Reflections on my 1st Experience in Innovation & Grant Facility Management
Innovation can be found everywhere and after spending two years coordinating a waste management facility focused on identifying and supporting waste management solutions in the Caribbean, these are my top reflections.
1. Funding should meet businesses where they are
Large grants can be powerful tools, but only for businesses that are ready to absorb and use them effectively. Counterpart funding requirements can also be difficult, especially in small economies.
Recommendation: Stay as flexible as is feasible possible and adapt funding models to be more compatible reflect the realities of small island and developing economies (maybe more seeding prior to graduating to larger and more complex funding arrangments)
2. Continuous learning is essential
I managed this facility outside my original area of expertise, which meant I had to learn quickly (and stressfully) on the job. That experience reinforced the importance of being open to technical learning, asking questions, and drawing on the knowledge of specialists, clients, and partners.
Recommendation: Invest in learning through courses, reading, and conversations with people working directly in the field.
3. Assessment integrity (& bias) matter
It is important to maintain impartiality and be aware of unconscious bias. A good question to ask is whether your pipeline reflects your intended target group, or whether it is unintentionally skewed toward one type of applicant. (Yes you can get emotionally invested but you are responsible for donor funds which need to see credible results or will be subject to audits later on)
Recommendation: Design your assessment process carefully, identify risks early, and put measures in place to support fairness and inclusion. Check your emotions.
4. Keep an eye on market trends
It is important to understand where the sector is heading, not just where it is today. Some solutions may respond to a current need but may not remain viable over the next five to ten years.
Recommendation: Follow credible industry sources and regularly review trends so that programme design remains relevant and forward-looking.
5. Small ecosystems need more than capital
The Caribbean innovation ecosystem is relatively small, and specialised niches can be difficult to sustain. Providing funding is only one part of the solution. Businesses also need support to strengthen planning, strategy, and long-term management.
Recommendation: Being honest, hand holding may be necessary for a time. Build in practical support from the start. Use simple templates, but also recognise that time, guidance, and relationship-building matter.
6. Measure data at every stage
Good data is not always easy to obtain, but tracking key information throughout the process can generate valuable insights. It helps you adapt, make informed decisions, and understand what is actually working.
Recommendation: Define a small, useful set of KPIs early and track them consistently.
Managing a grant facility in this space showed me that innovation support is about much more than disbursing funds. It requires flexibility, learning, integrity, a strong understanding of the ecosystem you are trying to strengthen and patience (LOTS and LOTS of patience). Building a piepline in these conditions means a lot of searching, failed investements in time and energy with potential clients.
It also requires some pragmatism too because you need to know when something is just not feasible and when to move on. This only came with practice for me but now I am much more conscious of time investments.