How location intelligence supports entrepreneurship

By Valrie Grant, Managing Director GeoTechVision

In November this year I was honoured with the title of Commonwealth Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and invited to attend a high-profile women’s forum in Malta on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGHM).

Even now I am contemplating what it really means to serve as the brand ambassador for Commonwealth businesswomen. I have engaged stakeholders from government, the private sector, academia and civil society who all have a vested interest in entrepreneurship to look at the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Caribbean. As I reflect on the discussions to date, it becomes increasingly clear that a scientific understanding of the key issues is required. It is also clear that many of the issues had a location component that needed to be explored, hence my decision to focus this week’s column on how location intelligence can support and enhance entrepreneurial activities.

Among the fundamental questions for any entrepreneur are: Where to locate my business? Where do I find what I need? Where are my customers? Where are my competitors? Where are the gaps in the market? Where are the critical sources of data to inform entrepreneurial activity? What are the