The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

BELIZE

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

ABOUTHere at The Startup Monthly, we’ve come across various guides here and there about the startup communities in different countries. But, they’ve been inconsistent, and not all countries are covered.

This guide is by no means meant to be complete and all encompassing. Consider it a starting point if you’re an entrepreneur, investor or researcher.

We plan to update these guides at least annually and welcome any suggestions or additions we should consider adding to the guide. I.e. startups, investors, community resources, etc.

Please email any suggestions or questions to editor@thesocialmediamonthly.com.

Lead Researcher: Christian Arthur Last Updated: July 3, 2016

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

INTRODUCTION

(1) (2)

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

INTRODUCTION

Belize

• Government: Parliamentary democracy under constitutional3

monarchy; part of British Commonwealth.

• GDP(PPP): $3.09 billion (per capita $8,400)

• Unemployment rate: 12.9% (2014 est.)

• Inflation rate: -0.06% (2015 est.)

• Population below poverty line: 41% (2013 est.)

• Main Industries: tourism, oil, bananas, cacao, citrus, garment

production, food processing, tourism, construction, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

STARTUP SCENE

Belize

• “poverty, government corruption and inefficiency bog down an antiquated and cumbersome business regulatory apparatus.”6

• The startup ecosystem of Belize is practically nonexistent. • Global networks like Startup Weekend, StartupBlink, and Angel List have

found minimal footing in the country.

• Entities encouraging innovation, and stimulating the ecosystem:• Small Business Development Centre Belize: providing services and advising.• Science Technology and Innovation Institute: Belizean-Korean partnership

to develop STEM human capital and technologies.

• Some emergence of mom-and-pop stores and medium-sized businesses.7

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

MOST PROMISING STARTUPS

Cohune Energy Ltd.

• Burn shella of Cohune nut; produce dietary & cosmetic oil.

• 1/20 energy proposals sent to gov. for review.

• $350M factory to make 30 megawatts

Barefoot Properties

• Real estate co.• Originally focused

on “greenfield,” but has expanded to include residential.

• Capitalizes on large amounts of underdeveloped Belize land.

BitcoinSource

• Currency-exchange platform for cryptocurrency bitcoin.

• Web portal for Bitcoin resources.

• Ranked #1 by StartupBlink11.

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

INVESTORS & INFLUENCERS

• Richard Harrison is the managing director of PragmaticaInvestments.

• Beltraide, the Center for the Promotion of Micro and Small Enterprises, has provided venture capital to young businesses.

• Commercial loans are the largest source of startup funding.10

• Full Basket Belize provides grants for initiatives geared towards social improvement.

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

COVERAGE OF STARTUPS

Amandala – Leading newspaper for the country.

BelizeBusiness.com – web portal for Belize business.

Belize.com offers a guide on process of starting business.

Startup Ranking covers a handful of Belizean companies.

Breaking Belize News – Another local newspaper.

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

SUMMARY

Belize

• While the population of the country is almost 350K, approximately 1.3M tourists visit the country per year.3,4 Given that half of the national population lives beneath the poverty line, these droves of tourists with their exposable incomes are a comparably more profitable market. There is a small presence of incubator/accelerator type programming in Belize, but investment is discouraged by poor transportation, telecommunications and energy infrastructure. 9,8 One asset of Belize is its undeveloped land. All things considered, startups should leverage models that capitalize on this land, cater to the tourist markets or fill the widespread needs of locals, such as relating to energy or internet access.

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

SOURCES• Background Image:• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cayo_Espanto_Privat

e_Island_Resort_01.JPG

• (1) • https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belize_on_the_globe

_(Americas_centered).svg• (2)• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belize-

CIA_WFB_Map.png

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

SOURCES• (3) • "The World Factbook: Belize." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence

Agency, 17 June 2016. Web. 03 July 2016. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html>.

• (4)• Ramos, Adele. "Belize Received 1.3 Million Tourists in 2015." Amandala

Newspaper. N.p., 23 Jan. 2016. Web. 03 July 2016. <http://amandala.com.bz/news/belize-received-1-3-million-tourists-2015/>.

• (5) • Ramos, Adele. "Starting A Business In Belize - Belize Adventure - Trusted Local

Advice." Belize Adventure Trusted Local Advice. N.p., 15 July 2013. Web. 03 July 2016. <http://www.belizeadventure.ca/business/>.

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

SOURCES

• (6)• "Doing Business In Belize - A Guide For The Prospective Investor."Belize.com.

N.p., n.d. Web. 03 July 2016. <https://www.belize.com/doing-business-in-belize>.

• (7)• "Small Business Owners Receive Financial Aid for Startups." Beltraide. N.p., 08

Sept. 2014. Web. 03 July 2016. <https://belizeinvest.net/2014/09/08/small-business-owners-receive-financial-aid-for-startups/>.

• (8)• "Belize Investment Guide - Opportunities For Business And Trade."Belize.com.

N.p., n.d. Web. 03 July 2016. <https://www.belize.com/invest>.

Belize

The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:

Afghanistan

SOURCES

• (9)• "Belize Offers Quid Pro Quo to Guatemala." Amandala Newspaper. N.p., n.d.

Web. 03 July 2016. <http://amandala.com.bz/news/?s=innovation>.

• (10)• Harrison, Richard. "Belize: Why Only Few Entrepreneurs?" Breaking Belize News.

N.p., 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 3 July 2016. <http://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2014/04/30/belize-entrepreneurs/>.

• (11)• "Startups in Belize - StartupBlink." Startups in Belize - StartupBlink. N.p., n.d.

Web. 03 July 2016. <http://www.startupblink.com/Belize-startups>.

Belize