{"id":604024,"date":"2026-04-14T19:15:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/604024\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T19:15:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:15:10","slug":"entrepreneurs-graduate-from-bedc-programme-the-royal-gazette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/604024\/","title":{"rendered":"Entrepreneurs graduate from BEDC programme – The Royal Gazette"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Celebration: pictured at the ceremony for the graduation of Cohort 7 of the BEDC\u2019s incubator programme for new businesses are, from left: Kelsea Williams, BEDC; Azia Parris, The Sipping Lab; Ashlyn Young, Tradie Central; Terai Wilson, The Pink Sand Confectionery; Vanessa Bartley, Scar Care Studio; Rico Beek, The Pink Sand Confectionery; Lashuna Smith, Cognoscent & Co; Deshun Simmons, BEDC; Quayunte Watson, Gombey Isle. Missing are Vanessa James, The Bottle Studio, and Vurnell Ball, Bermuda Sensory Company (Photograph supplied)<\/p>\n

Ten entrepreneurs and their nine businesses have graduated from the seventh cohort of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation\u2019s incubator programme.<\/p>\n

The BDEC hosted a celebration at the Fourways Inn on April 9 that brought together graduates, their families and friends, and BEDC team and board members.<\/p>\n

The Enterprise Bermuda Incubator supports local entrepreneurs in the early stages of their businesses, typically operating for two years or less. Participants engaged in a structured curriculum of in-person workshops, virtual check-ins, and monthly mentor meetings.<\/p>\n

Topics covered ranged from entrepreneurial mindset and business model development to financial literacy, brand identity, sales strategy, and pitching. Participants also benefited from complimentary office space and an international learning opportunities throughout the programme.<\/p>\n

The Cohort 7 graduates are:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Vanessa Bartley \u2013 Scar Care Studio: a paramedical tattoo business that helps reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and other skin conditions, offering inclusive care for all skin tones with a focus on restoring confidence through skin rejuvenation.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Vurnell Ball \u2013 Bermuda Sensory Company: a rental service for sensory items such as weighted blankets and lap pads, offering calm and comfort for use at home, school, or work through rental, subscription, or purchase options.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Vanessa James \u2013 The Bottle Studio: a sustainable design brand that transforms locally collected glass bottles into handcrafted home goods, from drinking glasses to candles, promoting reuse and eco-conscious style for locals and visitors alike.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Lashuna Smith \u2013 Cognoscent & Co: a luxury candle studio and scent bar offering natural candles, handcrafted skincare, and immersive scent experiences that blend wellness, intimacy, and personalised rituals in a premium, sensory-focused setting.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Quayunte Watson \u2013 Gombey Isle: a maker of handcrafted concrete candles and d\u00e9cor inspired by Bermuda’s culture, offering customisable, eco-friendly, and non-toxic products as meaningful gifts and keepsakes that celebrate island identity.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Zativah Johnston \u2013 Pi\u00f1ata Paradise: a provider of handcrafted, custom pi\u00f1atas for birthdays, holidays, and special events, crafting each piece to match the customer’s theme for a fun, memorable, and personalised celebration.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Rico Beek & Terai Wilson \u2013 The Pink Sand Confectionery: a Bermudian-based candy company creating premium vegan gummy candies inspired by traditional Bermudian flavours such as loquat and swizzle, celebrating island taste in every bite.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Azia Parris \u2013 The Sipping Lab: a full-service mixology company offering cocktail classes, team building activities, and event bar set-ups, delivering elevated and personalised social experiences through carefully curated menus.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ashlyn Young \u2013 Tradie Central: an admin and support hub for tradespeople, handling bookkeeping, scheduling, and business management so tradespeople can focus on the work they do best while Tradie Central manages the rest.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Lee Simmons, chairman of the BEDC board (Photograph supplied)<\/p>\n

Lee Simmons, chairman of the BEDC board, said: \u201cTonight is both a celebration and the beginning of your next chapter. You came in with ideas and leave with stronger plans, sharper skills, and a clearer sense of direction. You have proven you have what it takes, and we look forward to seeing what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vurnell Ball, owner of Bermuda Sensory Company, shared her experience in the programme. \u201cThis experience helped me believe in my vision for Bermuda Sensory Company,\u201d she said. \u201cIt pushed me to grow, step out of my comfort zone, and start building something meaningful for my community.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Erica Smith, executive director of the BEDC (Photograph supplied)<\/p>\n

Erica Smith, executive director of BEDC, reinforced the organisation\u2019s commitment to the graduating cohort in her closing remarks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile this chapter of the incubator is closing, your relationship with BEDC is not,\u201d Ms Smith said. \u201cWe remain committed to walking alongside you as you take your next steps and continue building businesses that contribute to Bermuda\u2019s economy. Keep building. Keep learning. Keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

BEDC extends its appreciation to the families, friends, mentors, and team and board members whose presence and support made the evening a meaningful celebration of entrepreneurship and community in Bermuda.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Applications for the eighth cohort of the Enterprise Bermuda Incubator open on April 27, 2026, with the programme running from July 2, 2026 to March 31, 2027. To learn more about the Enterprise Bermuda Incubator, explore this and past cohorts, and apply when applications open, visit www.bedc.bm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Celebration: pictured at the ceremony for the graduation of Cohort 7 of the BEDC\u2019s incubator programme for new…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":604025,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[23683,45,49,48,137],"class_list":{"0":"post-604024","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entrepreneurship","8":"tag-bermuda-economic-development-corporation","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-ca","11":"tag-canada","12":"tag-entrepreneurship"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=604024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/604025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=604024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=604024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=604024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}