In the ever-evolving business landscape of the Caribbean and Latin America, Howayne Harvey and Jahmone Salmon, the co-founders of Hubmark and winners of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce’s (MIIC) MSME Business Pitch Competition, have carved a niche as visionaries revolutionizing branding, marketing, and IT for micro-businesses. Their journey, which began in 2018, was sparked by a realization of the struggles many small businesses faced with fragmented branding and outdated marketing strategies.
Their defining moment came in 2022 when a significant revenue loss forced a pivot. The team migrated to Zoho (a cloud software suite for businesses), embraced automation, and streamlined their processes, transforming Hubmark into a tech-driven hub. Their innovative flagship product, the Business Kit subscription, provides businesses with comprehensive monthly support, demonstrating their commitment to helping clients grow smarter.
Winning the recent MSME Business Pitch Competition, held by the MIIC in collaboration with the Development Bank of Jamaica, marked a turning point. The $300,000 cash prize enabled critical back-end automation, saving over 60 hours of manual work monthly. This efficiency has not only reduced operational costs but also allowed Hubmark to focus on strategic growth initiatives, such as enhancing the customer journey and marketing strategies. These changes have driven an 80% increase in revenue and customer base over the past year.
But it has not always been smooth sailing for Hubmark. Developing a comprehensive customer portal proved slower than anticipated, testing the team’s patience and adaptability. Yet, the duo turned every setback into a learning opportunity.
Looking ahead, Harvey and Salmon plan to expand their operations across LATAM and the Caribbean. Their advice to budding entrepreneurs is simple yet profound: focus on the customer journey, data security, and operational efficiency. Hubmark’s success story is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and an unwavering focus on delivering value.
From humble beginnings to industry trailblazers, Howayne Harvey and Jahmone Salmon exemplify entrepreneurial excellence.
Source: MIIC
