Development Trust to connect local tech innovators with the Guyana Innovation Prize to get funding and mentorship for their innovations,” he added.

Another feature of the Tech Movement includes the NeXus Link Social Network, which will virtually index and connect developers with opportunities. This newspaper understands that the purpose of this platform is to build connections virtually; connections which, according to Marks, will transcend borders.

There is also the NeXus Developer stories, which will allow developers to share their stories and their successes. The NeXus Developer stories will take the form of a series of video interviews and mini documentaries showcasing local developers, their endeavors and experiences as practicing technologists in Guyana. These stories are available on their YouTube channel Nexus Hub Inc. on YouTube.

Finally, there is the annual NeXus Hack-Solve event, aimed at solving social problems through tech. With regard to that event, Marks said, “Think of a hackathon event where teams instead of competing, they collaborate to solve common problems with the application of technology.”

He noted that the event is scheduled to be held for two days in the middle of August, and is expected to produce a “nationally relevant prototyped solution” at the end of it. This specific event Marks said, creates an opportunity to kinesthetically experience collaboration in spite of labels or affiliations.

A group of young professionals in the Tech industry has launched a network –NeXus Hub Inc. – to push the growth and development of the industry in Guyana.

The initiative was launched by V75 Network in collaboration with Clinc Inc., and the University of Guyana at the Herdmanston Lodge on Friday evening.

In a room filled with techies ranging from Software Engineers, Programmers, Website Developers and Application Development Manager, there was much enthusiasm for using technology to solve some of Guyana’s major problems.

However, the issue of reliable internet connection remains a problem as it is important to get things done, especially for this group of persons.

Eldon Marks, founder and CEO of V75 solutions, noted that “infrastructure is key.”

“If we can’t have reliable connectivity, then we might as well not do what we’re trying to do in terms of boosting the tech industry.”

In an interview with News Room, Marks expressed hope that the Telecommunications Ministry work assiduously to improve the infrastructure and connectivity throughout the country, as “the tech community here has world-class potential.”

Having worked in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector for many years and even lecturing at the University of Guyana for some time, Marks noted that it is important for talented individuals to remain and develop in Guyana –something which NeXus Hub Inc. will be pushing for.

The Hub will be providing an environment in the form of a physical space and an online platform for local developers to socialise and learn from each other.

It will also initiate several “tech- movements” or events which will provide opportunities for individuals to meet and collaborate with others to develop their brands, or potential clients to expand their businesses.

“Having the right opportunities will make a world of difference,” Marks said.

The NeXus Hub initiative is a spinoff from an event called DevX which was held in 2017. DevX was an exhibition where techies were able to showcase their products.

According to Marks, it was found at that event that only 12% of the 70+ persons who participated were involved in collaborations. He said there were also low rates of innovations.

“There were a lot of service-oriented work such as websites and web apps but very little instances of innovation-centric work such as research, robotics, animation and then there was marginal global market penetration.”

“So, of those service-oriented works which we nominated, less than ten of them were for clients outside of Guyana so with those statistics, we were a bit troubled about the future of the tech industry,” he disclosed.

NeXus, therefore, seeks to address these issues.

At Friday’s launch, Local Entrepreneur and Founder of ActionCoach Guyana, Vishnu Doerga offered his services to those interested in expanding their businesses.

Impressed by the talents that exist within the local Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, one overseas based Guyanese, who has demonstrated prowess on the world stage, has committed his efforts toward the development of the sector locally.

Dr Jason Mars, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Clinc, a company that is said to have created the world’s most sophisticated and comprehensive conversational Artificial Intelligence (A.I) platform for enterprises, has embarked on the establishment of a scholarship programme that would afford Computer Science Majors at the University of Guyana (UG) an opportunity to pursue PhD studies at the University of Michigan.

Added to that, he has also began networking with local tech companies, an interaction that has led to individuals being invited to train and work on a project for the Ford Motor Company.

In a recent interview with Sunday Stabroek, Dr. Mars, born to Guyanese parents Joan and Perry Mars, explained that though he was born in Jamaica, he spent several years in Guyana before migrating to the US at the age of eight.

It was during his schooling in the US that his interest in computer science was sparked and later manifested into what it is right now.

With a PhD in Computer Science from University of Virginia, the 35-year-old was recognized as one of the ten most innovative CEOs in banking by Bank Innovation. He is also a professor of computer science at the University of Michigan, where he directs Clarity Lab, one of the best places in the world to be trained in A.I. and system design. Prior to the University of Michigan, Dr. Mars was a professor at the University of California San Diego. He also worked at Google, Intel and IBM. Dr Mars’ work building the world’s first open-source platform for constructing large-scale A.I. and deep learning-based Intelligent Personal Assistants (IPAs) has been recognised globally and continues to have a significant impact on industry and academia.

Clinc began as a research group at the University of Michigan under the name Clarity Labs Inc; a name which was later shortened to Clinc. The company was launched in July, 2015, with a mission to redefine experiences through Conversational A.I and presently has 100 plus employees, having doubled its staff only three months ago.

For those who may not be entirely familiar with the term ‘Conversational AI’, it is simply software that allows interaction through conversation, such as is the case with the popular Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. However, the technology developed by Clinc is said to be much more sophisticated.

According to the CEO, the Clinc team has spent a lot of time building and growing the company and has offices in Michigan, San Francisco and London. Clinc also has customers on four continents, mostly with large enterprises in America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Singapore. Its success as a company thus far is mirrored in the works it has done for enterprises such as Barclays Bank in the UK, Wells Fargo, Ford and other large companies.

According to Dr. Mars, while they would have placed a lot of focus on development of Conversational AI for financial institutions, they have since branched off. This decision has led to plans to re-launch the company later this year as they are able to support a number of different fields through the development of conversational A.I. for all experiences.

Deepening ties

But even with all of this going on, Dr Mars says he is still very much interested in deepening ties with the local tech sector.

The CEO explained that though he left Guyana at a young age, he still sees Guyana as home and as such, he visits often and is willing to assist in whatever ways he can to help with the economic development of the tech sector here.

He explained that during his last visit to Guyana in May, he met with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana and was able to select two Computer Science Majors for the Scholarship programme.

“The beautiful thing about Guyana is that it has intellectual and energetic young people with fires in their belly to do good work,” Dr. Mars said, while expressing the belief that there needs to be more work in educational development in order for persons to be able to compete globally.

“I saw an opportunity to bring them to do studies at a top university in America”, the CEO said. He also expressed the hope of being able to make the initiative an annual occurrence.

Meanwhile, Sunday Stabroek was told that while the initial plan was to select only one person, because he was truly impressed by the talent he came across, a decision was made by Dr Mars to select two persons. They are: Christopher Clarke and Roland Daynauth.

Dr Mars explained that while Daynauth is expected to start later this year, Clarke will be applying at the end of summer and is expected to start early next year. Regarding the networking with local tech companies, Dr. Mars spoke highly of Version 75 Solutions (V75), a social impact focused software company in Guyana.

According to Dr. Mars, he connected with Eldon Marks, CEO and Founder of Version 75 Solutions, after asking around to meet leaders in the local tech sector.

Dr. Mars said he found particular interest in a V75 social impact project, for which Clinc has since offered funding.

It was further explained that because Dr. Mars was so impressed with the talent he saw, he invited Marks and two of V75’s team members to Ann Arbor, Michigan to undergo competency engineer training on his company’s AI platform. According to Dr. Mars, the duo has since been assigned tasks on a project undertaken by Clinc for the Ford motor company.

Something Different

For his part, Marks told Sunday Stabroek that Dr Mars and his company bring “something different” to the table.

He explained that while his company would have been contacted in the past by foreign companies, he found that they were more or less looking for cheap labour.

This, however, is not the case with Clinc, as they have shown that they not only value the work of the local tech community, but are also genuinely interested in giving back through exposure and opportunities.

Marks also confirmed that V75 team members Asa Brouet and Shemar Lindie have been assigned tasks in the completion of a project for Ford undertaken by Clinc, and he added that the men are thrilled to be working on the project, while adding that he continues to receive excellent feedback from Dr. Mars and his team.

“There is so much that can be done and it’s really sad to see that the talent does not have the ability to create value for the entire world. I saw an opportunity to create an avenue for those doing computer science so those resources can be funneled into Guyana,” Dr. Mars said.

“I will contribute to sparking and building the tech sector in Guyana. We are just getting started…We are excited about what we are doing and I am committed to investing in Guyana and helping to contribute to the economic development of the tech sector, so stay tuned,” he added.

Advancing ICT Education through digital exhibitions

THE walls that have existed which affected the evolution of Guyana’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector are crumbling as more and more companies, groups and organisations join the Government in transforming the country’s technological landscape. Even as a young group of Guyanese innovators gear up to participate in the inaugural Robot Olympics in Washington DC, USA this month, some of Guyana’s best tech companies, software teams and digital freelancers are preparing to host the country’s first Digital Industry Exhibition – devX – in August. For Eldon Marks – Founder of Version75 Solutions (V75), and Co-Founder of weOwn space – devX will make history with Guyana’s first month-long online exhibition packed with an exciting series of events.

devX is a ‘reboot’ of an earlier initiative that emerged from the collective of freelancers and tech startups which comprise the V75 Network. “What sparked this initiative was how frustrated the majority of our members felt about hardly ever acting on their endless supply of great app ideas. In addition, the ‘techpreneurs’ [tech-entrepreneurs] within our network needed a more powerful means to network and promote their products and services. In response to this, we sought to organise a public event to hold ourselves accountable and drive us towards producing and promoting our homegrown innovations,” Marks explained.

Though the initiative was placed on pause for a while, the team in recent months re-initiated the project under the name devX to promote the work of local digital industry professionals and simultaneously attract much-needed investors. The month-long event includes live exhibitor presentations, talks from companies and industry experts on topics related to developing a digital industry and open house attraction events, such as game nights, socials and mixers for networking. “devX will give local tech companies, software teams and other digital freelancers a platform to showcase their best work, network with each other, attract local and foreign clientele and investors and inspire the younger generation,” Marks told the Pepperpot Magazine in an exclusive interview.

In explaining the primary objectives of the exhibition, Marks said it is designed to demonstrate Guyana’s capacity for national competitiveness through the digital industry, while attracting potential investors and creating opportunities for local digital industry professionals on the International Market. Using the devX app, registered exhibitors will promote their products and services as the expo unfolds digitally from August 4-31. It was noted too, that during the same period, offline events will be held at a variety of locations, including weOwn’s space in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Website designs, web application, mobile apps, desktop app, robotics/embedded, tech services, animation, graphic designs, and research pieces and concepts are among the exhibits in the line-up for the much- anticipated event. Marks, who has been empowering persons through ICT for more than 12 years at the University of Guyana, said exhibitors would be required to register before they are given access to the platform. Once permission is granted, the software developers would upload their exhibits for viewing by patrons, investors and even their fellow developers. “The platform allows us to transcend physical limitations and boundaries. It allows persons from not just Georgetown but all around the country to showcase their ability, using this online platform,” Marks further explained.

Today more than 40 exhibitors have confirmed their participation;however, according to the social entrepreneur, the majority hail from Region Four. As such, the devX organising committee has been raising awareness among ICT stakeholders in other parts of the country to enlist their participation. “While it also transcends the boundaries of the city, persons would be easily able to share, so that they can showcase to all parts of the world,” he said. Like the exhibitors, patrons would be required to register using the app before they have full accessibility. However, it was explained that patrons and investors would be able to preview all of the exhibits before they register, but only limited information would be provided.

Turning his attention to investors’ support, Marks said persons in the field of ICT, in particular software developers and programmers, are faced with the sad reality that acquiring local support from businesses is a difficult one. “Companies here still have a culture whereby they don’t appreciate the need for an extensive IT Department. They are now becoming aware of how important applying ICTs to their operation is, and so, they are scouting for talent, they are now looking for developers,” he posited.

The devX team is hoping, however, that the digital exposition would play a critical role in raising greater awareness on the importance of technology in today’s commercial sector. Thus far, three major businesses have enlisted their support for the online exhibition. Other companies have signalled their interest. The Government, through the Ministry of Public Telecommunication (MoPT), has also enlisted its support. Marks explained that the MoPT and the E-Government Agency, have funding available for the development of a number of e-services and projects, and access to a registry of local, skilled digital industry professionals would greatly aid in their procurement process. As a result, the ministry has opted to make use of the information that would be gathered during devX.

Additionally, the ministry is also hosting its “code sprint” event during the month of August as part of the series of activities planned by the devX organising committee. When asked if Government was doing enough to develop our digital industry, Marks, in offering his opinion, said this Government is playing its part, and it is the private sector that must step up to the mantle. “I believe that Government is doing their part in terms of facilitating, and it should be that way, whereby the government facilitates the communities, but it really should be the responsibility of the various communities — the private sector in particular — to drive these initiatives and sustain them across regime changes for us to witness marked progress,” Marks opined.

Young Guyanese seeking to break into entrepreneurship in the digital industry will be afforded the opportunity to place their ‘offerings’ on display at a Developers Exhibition (Dev X) from August 4 – 31, 2017. The event will allow for both online and face-to-face participation with the latter being held at the organizers of the event, WeOwn Space’s Lot 3 David Rose and Aubrey Barker streets premises and at other locations currently being determined.

An application has also been created that will allow for online viewing of and participation in the event. The same app will manage the registration of exhibitors and facilitate the uploading of exhibits and sponsors’ registration.

Sponsorship packages range from $ 5,000 to $ 200,000. The app will also allow for patron registration and ticket access.

Eldon Marks, Chief Executive Officer of Version 75 (V75) Solution Corporation and creator of the Developers Exhibition explained that V75 specializes in web development, information systems and mobile application development among other IT pursuits. Marks told Stabroek Business that he is prepared to enter into negotiations with the Ministry of Business that will allow access to the service for the annual GuyExpo event in order to allow for viewing of the event in the comfort of home.

According to Marks, the exhibition will afford local tech companies, software teams and other digital freelancers a platform to showcase their work, network with each other, attract local and foreign clientele and investors and inspire the young tech adherents.

He said that in so doing the initiative will promote Guyana’s capacity for competitiveness through the digital industry both locally and overseas.

In addition to the exhibits, the event will feature discourse on the tech services and products on exhibition and will allow for professionals to discuss challenges in the tech field and how these might be addressed.

Marks told Stabroek Business that the planned event has so far attracted approximately 30 exhibitors and one sponsor and that he is confident that it will attract greater interest in the period ahead. (Interested persons can register online (https://app.devxevent.com) or visit the office at Aubrey Barker Road)

On Thursday June 1, about 60 millennials attended a Dev X Open House at WeOwn Space, an event which, according to Marks, was aimed at “rallying human capital” for the country’s first ever digital industry exhibition. Marks said there are many tech entrepreneurs around the country “doing their thing in the corner and I am hoping to bring these individuals together in a collaborative effort.” He said the bigger picture was the further development of the digital industry in Guyana.

The event organizer said he believes that it is important for Guyana to develop the industry since it is now widely recognized that technology is a major driver for economic development globally. The former University of Guyana Computer Science lecturer asserted that many developing countries now rely on the technology industry as a major source of job creation.

Marks disclosed that following his successful completion of a Computer Science programme at UG and during his tenure as an assistant lecturer he discovered that several students had a great deal of “raw potential,” a discovery that moved him in the direction of creating an institution that would allow them to work on writing and managing projects and interfacing with clients.

He said that arising out of the response to his initiative he decided to create the V 75 network as a community for budding and experienced tech entrepreneurs. The network currently comprises about 30 individuals and Marks said a decision was taken to use the Giftland Mall as a space in which they could engage potential customers and market their products.

Last November, V75 was tasked with designing a prototype crime-reporting app that would allow citizens to report incidents including robberies, and other emergencies as part of a competition staged by the Ministry of Public Telecommu-nication. As a result of winning the competition the V75 team secured both local and overseas attention and a venture capitalist visited Guyana to discuss investing in the software.

While the engagement did not bear fruit the company, nonetheless, has since gained recognition and attracted clients in North America.

Arising out of the event staged by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications V75 decided to stage the forthcoming online exhibition, which Marks says will display the products and services both locally and overseas.

Version 75 is also seeking to establish a developer playground which will offer an attractive stipend package to talented individuals in search of experience. Marks explained that students leaving UG frequently secure various forms of employment in order to meet their living expenses. His aim, he said, is to provide them with an opportunity to further develop their real talents.

Asserting that capital accumulation is a major challenge in the local technology industry, Marks said he was aware that the sector was currently looking at ways to increase and to become more “product oriented.”

Marks and Chita Dwarka are co-owners of the WeOwn Space. At WeOwn Space they seek to provide physical accommodation to tech entrepreneurs and internet services, tables, chairs and laptops at a cost of $500 an hour.

“LIVE YOUR dream. Be as crazy as you possibly can be, ignore the status quo, set your goals and go after them with blind determination,” Social Entrepreneur, Eldon Marks said as he addressed a room full of entrepreneurs and software developers in a collaborative work space he had developed with his business partner, Chitra Dwarka.

Marks, who ever so often describes himself as a dreamer, is no stranger to Guyana, having won the Ministry of Public Telecommunication’s first Hackathon along with his team from Version75 Solutions (V75) in November, 2016. But long before he had risen to stardom, Marks had been quietly working behind the scenes, molding the nation’s youths to be the best version of themselves.

For 12 years, he lectured and mentored hundreds of students at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Guyana. It was at that university that the former Bishops’ High School student had acquired his undergraduate Degree in Computer Science before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Computer Science at Howard University, Washington D.C. At Howard he specialized in Artificial Intelligence and completed the programme in three semesters with a 4.0 GPA.

“I owe much of academic and professional development to the University of Guyana, more specifically to my former lecturers in the Department of Computer Science who later became my colleagues and mentors. The environment that I was afforded as a student and subsequently as a young lecturer gave me the opportunity to discover my true potential and reach further than I had ever conceived.”

Although being exposed to what many describe as the “world of opportunities,” Marks opted to return home to contribute to the development of his country in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Entrepreneurship.

“Looking out from a developing economy, it is easy to see what we don’t have and it is easy to be consumed with studying our problems instead of solving them. ICT Entrepreneurs are much needed in Guyana for two reasons: (1) it is widely accepted that digital industries where an individual can electronically provide services and products regardless of geographic location are significant drivers for economic growth – simply put, a trained web designer with a laptop and Internet access can quickly and readily earn a decent living, even in Guyana. (2) The entrepreneur mindset is concerned with assessing problems to quickly and effectively solve them – taking action over talking about it.”

Further, driven by his personal philosophy drawn from spiritual teachings and his innate desire to empower others while empowering himself, the husband and father of one made one of his many dreams a reality developing his own company – Version75 Solutions.

Marks explained that V75 is a community disguised as a company uniting user interface design specialists, graphics designers, marketers, web developers, mobile application developers, database developers and software engineers to deliver the most effective, comprehensive and unified solutions.

As a ‘dreamer,’ he told the budding entrepreneurs and software developers that there were risks that he had to take but it was important for his dream to materialize.

“There are realists and then there are dreamers. A realist would understand certain parameters and these parameters would be based on what they can see, what they can touch, what they can feel,” he posited while explaining his perspective.

A dreamer, on the other hand he explains, pushes beyond the limits set by society. “So being a dreamer really means constantly challenging those social norms, the status quo, pushing the limits and eventually discovering what more we can actually do and how much more we can deliver,” he explained.

For him there is no harm in taking risks. “There is really no harm in taking that risk of setting an objective, however, crazy it might be. You set the objective as high as possible and whether you achieve it or not, you learn from it. Be as crazy as you possibly can be, ignore the status quo, set your goals and go after it with blind determination,” he posited. Though there will be challenges, there are meant to be overcome, Social Entrepreneur emphasized.

Here in Guyana, Marks and his team at V75 were faced with the sad reality that acquiring local support from businesses in the field of ICT was a difficult one. But instead of ‘packing up shop’ and opting to do something else, they decided to target foreign markets. “Locally we are faced with this stigma with respect to our own local developers…. We have this diminished image of our own skills as Guyanese,” he explained. Its first client was a Canadian company.

“Through networking, we were fortunate enough to secure an offshore client – a Canadian Insurance Company,” he added. Today, 64 per cent of its projects are for clients outside of Guyana.

There was another challenge V75 had faced during its initial phase – the team had difficulties finding a common work space. It was out of that challenge that WeOwn Space was established approximately seven months ago. The collaborative work space, situated at Lot 3 David Rose Street and Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown, in the words of Marks, “gives local startups a fighting chance,” on a daily basis. It was further explained that WeOwn Space provides a unique environment for co-working, leaning, collaborating and networking to support Guyanese on their professional journey.

Though Marks is the founder of V75 and the Co-founder of WeOwn Space, he said for both entities there is no boss, noting that the input of all team members is important and valued deeply. Outside of the world of ICT, Marks said he is a husband and father one. He said while pursuing one’s dreams is important, family is important too.

“It is no easy task to be a full-time professional and have a family. The constant context switching and collection of responsibilities can often force you to choose one or the other. In my case, my family is the reason that I became a social entrepreneur who lives up to delivering value. I can better provide for them today while leaving behind a slightly better world, tomorrow.”

STARTUP Grind Georgetown Guyana successfully pulled off its first fireside chat and networking forum with entrepreneurs in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), calling for Guyanese to embrace local software developers.

Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community actively educating, inspiring and connecting 1,000,000 entrepreneurs in over 200 cities. The Georgetown GY Chapter is the one of the most recent additions to the international organisation which has been nurturing startup ecosystems in 98 countries through events and partnerships with organisations like Google for Entrepreneurs.

During the groundbreaking event at WeOwn Space in South Ruimveldt Gardens on Wednesday evening, Director of Startup Grind Georgetown Hilary Benjamin-Byer engaged the Founder of Version75 Solutions and Co-founder of WeOwn Space Eldon Marks in an explosive interview.

While chronicling his life’s experiences before a live audience of close to 40 budding entrepreneurs, Marks explained that Version75 Solutions (V75) is a community disguised as a company uniting user interface design specialists, graphics designers, marketers, web developers, mobile application developers, database developers and software engineers to deliver the most effective, comprehensive and unified solutions.

He said when the digital company was established three years ago, it initially targeted foreign companies outside of Guyana due to the current stigma that persists.

“Locally we are faced with this stigma with respect to our own local developers…. We have this diminished image of our own skills as Guyanese,” he explained. Its first client was a Canadian company.

“Through networking, we were fortunate enough to secure an offshore client – a Canadian Insurance Company,” he added. Today, 64 per cent of its projects are for clients outside of Guyana.

TENDENCY

Marks’ sentiments were seconded by Chief Executive Officer of IntellectStorm, Rowen Willabus, who during the networking session, explained that many Guyanese have a tendency to support products and services that are developed outside of the country.

“In Guyana we have this culture where we must get a foreign nod before people could see the value in what we are doing,” Willabus posited.

He said the team at IntellectStorm – an Information Technology based solutions and marketing company – only gained national recognition and acceptance after it would have won the PitchIT Caribbean Challenge Competition in Jamaica with its mobile software application Directory.gy. As such, Willabus said it is important for entrepreneurs to collaborate within communities like Startup Grind to eradicate the stigma.

“We as a people, we as an entrepreneurial community, we need to come together and keep pushing, pushing the boundaries, pushing people’s expectations – that is what is going to destroy this thing,” Willabus’ partner Triston Thompson added.

Notwithstanding the challenges, the entrepreneurs said the Government through the Public Telecommunication Ministry is creating an enabling environment, particularly for entrepreneurs in the field of ICT.

According to them, the hosting of the 2016 Hackathon is a step in the right direction, noting that more and more businesses are having greater appreciation for ICT. The Hackathon, held for the first time in Guyana in November 2016, was designed to give software product developers an opportunity to own and market their own products and simultaneously develop their skills.

EXCELLENT INITIATIVE

Minister of Public Telecommunication Cathy Hughes said the ‘Fireside Chat and networking” hosted by Startup Grind Georgetown GY was an “excellent initiative” – one which will help to promote Guyanese entrepreneurs and simultaneously ease the stigma.

“More and more I love the fact that people are getting up and doing new and innovative things,” Minister Hughes said on the sideline of the forum. Enthusiastic about the future of ICT in Guyana, the minister, with a burst of excitement, said it is only through ICT that Guyana will be transformed.

She said, however, the issues regarding local support is not unique to the ICT sector. “We as Guyanese traditionally seem to think that something foreign is better,” Minister Hughes said while pledging to ensure that the Government plays an important role in changing this reality.

“Why would you go to Trinidad and hire somebody to make an app when you have a Guyanese right here that can do it?” questioned the minister as she reiterated the call for Guyanese to support local entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the Local Startup Grind Director Hilary Benjamin-Byer said the ultimate goal of the organisation is to create a start-up community in Guyana.

“Tonight’s event was a major success. We are working our way into creating a community where entrepreneurs could be nurtured. Importantly too, the community will create a space where entrepreneurs could network with each, and have easy access to investors who are willing to invest in start-up businesses.

“A community in which potential and young entrepreneurs could be nurtured, a community that will allow for entrepreneurs to network and a community that will attract investors to invest in start-up businesses not only in ICT, but in all fields,” he said.

Operations Director Yogvika Arjune said the next event will be held in April.

In addition to the Minister of Public Telecommunication, the event was attended by President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GGCI) and ActionCOACH Guyana, Vishnu Doerga, Founder of the Masterclass Institute Rosh Khan, Charles Huton of eCabs and representatives from New Generation Great Minds (NGGM).

WITH a passion for entrepreneurship and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), a group of budding entrepreneurs have taken up the challenge of creating a start-up community in Guyana.

It all started when Start-up Grind, the largest independent start-up community actively educating, inspiring and connecting 1,000,000 entrepreneurs in over 200 cities, appointed Hilary Benjamin-Byer as its Guyanese Director in February 2017 after a rigorous process.

The international organization nurtures start-up ecosystems in 98 countries through events, media and partnerships with organizations like Google for Entrepreneurs. In an effort to strengthen its networks across borders and simultaneously provide assistance to budding entrepreneurs, monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies, are held.

For Benjamin-Byer, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Engineer who hails from Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Start-up Grind provides the ideal opportunity for him to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur – offering comprehensive solutions through ICT, while building a support ecosystem for entrepreneurs that will foster networking and professional development.

“These stimulating events which are required by Start-up Grind will allow us to create a start-up community right here in Guyana. A community in which potential and young entrepreneurs could be nurtured, a community that will allow for entrepreneurs to network and a community that will attract investors to invest in start-up businesses not only in ICT, but in all fields,” he said.

Quoting Abraham Lincoln, the 23-year-old University of Guyana graduate said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” As such he will be making his dream a reality when the first of many Start-up Grind fireside chats is held here in Guyana. It will allow local entrepreneurs to network while building on each other’s experience.

“During these stimulating sessions, entrepreneurs and even potential entrepreneurs will share their experiences, talking not only about their successes but their failures as well. You see many people don’t like to speak about failures, but when we fail we have an opportunity to internalize, analyze and come up with life- changing solutions,” Benjamin-Byer posited.

But to achieve his dream, the 23-year-old cannot do it alone. As such, he has managed to secure the support of budding entrepreneurs like himself with a similar passion for ICT.

Rosanna Ferreira and Yogvika Arjune, both of whom are ICT Engineers (Ast.) are now part of Start-up Grind, Georgetown in addition to Nevin Johnson, a Programmer Analyst.

“Start-up Grind is one of the largest globally Independent start-up communities and supported by Google for entrepreneurs, so naturally being a part of the Startup Grind Georgetown team is a great privilege,” Ferreira said in an exclusive interview with Guyana Chronicle.

As the Research & Assistant Co-coordinator, the 25-year-old is ever so often gathering and disseminating materials to help empower entrepreneurs.

“As the key research person of the team and a Start-up Grind ambassador I am constantly looking for Start-up Grind materials to help empower my team members as fellow ambassadors and to help create awareness among other fellow entrepreneurs in my community,” she posited.

Since becoming a member of Start-up Grind Georgetown, Ferreira successfully opened her own business.

“When I first joined the team at Start-up Grind Georgetown, I did not even understand the term entrepreneur. I am now the proud owner of business startup Cupcakes and Unique Delights. I am constantly looking at tips on becoming a better business owner, enjoying the compliments for my work and even encouraging others to become entrepreneurs like myself.” Johnson shared similar sentiments, noting that through Start-up Grind Georgetown, he will be able to make a difference.

“I love making a difference and being positive, whether in the life of others or by what I do professionally. My ultimate goal is to lead from the middle, influencing those who are above, below and adjacent,” he said.

As the Team Coordinator, he oversees the processes and details how the chapter will achieve its goals and objectives.

The inaugural event – fireside chat with Eldon Marks

Like Johnson and Ferreira, Arjune, who is the Operations Director, is overwhelmed to be a part of Start-up Grind Georgetown. Arjune said through the local chapter, Start-up Grind will engage the Founder of Version75 and Co-founder of WeOwn Space, Eldon Marks in an interview before a live audience on Wednesday March 22, 2017. Version75 is the winner of Guyana’s first Hacakathon.

“Marks, a social entrepreneur, software developer, educator and dreamer, is no stranger to Guyana. For 12 years, he lectured and mentored students at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Guyana,” she said.

It was explained that during the ground breaking event, Marks, who holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Howard University, will chronicle his life’s experiences as an entrepreneur. Additionally, Marks is expected to talk about how ICT is changing the way people do business.

The event will also create an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to network. As such, the event is expected to attract more than 40 budding entrepreneurs and investors from across the country.

It will be held at WeOwn Space conference Centre in South Ruimveldt from 18:30hrs. The entry fee is GY$1,500 and tickets can be bought on the night of the event or online via www.startupgrind.com/georgetown.

In an effort to make this and future events successful, Arjune said the local chapter is opened for sponsorship.

Version75 Solutions (V75), the team that recently won the first Hackathon held in Guyana, strongly believes that software development can become a viable and thriving industry in this country.

Speaking with this publication yesterday, V75 team member, Eldon Marks, said that there is a sustainable future for the industry. However, he also said that before this can be achieved there needs to be more deliberate environments which are able to give the naturally gifted human capital in Guyana an opportunity to discover and develop their true potential.

He said that, the Hackathon is one such space where professionals can gather, collaborate, network and create products to satisfy the software and ICT needs of clients in the private and public sector. According to Marks, his team has been fortunate to have access to a new ‘environment’ which he says seeks to offer great promise for Guyana’s entrepreneurs in the same vain. This environment which Marks referred to is known as “we Own” space. It is a shared office space located in South Ruimveldt Gardens.

Marks said that his team emphatically believes that software development has a bright future in Guyana. He said, “The hackathon is the most recent event which proves this. Our gifted community members also confirm this potential by delivering quality software solutions to many clients both home and abroad.”

When asked what can be done to improve future hackathons, Marks said that despite this year’s event being well executed, his team believes more scope should be given for innovation. “At the hackathon, we witnessed many innovative solutions being presented in concept but not in operation. In hackathons, the focus is on delivering the most complete working product in the time allotted leaving little room for creative thinking. We made the strategic decision to focus on delivering on functionality; however, if we were provided with a designated period for delivering on the concept, this would allow developers the room for more creative thinking.”

He said that in future events there can be an “Ideathon” which would focus on the formation of conceptual solutions before the Hackathon. Marks said, “The scope for innovation in these events could be much improved. The outputs of the “ideathon” competition can then be fed into the hackathon competition.”

All members of V75 are graduates of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Guyana. Marks said that the Department at UG recently revamped its academic programme and now offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Information Systems and Computer Science.

Even with this development, he believes that Guyana should not wait until the tertiary level to begin the journey of software development. He said, “This should be done at an early age at the beginning of the secondary level because there are a lot of young brilliant minds out there who would find it very fun and interesting to create an application.”

During the Hackathon which began on Friday and ended on Sunday at noon, the team chose challenge four captioned “Effective Incident Reporting”. They were tasked with creating an application to facilitate the reporting of incidents to the appropriate agency.

According to Marks, the application is capable of reporting any incident to any authority, not just the Guyana Police Force. “It can even work for private organisations for fault reporting like GPL power theft.” The other team members which participated in the event were Asa Brouet, Ashim Badrie and Shemar Lindie. According to Marks, the V75 network comprises over 30 individuals and five core members, four of whom participated in the competition.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Public Telecomunnications and held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara under the theme “Code till yuh drop”. The competition was geared towards bringing together software developers and designers to create workable solutions that can propel Guyana to the stage where citizens are familiar with digital technologies. The first place winner received $300,000; the second place, $200,000 and third $150,000. The Surinamese team CodeOps placed second, and the local Team Macros placed third.

Having endured 48-hours of intense coding, Version75 Solutions on Sunday emerged as the winners of the first ‘Hackathon,’ which was organised by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre last weekend.

Also known as a Hack Fest, or a Code Fest, hackathons are marathons for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) developers to showcase the creative side of ICT development, encouraging both novices and experts to work together to create software applications that provide solutions to real life challenges.

Held under the theme “code till yuh drop,” the event saw the participation of eight teams, one of which came from Suriname to vie for the first prize of $300,000 and bragging rights.

The winning team, Version 75 Solutions, also known as V75, was successfully able to develop a product in response to the challenge of creating an application that could facilitate the reporting of incidents to the appropriate agency.

As a requirement for the development of the app, it was expected that the team’s product must allow persons to give the specifics of the incident they are reporting such as time, location, nature of incident; and must allow for anonymous reporting; must be able to handle all types of incidents of national interests such as homicide, accidents, fires, power outages etc.

Formed on January 2, 2014, V75, is a software community disguised as a company that opts to prioritize collaboration over competition and is big on social impact through innovation.

“When we are not working on great solutions for our clients, we devote our time to pro-bono development, digital entrepreneurship support activities and offering free programming courses through our V75 Young Developers Group and weOwn space http://www.weown.space,” explained Eldon Marks, V75 team leader and Chief Executive Officer.

In a recent interview, Marks lauded the Ministry of Public Telecommunications for the Hackathon, which he said was long overdue in Guyana.

He stated that not only did the competition present ICT enthusiasts with an opportunity to exhibit their talents in this particular area, but it also exceeded his team’s expectations, leaving them with an experience that was nothing short of priceless.

In a recent interview, Marks lauded the Ministry of Public Telecommunications for the Hackathon, which he said was long overdue in Guyana.

He stated that not only did the competition present ICT enthusiasts with an opportunity to exhibit their talents in this particular area, but it also exceeded his team’s expectations, leaving them with an experience that was nothing short of priceless.

“Guyana has many groups of techpreneurs/ freelancers who had no real public outlet to exhibit their skillset and receive recognition and encouragement, prior to the hackathon. It is important to celebrate local talent in this industry, in particular, since IT has been identified as a major driver for economic development in our third-world country,” he shared.

“The team and I enjoyed every moment. Strangely, there was never any sense of tension or anxiety although it was a competition. This, I believe, was as a result of a great team dynamic and humility of my teammates – just having the opportunity to work together to build a nationally relevant product with no expectations made the experience a fun and enjoyable one,” Marks added.

While V75 has a network comprising 30 individuals, there are five core members, four of whom took part in the Hackathon; these were: Ashim Badrie, Shemar Lindie, Asa Brouet and the CEO himself.

Marks was quick to note that all five core members of V75 are proud to say they are products of the Department of Computer Science of the University of Guyana.

Commenting on the challenges the team would have faced during the competition, Marks said the biggest challenge for the team was finding a comfortable place to take a nap during the 48-hour period.

But apart from that, he said the team operated well together as each member knew what needed to be done and excellent group dynamics helped them to quickly resolve issues as they arose.

At the end of the 48 hours, Marks stated that the team members had the utmost confidence in their app, dubbed Tell, copping the coveted first place position.

“We have great confidence in our process and standard and we share this confidence in the quality of our work as well. The app was built on a solid foundation with a sound design. With a bit more refinement, we believe this should be ready for beta testing and later, public use very soon,” he shared.

Asked if he believes Guyana has a future in software development, Marks said, “Emphatically, yes! The hackathon is the most recent event which proves this. Our gifted community members also confirm this potential by delivering quality software solutions to many clients both home and abroad. In addition, based on the observed demand, more local enterprises are becoming more aware of the necessity of ICTs to optimize business operations. From simple websites to custom information systems.”

Moreover, he believes that with the right environment, this specific kind of entrepreneurship can be developed into a thriving industry in Guyana.

“We will first need more deliberate environments, which are able to give the naturally gifted human capital in Guyana an opportunity to discover and develop their true potential. Such environments are not unlike the one created for our 48hr hackathon which gave various professionals a place to gather, collaborate, network and produce,” he said.

“V75 has been fortunate to find a relatively new ‘environment,’ which seeks to offer great promise for Guyana’s entrepreneurs in the same vein. This environment is weOwn space, a shared office space located in South Ruimveldt Gardens. Quite a few techpreneurs are members of weOwn space,” Marks added.

Additionally, the team leader noted that there should be more emphasis on the ICT based programmes in the school system to foster the development of those who are interested in following ICT as a career.

“The Department of Computer Science has recently revamped their academic programmes, now offering degrees in IT, Information Systems and Computer Science. However, we believe that we shouldn’t wait until the tertiary level to begin the journey of software development. This should be done at an early age, at the beginning of the secondary level because there are a lot of young brilliant minds out there who would find it very fun and interesting to create an application,” Marks shared.

During a press conference held a few days prior to the event, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes indicated her interest in hosting similar competitions in 2017.

Marks noted that while the first hackathon was generally well planned out and executed, he recommended that the participants be given more scope for innovations in future competitions.

“At the hackathon, we witnessed many innovative solutions being presented in concept but not in operation. In hackathons, the focus is on delivering the most complete working product in the time allotted, leaving little room for creative thinking. We made the strategic decision to focus on delivering on functionality, however, if we were provided with a designated period for delivering on the concept, this would allow developers the room for more creative thinking,” Marks said.

“Possibly, in future events, by holding an “Ideathon” that focuses on the formulation of conceptual solutions before the hackathon, the scope for innovation in these events could be much improved. The outputs of the “ideathon” competition can then be fed into the hackathon competition,” he added.

While serving as the Head of Department (HOD) of Computer Science at the University of Guyana between 2010 and 2012, I conceptualized and spearheaded two installments of an expo out of the Department to address the gap between academia and industry.

Under the caption of "Optimizing Our Tomorrow by Shaping Young Minds of Today", the 2011 event aimed to promote three powerful concepts related to the country's development by showcasing notable undergraduate Computer Science research projects of 2010 and 2011 to high schools, NGO's, government and the business community.

The promoted concepts for development were:

(1)Innovation as a driver for productivity growth within Guyana, (2) Computer Science research & development (R&D) as a rich, cross-disciplinary source for endogenous innovation and (3) community, emphasizing that the only way to initiate and perpetuate innovation for development is to establish strategic alliances with industry and operate as an innovative collective through resource-sharing networks across Guyana.

Here is the recap of the event:

Here are my opening remarks: