{"id":160849,"date":"2021-11-10T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=160849"},"modified":"2021-11-10T06:05:04","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T11:05:04","slug":"ictp-180-leveraging-online-equity-crowdfunding-for-business-growth-and-expansion-through-arawakx-pan-caribbean-securities-exchange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/11\/ictp-180-leveraging-online-equity-crowdfunding-for-business-growth-and-expansion-through-arawakx-pan-caribbean-securities-exchange\/","title":{"rendered":"ICTP 180: Leveraging online equity crowdfunding for business growth and expansion through ArawakX Pan Caribbean Securities Exchange"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this podcast episode, we talk with Bria Deveaux, the Equities Coordinator, and D\u2019Arcy Rahming Jr, the Chief Technology Officer, of ArawakX Pan Caribbean Securities Exchange, an online platform in the Bahamas that facilitates equity crowdfunding for businesses. During our conversation, we discuss, among other things: the services ArawakX offers, and how it leverages technology; the types of businesses that can seek funding, and how to become an investor; and whether ArawakX intends to extend its services to Caribbean businesses and Caribbean investors.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/iframe><div style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\" title=\"ICT Pulse Podcast\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICT Pulse Podcast<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\/ictp-180-leveraging-online\" title=\"ICTP 180: Leveraging online equity crowdfunding for business growth and expansion through ArawakX Pan Caribbean Securities Exchange\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICTP 180: Leveraging online equity crowdfunding for business growth and expansion through ArawakX Pan Caribbean Securities Exchange<\/a><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<meta charset=\"utf-8\">This episode is also available in <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast\/id1373550291\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple iTunes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Icau5acn2xiyl5yjuh7orl2mt54?t%3DICT_Pulse_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play Music<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/3d0U4ZYX80e5lenYLdzyX4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a> and on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stitcher<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOne of the challenges that Caribbean businesses, particularly those that operate in the digital space face, is access to financing. Our investor ecosystem is not as developed as in other countries or regions, and so start-ups and established businesses alike tend to have to rely on loan financing through local commercial banks. However, accessing such financing is still a challenge, especially for online businesses, as they tend to lack the types of assets that banks can hold as collateral. Luckily, and to varying degrees, the investment environment across the Caribbean region is beginning to develop, and alternatives are beginning to emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOne of these alternatives is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arawakx.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ArawakX Pan Caribbean Securities Exchange<\/a><\/strong>, an equity crowdfunding firm headquartered in the Bahamas, that has been gaining considerable visibility over the past several months. ArawakX combines investment crowdfunding technology, and specialised legal and business processes, to match investors with companies seeking capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\nArawakX helps companies raise between USD 250,000 and USD 5 million for growth and expansion. For its investors, it provides a trusted, safe, and secure online marketplace that fosters financial inclusion for all levels of investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing our guests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"160853\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/11\/ictp-180-leveraging-online-equity-crowdfunding-for-business-growth-and-expansion-through-arawakx-pan-caribbean-securities-exchange\/bria-devaux-darcy-rahming-jr-arawakx\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Bria-Devaux-DArcy-Rahming-Jr-ArawakX.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Bria Devaux, D’Arcy Rahming Jr (ArawakX)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Bria-Devaux-DArcy-Rahming-Jr-ArawakX.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Bria-Devaux-DArcy-Rahming-Jr-ArawakX.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Bria-Devaux-DArcy-Rahming-Jr-ArawakX.jpg?resize=740%2C416&ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-160853\" width=\"740\" height=\"416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Bria-Devaux-DArcy-Rahming-Jr-ArawakX.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Bria-Devaux-DArcy-Rahming-Jr-ArawakX.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Bria-Devaux-DArcy-Rahming-Jr-ArawakX.jpg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/briadeveaux\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bria Deveaux<\/a><\/strong> serves as an Equities Coordinator at ArawakX. She holds a Master of Science in Marketing from Drexel University, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln  in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with focuses on Finance and Marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBria is the Co-Founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.projectlimestone.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Project Limestone<\/a>, a Bahamian based non-profit organisation whose mission is to create diverse environments, through academics and sports, that cultivate a curiosity for learning, and respect for self and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/d-arcy-rahming-jr-41b1a41b?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAQfA1cB34n9JHa_LLkVNcQqr5Cdob5PLgQ&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_people%3BxqfV%2B5gHSsW8GonxDR4zxw%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">D\u2019Arcy Rahming Jr,<\/a><\/strong> is the Chief Technology Officer of ArawakX. He graduated from Northwestern University’s Engineering School with a degree in Robotics, and later joined his father in Management Consulting. There they helped small and medium sized businesses increase sales, and structure themselves for continued growth and investment.  A millennial entrepreneur, many of D\u2019Arcy Rahming Jr\u2019s contemporaries are also entrepreneurs in various industries.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Insights into our conversation<\/h2>\n\n\n\nAlthough ArawakX was over four years in the making, over the past several months and almost every week, it is in the news in the Bahamas, as it seems to be offering Bahamians a new avenue through which to invest. Further, and with the launch of the Sand Dollar, the Central Bank Digital Currency of the Bahamas, along with MyGateway, the digital transformation programme of the Government of the Bahamas, both of which were discussed on the Podcast, it seems that the Bahamas is gaining momentum in its transition to a digital society.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAn important talking point in the conversation with Bria and D\u2019Arcy was the concept of financial inclusion. Yes, ArawakX is on track to make a lot of money, but in establishing an equity crowdfunding platform, which inherently operates as a stock exchange, ArawakX is opening up the investor market. As a result, investors will no longer only be those with hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to spend, but now also includes the man of the street that wants to buy just one share of a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBelow are a few of the questions posed to Bria and D\u2019Arcy during the course of our conversation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li>Before we focus on ArawakX, tell us a bit more about yourself, and your role at ArawakX.<\/li><li>How did ArawakX get started? What does it hope to achieve, and what are the services it offers?<\/li><li>How would you explain \u2018equity crowdfunding\u2019?<\/li><li>What are the types of businesses that can seek funding via ArawakX? And what does the vetting process look like?<\/li><li>For prospective investors, are there any criteria they must satisfy? And what does the vetting process look like?<\/li><li>How does ArawakX leverage technology to facilitate the services it offers?<\/li><li>What has been the impact of the pandemic on ArawakX? Has there been, or was there a slow-down in business, or did it ramp up over the past year?<\/li><li> What are some of the internal KPI (Key Performance Indicators) or markers of success that are important to ArawakX?<\/li><li>How soon will ArawakX to be expanding into the Caribbean?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe would love to hear from you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDo leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ICTPulse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/strong><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ict-pulse-consulting-limited\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a> pages, or via Twitter, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ICTPulse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@ICTPulse<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Select links<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBelow are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/briadeveaux\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bria Deveaux<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/d-arcy-rahming-jr-41b1a41b?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAQfA1cB34n9JHa_LLkVNcQqr5Cdob5PLgQ&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_people%3BxqfV%2B5gHSsW8GonxDR4zxw%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">D\u2019Arcy Rahming Jr.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.arawakx.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ArawakX Pan Caribbean Securities Exchange<\/a><\/li><li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode, <a href=\"https:\/\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/2020\/09\/ictp-121-launching-a-digital-currency-in-the-caribbean-with-the-central-bank-of-the-bahamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICTP 121: Launching a digital currency in the Caribbean, with the Central Bank of the Bahamas<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode, <a href=\"https:\/\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/2021\/10\/ictp-175-delving-into-the-government-of-the-bahamas-digital-transformation-programme-with-michael-hamilton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICTP 175: Delving into the Government of the Bahamas Digital Transformation Programme, with Michael Hamilton<\/a><\/em> <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nImage credits: ArawakX; Sora Shimazaki (<a href=\"http:\/\/pexels.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels<\/a>); <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pxfuel.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pxfuel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nMusic credit: Ray Holman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nPodcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In this podcast episode, we talk with Bria Deveaux, the Equities Coordinator, and D\u2019Arcy Rahming Jr, the Chief Technology Officer, of ArawakX Pan Caribbean Securities Exchange, an online platform in the Bahamas that facilitates equity crowdfunding for businesses. During our conversation, we discuss, among other things: the services ArawakX offers, and how it leverages technology; the types of businesses that can seek funding, and how to become an investor; and whether ArawakX intends to extend its services to Caribbean businesses and Caribbean investors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":160852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[355],"tags":[71,119,205,204,357],"class_list":["post-160849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-businesses","tag-crowdsourcingcrowdfunding","tag-entrepreneurship-2","tag-innovation-2","tag-interviews","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Featured-Image-%E2%80%93-ArawakX.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2iE1G-FQl","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160849"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160861,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160849\/revisions\/160861"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}