USVI Hosts Tech Beach Retreat, Igniting Innovation and Collaboration

Entrepreneurs and innovators from across the globe converged at the Westin Beach Resort in St. Thomas for the V.I.’s inaugural Tech Beach Retreat (TBR) USVI Summit, held in partnership with UVI Research and Technology Park (RTP). The three-day event, spanning Wednesday to Friday, offered a vibrant platform for collaborative brainstorming, information exchange, and networking.

The summit’s agenda was rich with insightful discussions, starting with key leaders outlining the V.I.’s vision for a resilient, technology-driven economy. Michelle Francis, executive director at the Office of Health Information Technology, highlighted the progress and challenges within the healthcare sector. “Our hospitals and health centers in the USVI, and about 60 percent of our physicians do have electronic medical records—integrating them is the problem,” she explained. “We are about to launch our first-ever health information exchange. It has been a 20-year journey for the Virgin Islands to go from a fragmented process…to now incorporating telemedicine and integrating our siloed data sources for a holistic picture.”

Siobhan Cioppa, associate director of Business Development at RTP, emphasized the significance of tech partnerships in revitalizing the V.I.’s struggling industries. “Over the last several years, our medical technology center has really grown, and it says something that we [actively seek] companies in that sector because healthcare is such a dire need here,” she noted. “If we can bring in companies with professionals who are experienced and have knowledge and are building things in the med tech field, that’s helpful, and that also means we’re bringing people to the territory who have healthcare experience.”

As technology, especially generative artificial intelligence, becomes more integrated into society, Mark Minevich, president of Going Global Ventures and AI contributor at Forbes, discussed the role of governments in preparing the younger generation for a rapidly changing job market. Shaun Van Weelden from Human Data highlighted the educational potential of AI, stating, “Now, AI can continue that knowledge, so the only limit is…how fast you can learn, and that’s a cool opportunity for both adults and young children trying to learn in this new world that we’re finding ourselves in.”

Juan Manuel Rodriguez, senior manager ISOC at Liberty Latin America, shared practical AI applications for small businesses in the Caribbean. “Microsoft is now including Copilot as part of Windows and Office, so it’s very simple to start using AI in Excel [for instance] to improve how you do the analysis of your numbers, budget and so on.”

Investor and TBR panelist Junior Gaspard, a St. Croix native, stressed the importance of demonstrating excellence in execution, design, delivery, and customer success to employees. “Investing in your employees and creating an environment where radical candor is supported is key,” he said.

Richard Powell, founder and executive chairman of APCH Holdings, underscored three critical elements for business success: collaboration, radical transparency, and an obsessive focus on customers. “In today’s world, collaboration and strategic partnerships are far more powerful than a ruthless winner-takes-all approach in the marketplace.”

Concluding three days of engaging panel sessions, lively fireside chats, and valuable networking events, the Tech Beach Retreat USVI Summit established itself as a pivotal hub for connection and collaboration within the territory’s tech ecosystem.