Coming out of the pandemic, Latin America and the Caribbean have seen a surge in innovation and new business creation—so much so that the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) now calls the region a “hothouse of new entrepreneurship.” Among the standout figures driving this wave is Kirk-Anthony Hamilton, a Jamaican-born entrepreneur and co-founder of Tech Beach, who has earned recognition as one of the 40 most impressive business leaders under 40 in Latin America.
He is the only person on the list born in any Caribbean island.
Hamilton’s inclusion highlights the Caribbean’s growing influence in tech and entrepreneurship, even as the region’s population ages and its median age climbs steadily upward.
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the median age of the region has risen from 18 in 1950 to 31 in 2024, with projections pointing to 40 by 2050. Yet, young innovators are at the heart of many of the region’s most dynamic sectors—including fintech, artificial intelligence (AI), agtech, and social impact ventures.
Kirk-Anthony Hamilton stands out as a leading force in this entrepreneurial evolution. He is the Co-Founder of Tech Beach, a platform that hosts technology and innovation conferences in cities like Miami, Kingston, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Launched in 2016 with fellow Caribbean entrepreneur Kyle Maloney, Tech Beach has grown into a key connector for global business leaders and startups, helping to position the region as a rising tech hub.
The conferences are known for their curated, egalitarian environment—eschewing VIP areas and rigid hierarchies in favor of open, intimate spaces that foster genuine collaboration among high-level investors, innovators, and policymakers.
Hamilton’s path to entrepreneurship began at age 25, when he was given the opportunity to host The Global Party in Kingston. Inspired by a mentor to launch something global that originated in Jamaica, he founded The Destination Experience, a high-level networking and investment platform. He later created the Infiniti Partnership Inc., a venture aimed at identifying global opportunities and bringing capital, influence, and innovation into the Caribbean.
Today, Hamilton’s various platforms are linked to participants who collectively control more than US$140 billion in equity and investment capital. His initiatives have seeded over US$300 million in investments across diverse industries.
His achievements have earned him global recognition. In 2015, President Barack Obama named him one of 75 Emerging Global Entrepreneurs at a White House event. In 2016, as the curator of the Global Shapers Kingston Hub, Hamilton was one of 50 young leaders selected to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos.
An architectural designer by training, Hamilton holds a Professional Master of Architecture degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His story and mission have been featured in major outlets including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Essence, and The New York Times.
As Latin America and the Caribbean continue to build a globally competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem, figures like Kirk-Anthony Hamilton are not only putting the Caribbean on the map—they’re actively reshaping the future of innovation in the region.
