Recent times have seen the people of Haiti embattled with a high-octane political crisis, as President Jovenel Moïse continues to preside over a government fighting corruption allegations. This current difficult chapter in the nation’s story follows on from years when the carnage of natural disasters tested the nation’s spirit. It was a period when the country also wore the ignominious label of being the poorest in the Western hemisphere.
In such an era, it’s no surprise that much media coverage focused on the nation’s challenges, but such challenges should not be permitted to overshadow the many tremendous achievements Haitians continue to record in life and business day by day. That’s why now is a good time to look at some of Haiti’s most outstanding entrepreneurs and the ventures they are building in business.
An Overview of Haiti’s Business Community
At its best, Haiti’s business community is celebrated for its diversity and dynamism; for the ability of aspiring entrepreneurs to start businesses ‘from street stalls all the way to tech start-ups’. With the past couple of years having delivered solid growth in GDP, and the nation’s population estimated to have reached over 11 million during the last twelve months, the road ahead has positive signs.
At the same time, even when allowing for the current challenges in the nation’s political life, the country faces the difficulty of distance within its entrepreneurial community. As in other regional nations, a Haitian entrepreneur looking to start a business today must consider the position of it within the global economy. This is especially so for those with a digital or tech component, often with reference to tech hubs like San Francisco’s Silicon Valley. For many start-ups, a pilgrimage to the Bay Area is often a rite of passage — to seek funding to build their network, or even as a permanent move to take success achieved locally and try to convert it into a global renown.
But the following profiles are exceptional homegrown ones; stories of entrepreneurs who have the Haitian identity at the heart of their origin. Here are four of Haiti’s greatest professionals.
4 Fantastic Haitian Entrepreneurs and their Stories
David André, Clothing Designer
David André’s career in business is impressive for many reasons. Founded in 1998, his fashion label is now a brand with fans around the world, that retains a Haitian soul. Beginning with a single sewing machine and one employee, André’s business has not only gone from strength to strength, but has successfully navigated the transition into the digital era. With his label’s distinctive style, it’s a match made in heaven for the Instagram generation.
Daphnée Karen Floreal of Bijou Lakay
Daphnée began her jewellery business, Bijou Lakay, while in the final year of her university studies at Haiti’s École Nationale Supérieure de Technologie. Although her degree in business administration doubtless assisted in the growth of her venture, she began it with just US$45.
Following the many compliments she received on the beautiful handmade jewellery she created, Daphnée decided to start a business offering her designs to all. Since then a shop in Port-au-Prince has opened, Bijou Lakay has been showcased at the Milan Expo and the brand has garnered devoted fans in Haiti, the US, Canada and beyond. As an eco-friendly jewellery line, Bijou Lakay offers customers pieces they can wear that are clean and green as well as beautiful.
Jude Celiscar of Goodoo Courier
Jude Celiscar founded Goodoo Courier seeking to combat an issue that will be familiar to all in the Caribbean family: the high cost of purchase and delivery of goods from the USA. Specialising in the delivery of small package goods, and doing so from one centralised US location, Jude and business partner Jean Carlson Dor created a business that seeks to ‘fill the gap’ and cut the expense of shipping between the two nations. The fact Goodoo Courier uses recycled materials from Haiti for its packaging is another reason to love GC.
Nora Jeanne Joseph of Radikal
With a name like Radikal, Nora Jeanne Joseph’s business was destined to win attention, and that’s exactly how she wanted it. She started Radikal with an aspiration to see micro-franchise brands created in Haiti that would provide organic beauty, wellness and environmental products via a heavy leveraging of social media and mobile technology. At its core, Radikal seeks to not only offer great products but also help drive a greater gender equity in Haiti by empowering women to run businesses.
Nora is a patriot at heart, and her love of Haiti drives her each day to keep building an alternative image of Haiti in the global community that showcases the nation’s talented entrepreneurs and their hard work. It’s a goal we can all support.
Building a better Community
The achievements of these Haitians and their peers are incredible; success stories from which people in Haiti and beyond can draw inspiration. But it should be acknowledged that it will be easier for the next generation of entrepreneurs to get ahead without familiar roadblocks in place.
Recent political events in Haiti are themselves unique, but representative of ongoing challenges, at the core of which is corruption. While some already highly affluent businesses can consolidate their advantage via corrupt practices, for newcomers an even playing field is essential to ensure they have a fair chance at building their profitability in the market.
Just as the four stories above are wonderful testaments to Haitian business, there are surely many would-be entrepreneurs who are yet to start their business, or have done so outside the nation in a more open and fair business community. Working to remove hurdles and pitfalls could help bring home some expats abroad and their business expertise, and also make the road ahead easier for future entrepreneurs.
