Everything you need to know about the Caribbean Venture Accelerator & Demo Day.
General
The Caribbean Venture Accelerator & Demo Day is the flagship venture event of the Dutch Caribbean. It brings together startups and growth companies from all six Dutch Caribbean islands — Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba — for a structured 10-day program culminating in a live pitch event in front of investors, partners, and the regional business community.
The event takes place in December 2026:
📍 The venue is located in Aruba. The exact location will be announced soon — follow us on social media or pre-register to be the first to know.
The event is organized by Impact Hub Aruba, in partnership with O'STAD Aruba and the Aruba Chamber of Commerce (KVK). Impact Hub Aruba is part of the global Impact Hub network — the world's largest community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs.
All six Dutch Caribbean islands are welcome:
Ventures from outside the Dutch Caribbean may also apply — contact us to discuss eligibility.
Yes. The primary language of the program, pitches, and Demo Day is English. This ensures all investors and partners from different islands can participate fully. Support in Papiamento, Dutch, or Papiamentu may be available during certain sessions.
Applying
Any founder or company operating from the Dutch Caribbean can apply. We have two tracks:
Click Apply Now and complete the 3-step registration form. The form covers basic information, venture details, traction, investment history, and your goals for the program. The entire process takes about 15–20 minutes.
Our team will review your application within 3–5 business days. If selected:
If your application is not selected this round, we'll let you know and may suggest alternative options.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We recommend applying as early as possible — spots are limited. Once the cohort is full, applications will close. Early applicants may benefit from earlier feedback and more time to prepare.
The program is designed for ventures that have moved beyond the pure idea stage. Ideally you should have at minimum:
If you are still in the idea stage, we encourage you to first complete a pre-accelerator program such as O'STAD Incubator, and apply to a future cohort.
Yes — one application per venture. The application should be submitted by the founding CEO or lead founder. The fee covers one full participation slot. Additional co-founders may attend Demo Day under the same ticket, but all participants are expected to be at the Accelerator sessions.
The Program
The accelerator is an intensive, structured program covering:
Three intensive days focused entirely on getting your pitch ready:
Demo Day is the flagship public event. The day includes:
Yes. The program is an in-person event in Aruba. Physical presence is required for all Accelerator sessions, Pitch Prep, and Demo Day. Travel and accommodation are not included in the program fee — participants are responsible for arranging their own. We will share recommended accommodation options closer to the event.
The primary "prize" is direct access to investors, mentors, and the regional innovation ecosystem. Depending on sponsors confirmed closer to the event, there may be cash prizes, in-kind awards, or investment commitments made on Demo Day. Details will be announced as sponsors are confirmed. Become a sponsor to contribute to the prize pool.
Pricing & Payment
For Startup and Growth passes: payment is only required after your application is accepted. You will receive a payment link by email and have 7 days to complete payment. Failure to pay within 7 days may result in losing your spot.
For Investor and Observer passes: payment is required at time of registration. Contact us at events.aruba@impacthub.net to get your pass.
We currently accept payments via bank transfer and credit card. Payment instructions will be included in your acceptance email. All payments are processed in USD. If you have questions about payment options, contact us at events.aruba@impacthub.net.
Yes! O'STAD Incubator alumni receive a 25% discount on Startup and Growth passes:
To claim your discount, email events.aruba@impacthub.net with your alumni credentials before registering to receive your personal discount code.
See our full Terms & Conditions for details.
Investors & Observers
Observer passes do not include a pitch slot, coaching, or the Investor Networking Dinner.
Email us at events.aruba@impacthub.net with the subject line "Investor Pass Request" or "Observer Pass Request". Include your name, organization, and a brief description of your investment focus. We will send you payment instructions within 2 business days.
A curated cohort of startups and growth companies from across the Dutch Caribbean, spanning sectors including:
All companies are pre-screened and go through the full accelerator program before pitching.
Matchmaking
On Demo Day (December 10), from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, paid attendees can book 30-minute 1-on-1 meetings with any participating company directly through our Matchmaking page. You browse company profiles, pick an available time slot, enter your details, and your booking is instantly confirmed — no emails needed.
Access to the Matchmaking directory and booking system requires a valid access code. You receive your unique code after payment of any pass (Investor, Observer, Startup, or Growth). This ensures all participants at the matchmaking table are committed, paid attendees.
You can book one 30-minute meeting per company. With 8 available slots between 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, you can theoretically attend up to 8 meetings. We recommend booking 3–5 to leave room for natural conversation and breaks between meetings.
To cancel or reschedule a confirmed meeting, contact us at events.aruba@impacthub.net with your booking reference number (CVA-XXXXXX). Please give as much notice as possible so the slot can be made available to others.
Our team is happy to help. Reach out via WhatsApp or email.