Capital
US$500M+
Infrastructure and climate finance portfolio
From a US$4M development-bank credit line and a US$10M SME fund to a US$500M+ infrastructure and climate finance portfolio, across fund and programme roles.
Infrastructure readiness
2 programmes
Two port programmes made Cabinet- and investor-ready
The US$1.1bn CARNERGY infrastructure readiness package for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (CHOGM 2026) and the capital structure for the Cayman Islands’ US$887.5M port modernisation.
People
324+
People trained in generative AI
324+ across all 8 ECCU territories in the ECCU Generative AI and Python Summer Camp (2024–26), plus Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators at the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority.
Ecosystems
2,300+
Entrepreneurs supported across 79 ACP countries
Including 500+ Caribbean startups and 250 innovators at the first ECCB hackathon.
CARNERGY: infrastructure readiness package for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (CHOGM 2026)
Prepared a US$1.1bn two-programme port and energy hub for investors at CHOGM 2026: market model, costing, business case, Cabinet paper and investor deck, in about 40 days.
Cayman Maritime Gateway Initiative (CMGI): infrastructure readiness, Phases 1 and 2
Took the Cayman Islands’ US$887.5M port modernisation from a shelved study toward a financed project: capital structure and Cabinet briefing in Phase 1, then a U.S. and U.K. financing pathway and a funder-standard business case in Phase 2.
Interstellar
Head of Governance and Execution; Product Lead, PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (PACM)
2021–present
I lead governance and execution at Interstellar, and led product for the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace, which lets African businesses trade local currencies directly.
Bantu Blockchain Foundation (non-profit)
Head of Execution and Governance
2020–present
I co-built the Bantu blockchain protocol that now runs regulated payment and aviation-finance platforms, including PACM and the Solvente aviation platform.
PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (PACM)
Lets African businesses exchange local currencies directly, targeting a roughly US$5B intra-African FX bottleneck; 80+ corporates and 12 currency pairs in the pilot.
marketplace.papss.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)From: PACM projectRuns on BantuInterstellar
RAPSS Central Hub
An AI risk-intelligence and governance hub for PAPSS that turns risk signals into adaptive controls for the marketplace.
PRISM rulebook and RADSS “Risk-to-Rule” architecture
A governance framework that turns identified risks into enforceable market rules; used as the PACM governance rulebook.
Solvente
One platform for aviation permits, charges and settlement, connecting airlines and operators, service vendors and aviation authorities. An Interstellar product that runs on Bantu.
Demo on request →From: Solvente projectRuns on BantuAn Interstellar product
Maritime dMRV / ABPA MRV dashboard
Real-time emissions monitoring and verification for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, with vessel tracking and AI analysis.
IDEME-TT M&E platform: Innovation Data Ecosystem for Trinidad and Tobago
Built Trinidad and Tobago’s innovation data platform: it tracks every Global Innovation Index indicator from source to submission, so government can close data gaps and lift its ranking.
- A public portal, a mission-health dashboard for task forces, GII indicator mapping, and a data-pipeline view with 18 data-health KPIs across 6 lifecycle stages.
I lead
Quintessence Consulting Inc. (St Kitts and Nevis)
Founder and Managing Director
Since 2000
Advisory practice for finance, infrastructure and digital transformation; 30+ projects for the World Bank, IDB, CDB, GIZ, FCDO, GCF and ECCB.
Q-Genics AI (technology arm of Quintessence)
Founder
Since 2024 (formalised)
AI products, workflow automation and AI training: Proposal Triage, CV Optimizer, Data Guardian. Technology has always been part of the practice; Q-Genics AI formalised it in 2024.
Edge Catalyst Finance LLP (UK)
Managing Partner (one of three)
Since 2025
Sustainable finance and fund structuring; delivery vehicle for the EFJ J-USE financing mechanism.
Valerie Capital Ltd. (UK)
Founder and Lead
Since 2020
Valerie Capital is my investment management company. Its first fund, ShriCatalyst Resilience Fund I, is a US$75M target fund in structuring that will back women-led businesses building climate resilience in small island and emerging markets.
Deeptech leadership
Interstellar
Head of Governance and Execution; Product Lead, PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (PACM)
2021–present
I lead governance and execution at Interstellar, and led product for the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace, which lets African businesses trade local currencies directly.
Bantu Blockchain Foundation (non-profit)
Head of Execution and Governance
2020–present
I co-built the Bantu blockchain protocol that now runs regulated payment and aviation-finance platforms, including PACM and the Solvente aviation platform.
Leadership and capital-allocation roles
Cornerstone International (UK)
Director, Caribbean and LATAM
Since 2026
Fund manager for Dimi Family Office (Monaco).
Non-profit roles
Inova Foundation (InnovatetheNext)
Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Active
A founding partner of Beyond Capital Markets, now rolled up into Valerie Capital.
CARAIA (Caribbean Alternative Investment Association)
Advisor
Since 2026
CariPhil (Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance)
Technical Advisor
Since 2026
Ventures I founded or co-founded
PayNomad Capital PayNomad Capital
Co-Founder; Head of Governance and Compliance
Since 2022
Prohaus Labs
Co-Founder
2015–2020
A fintech incubator.
TheNextWomen Pitch Competition, Paris, 11 May 2017 Osusu Technologies (Osusu Labs), St Kitts and Nevis
Founder and CEO
2011–2017
A cloud-based digital business wallet and suite of payment APIs that let small businesses in developing markets cut transaction costs and time and trade across borders. Technical review funded by the EU Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE, 2013). Top 3 finalist, TheNextWomen Pitch Competition, first French edition (Paris, 11 May 2017), going through to the international semi-final.
FINANCE
The capital we structure, mobilise and govern
01
Capital and risk
Transaction advisory, capital and investment readiness, capital allocation, fund formation, and governance, risk and compliance
10 projects
02
Sustainable finance systems
Climate finance, disaster risk finance and insurance, nature and conservation finance, impact measurement
13 projects
INFRASTRUCTURE
The physical and digital networks economies run on
03
Energy systems
Energy transition assessment, clean-energy programme design and investment review
8 projects
04
Maritime and port systems
Port transformation, maritime decarbonisation finance, emissions and compliance systems, trade and connectivity
10 projects
05
Deeptech and digital finance infrastructure
AI, blockchain and IoT as infrastructure: payment rails, CBDC, distributed-ledger market infrastructure, digital-asset governance, data and sensor infrastructure
9 projects
EXECUTION
The products, programmes and people that make it work
06
Digital transformation: products, AI and automation
Digital product development, AI process re-engineering, workflow automation
15 projects
07
International development cooperation
Donor- and DFI-funded programme design, management and delivery
17 projects
08
Readiness, learning and engagement
Institutional, digital and MSME readiness; training and curricula; strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and convening
23 projects
SELECTED PROJECTS · PROBLEM → SYSTEM → RESULT
Selected projects
Categories:
05 · DEEPTECH & DIGITAL FINANCE · ALSO 06 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & AI
PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (Product Lead)
Problem
Cross-border African trade settlement relied on hard-currency correspondent banking, adding settlement delays and foreign-exchange costs.
Designed / Built / Financed
Led product and the PRISM rulebook governance framework for the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace, an Interstellar build that runs on the Bantu blockchain. Also designed the RAPSS Central Hub risk-intelligence layer.
Result
Launched at the 2025 Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja with the PRISM rulebook framework for cross-border local-currency settlement.
Facts
04 · MARITIME & PORTS · ALSO 03 ENERGY SYSTEMS
InGReD (Inclusive GreenPort Resilient Infrastructure and Decarbonisation)
Problem
Caribbean ports face rising climate risk, high diesel energy costs and tightening maritime decarbonisation standards without a joined-up investment framework.
Designed / Built / Financed
Architected the regional InGReD programme turning Caribbean ports into resilient trade and clean-energy hubs with the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC) and the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority.
Result
Regional resilient port infrastructure and decarbonisation architecture with the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC) and the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority. Includes the Green Berth Blended Performance Bond, a US$210M climate-resilient port mechanism (Structuring and Strategy Lead).
Facts
02 · SUSTAINABLE FINANCE · ALSO 06 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & AI
EFJ J-USE sustainable financing mechanism
Problem
Grant and blended-finance calls needed a sustainable financing mechanism paired with digital intake to move capital into Jamaican urban and environmental projects.
Designed / Built / Financed
Designed the sustainable financing mechanism for the Jamaica Urban and Sustainable Environment (J-USE) programme alongside digital REOI and Call-for-Proposals intake systems.
Result
SFM & 2 digital grant systems built
Sustainable financing mechanism and two digital grant systems (REOI portal and Call-for-Proposals hub) built for the J-USE programme.
Facts
06 · DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & AI · ALSO 02 SUSTAINABLE FINANCE
J-USE REOI 2026 grant application and review system
Problem
A national environmental fund needed one fair, traceable way to take in and score grant applications.
Designed / Built / Financed
Built the online grant application and review system for EFJ’s J-USE programme: one application form, automatic PDFs and a scoring dashboard for the grants panel.
Result
10-step form · 16-tab review dashboard
A 10-step application (151 fields) that generates a summary and full PDF, emails the applicant and grants team, and feeds a 16-tab review dashboard (IUCN nature-based-solution scoring, capital alignment, audit log), on serverless hosting for roughly US$0–44 a month. Also a 12-section, 518-field Survey123 full-proposal instrument optimised for 3G, a full technical handover, and an NbCS Grant Canvas for the second Call for Proposals.
Facts
Call for Proposals Hub on mobile
02 · SUSTAINABLE FINANCE · ALSO 06 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & AI
J-USE Pathway Engine: sustainable financing for nature-based climate solutions (NbCS)
Problem
Nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) applicants needed a guided way to turn “sustainability” from a paragraph in a proposal into a tested financing plan after the grant ends.
Designed / Built / Financed
A seven-step online engine that helps nature-based climate projects in Jamaica choose a financing pathway and prove how they will keep going after the grant.
Result
7-stage engine · 3 financing pathways
A guided, seven-stage online tool (Welcome, Pathway, Canvas, Inflows, Sustainability, Commitments, Complete) with a three-question diagnostic that recommends Revenue-generating, Blended (with an Anchor Partner), or Community / public good pathways, plus the NbCS Canvas, funding inflows, sustainability tests and written commitments.
Facts
04 · MARITIME & PORTS · ALSO 03 ENERGY SYSTEMS, 01 CAPITAL & RISK
CARNERGY: infrastructure readiness package for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (CHOGM 2026)
Problem
Caribbean ports need bankable, non-sovereign investment structures that turn port land and assets into clean-energy and logistics revenue generators.
Designed / Built / Financed
Prepared a US$1.1bn two-programme port and energy hub for investors at CHOGM 2026: market model, costing, business case, Cabinet paper and investor deck, in about 40 days.
Result
US$1.1bn infrastructure readiness package
Late pre-feasibility, ready to raise preparation funding: 12 deliverables including a 47-slide investor deck, Investment Memo, Cabinet Submission, Five Case Business Case, shore-power costing study, financial model and Path to Bankability.
Facts
04 · MARITIME & PORTS · ALSO 08 READINESS & LEARNING, 06 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & AI
Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators, Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (ABPA)
Problem
Designing and delivering the first Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators programme at the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority during Smart Ports Week in Antigua and Barbuda.
Designed / Built / Financed
T. Valerie Onu designed and delivered Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, the first programme of its kind at the ABPA. It was held during Smart Ports Week in Antigua and Barbuda, with participants including the ABPA Decarbonisation Team.
Result
First programme of its kind at the ABPA
T. Valerie Onu designed and delivered Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, the first programme of its kind at the ABPA. It was held during Smart Ports Week in Antigua and Barbuda, with participants including the ABPA Decarbonisation Team.
Facts
02 · SUSTAINABLE FINANCE · ALSO 07 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
OECS Climate Finance Access and Mobilization Strategy
Problem
OECS member states needed a coordinated regional climate-finance strategy to unlock multilateral climate funds at scale.
Designed / Built / Financed
Authored the Regional Needs-Based Climate Finance Access and Mobilization Strategy with GIZ, the UNFCCC NDCF and the OECS Commission.
Result
Endorsed by OECS Council of Ministers
Endorsed by the OECS Council of Ministers in 2023 as the regional climate-finance mobilization framework.
Facts
08 · READINESS & LEARNING · ALSO 06 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & AI
ECCU GenAI and Python Summer Camp
Problem
Students and young professionals across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union needed hands-on Python and generative AI capability tied to real institutional challenges.
Designed / Built / Financed
Designed the programme and curriculum (Python, generative AI, RAG and agentic workflows), built the camp platform (main site, client portal and judging portal), and led delivery across the ECCU territories, with the ECCB and partners.
Result
324+ participants trained across 8 territories
150+ pilot participants in 2024 and 174 participants (119 Level 1, 55 Level 2) with 15 challenge owners across all 8 ECCU territories in 2026.
Facts
ECCU AI Summer Camp site
Camp site on mobile
04 · MARITIME & PORTS · ALSO 07 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, 01 CAPITAL & RISK
Eastern Caribbean Port Authority (ECPA) consolidation case and OECS Ports Network Blueprint
Problem
Eight OECS ports compete as separate national authorities, which keeps costs high and limits the region’s ability to finance and run port infrastructure as one network.
Designed / Built / Financed
Built the economic case for consolidating eight OECS ports into an Eastern Caribbean Port Authority, with the OECS Port Committee and the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority.
Result
Eight-port consolidation case
An economic model for consolidating eight OECS ports, a Heads of Government strategy deck and a Prime Ministerial brief, and the OECS Ports Network / Trade Logistics Strategic Blueprint for the ECCB Growth and Resilience Dialogue 2026.
Facts
04 · MARITIME & PORTS · ALSO 01 CAPITAL & RISK
Cayman Maritime Gateway Initiative (CMGI): infrastructure readiness, Phases 1 and 2
Problem
A US$887.5M port modernisation programme needed a capital structure and Cabinet briefing that finance leadership and Cabinet could act on.
Designed / Built / Financed
Took the Cayman Islands’ US$887.5M port modernisation from a shelved study toward a financed project: capital structure and Cabinet briefing in Phase 1, then a U.S. and U.K. financing pathway and a funder-standard business case in Phase 2.
Result
US$887.5M programme · Phases 1 and 2
Phase 1 (delivered, winning the retained Phase 2 mandate): capital-structure analysis comparing blended-led, grant-led and equity-led scenarios, a Cabinet briefing gap analysis and a revised 15-page Cabinet briefing. Phase 2 (in progress, from July 2026): engaging DFC, USTDA and EXIM (including a USTDA feasibility-grant application), designing the UK FCDO Investment Incentive Agreement route, re-testing affordability, scoping grant-funded gap-closure studies, and building the Full Business Case.
Facts
01 · CAPITAL & RISK · ALSO 03 ENERGY SYSTEMS, 07 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
CARICOM Development Fund Country Assistance Programme (CAP), St Kitts and Nevis
Problem
St Kitts and Nevis needed a joined-up programme for resilient infrastructure financing, manufacturing competitiveness through energy efficiency, agricultural competitiveness and resilient water in Nevis.
Designed / Built / Financed
Team Leader for the CARICOM Development Fund’s Country Assistance Programme in St Kitts and Nevis: designed the programme, secured a US$4M development-bank credit line, rebuilt Nevis’s irrigation water supply, and brought ISO 50001 energy management to 14 manufacturers.
Result
US$4M credit line secured
Three sub-projects: (1) a US$4M credit line for the Development Bank of St Kitts and Nevis, after institutional assessment and loan-portfolio due diligence; (2) irrigation and resilient water for Nevis: a new well near the Hamilton reservoir (230+ imperial gallons a minute), filtration, a 400,000-imperial-gallon glass-fused tank and a roofed 1904 stone tank, opening the way to CDB co-financing; (3) MACEE (US$0.5M): ISO 50001 energy management in 14 manufacturing plants with investment-grade audits.
Facts
PROJECT INDEX · 51 PROJECTS
Complete project index
Group:
Pillar:
Outcome:
Type:
01
Pillar 01 page →Capital and risk
(5)- LP-Lens diagnosticLive LP-readiness diagnosticBuilt the LP-Lens capital- and investment-readiness diagnostic to evaluate fund and enterprise documentation against institutional LP and DFI criteria.
- International GRC engagement (4 jurisdictions)4 jurisdictions governedDesigned and ran the cross-border governance, risk and compliance architecture, policies and board reporting across four jurisdictions.
- Summer of Impact investor-readinessInvestor-readiness cohort deliveredDesigned and delivered the Summer of Impact investor-readiness programme covering financial structuring, impact thesis and investor pitch preparation.
- Startup pitch bootcamps (up to US$75k grants)Up to US$75k grant readinessDesigned and led intensive startup pitch and capital-readiness bootcamps preparing founders to compete for grant facilities of up to US$75,000.
- CARICOM Development Fund Country Assistance Programme (CAP), St Kitts and NevisUS$4M credit line securedTeam Leader for the CARICOM Development Fund’s Country Assistance Programme in St Kitts and Nevis: designed the programme, secured a US$4M development-bank credit line, rebuilt Nevis’s irrigation water supply, and brought ISO 50001 energy management to 14 manufacturers.
02
Pillar 02 page →Sustainable finance systems
(6)- EFJ J-USE sustainable financing mechanismSFM & 2 digital grant systems builtDesigned the sustainable financing mechanism for the Jamaica Urban and Sustainable Environment (J-USE) programme alongside digital REOI and Call-for-Proposals intake systems.
- 2X Global / IDRC IMM (7 fund managers)7 fund managers equippedDesigned bespoke impact measurement and management (IMM) frameworks and data tools for fund managers across LAC.
- J-USE Pathway Engine: sustainable financing for nature-based climate solutions (NbCS)7-stage engine · 3 financing pathwaysA seven-step online engine that helps nature-based climate projects in Jamaica choose a financing pathway and prove how they will keep going after the grant.
- GCF Readiness St Kitts and NevisNational NDA readiness system deliveredCoordinated national readiness systems, stakeholder governance and pipeline development with the CCCCC.
- CPDC CDRFI trainingDesigned and delivered regional training curricula on climate and disaster risk finance and insurance (CDRFI).
- OECS Climate Finance Access and Mobilization StrategyEndorsed by OECS Council of MinistersAuthored the Regional Needs-Based Climate Finance Access and Mobilization Strategy with GIZ, the UNFCCC NDCF and the OECS Commission.
03
Pillar 03 page →Energy systems
(4)- Caribbean Green Competitiveness Cluster (Greenularity)Technical Lead in the Caribbean Green Competitiveness Cluster (Greenularity), leading architecture, emissions measurement (MRV), finance readiness and training for firms, ports and supply chains.
- CCREEE / PMAC Green Ports concept note (GCPP)Phase 1 regional concept note authoredAuthored the Phase 1 concept note for the Green Caribbean Ports Programme (GCPP) with the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) and PMAC.
- CREP landscape assessment (UK GCIP)Regional clean-energy finance assessmentDelivered the Caribbean Renewable Energy Programme (CREP) regional climate-finance and clean-energy landscape assessment within a PwC-led consortium with MDY Legal.
- CCIC climate-technology market study (2014)~80 regional stakeholders mappedConducted a regional climate-technology market study engaging approximately 80 stakeholders across the Caribbean clean-tech ecosystem.
04
Pillar 04 page →Maritime and port systems
(6)- Eastern Caribbean Port Authority (ECPA) consolidation case and OECS Ports Network BlueprintEight-port consolidation caseBuilt the economic case for consolidating eight OECS ports into an Eastern Caribbean Port Authority, with the OECS Port Committee and the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority.
- Cayman Maritime Gateway Initiative (CMGI): infrastructure readiness, Phases 1 and 2US$887.5M programme · Phases 1 and 2Took the Cayman Islands’ US$887.5M port modernisation from a shelved study toward a financed project: capital structure and Cabinet briefing in Phase 1, then a U.S. and U.K. financing pathway and a funder-standard business case in Phase 2.
- CARNERGY: infrastructure readiness package for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (CHOGM 2026)US$1.1bn infrastructure readiness packagePrepared a US$1.1bn two-programme port and energy hub for investors at CHOGM 2026: market model, costing, business case, Cabinet paper and investor deck, in about 40 days.
- InGReD (Inclusive GreenPort Resilient Infrastructure and Decarbonisation)Architected the regional InGReD programme turning Caribbean ports into resilient trade and clean-energy hubs with the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC) and the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority.
- Green Berth Blended Performance Bond (US$210M)US$210M climate-resilient port mechanismDesigned a blended performance-bond instrument linking concessional and private capital to verified port energy and emissions performance.
- Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators, Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (ABPA)First programme of its kind at the ABPAT. Valerie Onu designed and delivered Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, the first programme of its kind at the ABPA. It was held during Smart Ports Week in Antigua and Barbuda, with participants including the ABPA Decarbonisation Team.
05
Pillar 05 page →Deeptech and digital finance infrastructure
(5)- Maritime dMRV: digital monitoring, reporting and verification of emissionsUS$750,000 Phase 1 · validated MVPBuilt the digital system that measures and verifies port and shipping emissions, so Caribbean ports can meet EU and IMO carbon rules and get paid for going green.
- Data GuardianLive data-governance web applicationArchitected and launched the Data Guardian live web application for institutional data protection and AI governance.
- PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (Product Lead)Led product and the PRISM rulebook governance framework for the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace, an Interstellar build that runs on the Bantu blockchain. Also designed the RAPSS Central Hub risk-intelligence layer.
- Solvente: AI-powered aviation finance and operations platformProduction-ready release (Oct 2025)Led product for Solvente, an AI and blockchain platform that runs aviation permits, charges and settlement for airlines, operators and aviation authorities, collecting revenue in minutes instead of months.
- Wiley InsurTech and WealthTech books2 global Wiley volumes publishedAuthored peer-selected chapters in The InsurTech Book and The WealthTech Book published by Wiley with FinTech Circle.
06
Pillar 06 page →Digital transformation: products, AI and automation
(7)- Proposal TriageDesigned and built Proposal Triage, a document-intelligence and automated screening product that evaluates submissions against eligibility, compliance and rubric criteria.
- CV OptimizerAutomated tender & executive CV structuringBuilt the AI CV Optimizer under Q-Genics AI to structure, verify and align professional records against tender evaluation criteria without fabricating claims.
- J-USE REOI 2026 grant application and review system10-step form · 16-tab review dashboardBuilt the online grant application and review system for EFJ’s J-USE programme: one application form, automatic PDFs and a scoring dashboard for the grants panel.
- ECCU AI Summer Camp platformLive multi-territory learning platformDesigned, built and hosted the ECCU Generative AI and Python Summer Camp web platform connecting cohorts, mentors and challenge owners across eight territories.
- Islands of Intelligence platform17 chapters in 5 languagesArchitected and published a 17-chapter, 4-case-story interactive e-book platform in five languages.
- REAP Ag-Academy workbookLive digital agribusiness workbookDesigned and built the interactive REAP Ag-Academy digital workbook for Helen’s Daughters.
- CNSC Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) SystemDesigned a networked CRM and intranet for the Caribbean Network of Services Coalitions, linking national coalitions into one shared system for members, projects and grants.
07
Pillar 07 page →International development cooperation
(8)- CARIRI innovation measurement framework (IDB)National innovation data framework deliveredDesigned the Trinidad and Tobago National Innovation Measurement, Ecosystem Mapping and Reporting Framework for CARIRI with IDB support.
- CRIP (UK FCDO, Jamaica and Saint Lucia)2-country governance & business-case optionsLed climate-resilient governance and multistakeholder engagement for business-case options support under the UK FCDO Climate Resilient Infrastructure Programme (PwC-led consortium).
- ICO4Impact / BeyondX acceleratorAlternative-finance impact acceleratorDesigned and led the ICO4Impact and BeyondX accelerator programmes connecting impact enterprises with digital-finance structuring.
- Slush Global Impact preparatory selectionGlobal impact accelerator pathwayLed regional preparatory selection and investor-readiness coaching for the Slush Global Impact Accelerator.
- PitchAgriHack (CTA)ACP youth agritech programmePartnered with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) to deliver PitchAgriHack bootcamps and agritech mentoring.
- WINC Women’s Growth AcceleratorCaribbean women’s growth acceleratorDelivered the Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean (WINC) growth accelerator programme supported by infoDev / World Bank.
- EPIC / PitchIT Caribbean (World Bank infoDev)2,300+ entrepreneurs across 79 ACP countriesServed as regional hub partner for the World Bank infoDev Entrepreneurship Program for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC) and PitchIT Caribbean through Inova Foundation.
- SIDF US$10M Small Enterprise Development FundUS$10M fund designedDesigned the fund architecture, credit and investment criteria, and operational management system for the US$10M SME fund programme.
08
Pillar 08 page →Readiness, learning and engagement
(10)- ICR Facility DFI needs assessment (EU Global Gateway)DFI institutional readiness assessmentScoped the institutional and technical-assistance needs assessment for development finance institutions under the ICR Facility (EU Global Gateway).
- ECCU GenAI and Python Summer Camp324+ participants trained across 8 territoriesDesigned the programme and curriculum (Python, generative AI, RAG and agentic workflows), built the camp platform (main site, client portal and judging portal), and led delivery across the ECCU territories, with the ECCB and partners.
- Kittivisianwood GenAI Multimedia Studio55 Level 2 participants in live studioLed curriculum and studio architecture for the Level 2 Generative AI Multimedia Studio.
- Growth and Resilience Dialogue (ECCB, 2024–2026)3 annual regional dialogues curated & moderatedCurated and moderated sessions across the 2024 (Leveraging Generative AI), 2025 (Addressing the Caribbean’s Data Divide) and 2026 (Trade, Ports and the Big Push) dialogues with live technical demonstrations.
- Future Forward Caribbean Philanthropy Forum (2026)Plenary & blended-finance special sessionLed the special session on blended finance and InGReD with Dr Darwin Telemaque and spoke on the plenary “Owning the Standard” in Kingston.
- Helen’s Daughters: women farmers and financial capabilityTrained women farmers through the Helen’s Daughters Women Farmers Academy, then mapped the finance gap for women in agriculture and fisheries in Saint Lucia and St Vincent.
- Supporting Our Roots: grant-readiness for farmers (ECCB Big Push)27 farmers · 7 territoriesHelped farmers across seven Eastern Caribbean territories turn their farm needs into fundable grant applications, with a live workshop site, Grant Canvas and workbook.
- CariPhil brand and communications strategyRegional philanthropy brand & comms strategyDesigned the brand positioning, narrative architecture and stakeholder communications strategy for CariPhil.
- Valerie Capital DFMI certificates (Middlesex / Informa)Designed and led postgraduate certificate programmes in digital financial market infrastructure (DFMI) with Middlesex University and Informa.
- ECCB Business Solutions Think Tank and Hackathon (2015)250 innovators across 8 countriesConceived and delivered the first regional ECCB Business Solutions Think Tank and Hackathon across eight Eastern Caribbean countries.
- 01 · Design
Map
Map the actors, links and dependencies across the network to find the pain points at the joins.
You get: network map and pain points at the joins
- 02 · Design
Anticipate
Run climate, financial and technology foresight scenarios to register upcoming shocks and opportunities.
You get: risk and opportunity register
- 03 · Design
Design
Write the shared rulebooks, governance charters and regulatory sandboxes that let independent actors coordinate.
You get: governance framework and rulebook
- 04 · Delivery
Build
Build the interoperable platforms, payment and port systems, data workflows and AI products that connect the actors.
You get: working system or pilot
- 05 · Delivery
Finance
Structure blended capital, funds, performance bonds and risk-transfer layers so the network is funded before and after shocks.
You get: capital stack and risk-transfer layer
- 06 · Stewardship
Govern and assure
Establish board oversight, GRC controls, compliance frameworks and disclosure so accountability is clear.
You get: accountability and risk framework
- 07 · Stewardship (loops to 01)
Measure and adapt
Measure outcomes in time, money and resilience, feeding data back into Step 1 to redesign the network when conditions shift.
You get: outcome data and redesign decisions
Read the full 7-step Network Thesis methodology, framework diagram and proof table →
- 2026 · Q4
CARNERGY investment pack, delivered for CHOGM 2026
Two-programme port and energy infrastructure readiness package for the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, through Quintessence Consulting.
- Antigua and Barbuda
Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators, Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (ABPA)
Designed and delivered Generative AI Education and Training for Port Administrators at the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority during Smart Ports Week, the first programme of its kind at the ABPA.
- 2026 · Q4
Launching Q-Genics AI and Proposal Triage
AI products, workflow automation and AI training from the technology arm of Quintessence Consulting.
- 2026 · Structuring
Valerie Capital: structuring ShriCatalyst Resilience Fund I
Valerie Capital’s first fund, ShriCatalyst Resilience Fund I (managed by Valerie Capital), is in structuring. This is not an offer to invest.
- 2026 · Ongoing
EFJ J-USE Sustainable Financing Mechanism
Designing the financing mechanism and running the proposals hub for the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, through Edge Catalyst Finance.
- 2025 · Ongoing
InGReD, with PMAC
Leading the design of a regional programme that treats Caribbean ports as one connected system.
- 2025 · Ongoing
PAPSS African Currency Marketplace: launched June 2025; ongoing governance
Launched at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja with the PRISM rulebook.
DEPLOYED PRODUCTS & PLATFORMS
Live systems
ECCU AI Summer Camp platform
174 participants in 2026 (119 Level 1, 55 Level 2) and 150+ in the 2024 pilot across eight Eastern Caribbean territories, sponsored by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.
Camp Director · Built and hosts the platform
- WTO Committee on Trade and Development, Aid for Trade session (2026)
Speaker: “Trade-enabling Infrastructure: A Caribbean Investment Thesis”, Geneva, 20 April 2026
- ECCB Growth and Resilience Dialogue (2024–2026)
Moderator and speaker, Trade, Logistics, Port and Maritime (2026); curator and moderator: Data Divide (2025); Generative AI (2024)
- PMAC 29th Annual General Meeting (2026)
Moderator, Focal Session 3: Port Electrification and Green Shore Power, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Future Forward: A Caribbean Philanthropy Forum (2026)
Kingston, Jamaica: special session on blended finance and InGReD; plenary “Owning the Standard”
- AI in Business Summit (2025)
Panellist, Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, St Kitts and Nevis, 19 November 2025
- 8th Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF 2024)
Speaker on Securing the Economic Opportunity of Coastal Resources and Biodiversity, Miami
- UNGA78 Science Summit (2023)
Speaker on Climate Finance and Innovative Financing Instruments, New York
- World Export Development Forum (ITC / WTO, 2008)
Speaker: “E-transparency along the value chain”, Montreux, Switzerland
- The INSURTECH Book & The WEALTHTECH Book
Co-author, Wiley
- Tony Blair Institute and the Stimson Center
Contributor
- Startup judge & mentor
BBVA Open Talent; Parallel18 Generations 4–6; Agorize Global Fintech Challenge; LaToken Blockchain Economic Forum; Future Caribbean Global AI Buildathon (2026)
- Based in
- Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis
- Founded
- Quintessence Consulting, 2000
- Technology arm
- Q-Genics AI (formalised 2024)
- From
- Vincentian, Ethiopian-born, of Nigerian heritage
ABOUT
Economies run on networks and fail at the connections. I design the finance, rules and technology that let networks innovate safely and recover fast.
For more than 25 years I have worked where finance, policy and technology meet, across the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America and the UK. I founded Quintessence Consulting in 2000. Technology has always been part of the practice, and in 2024 we formalised it as Q-Genics AI. Today I am one of three Managing Partners of Edge Catalyst Finance in the UK, I am building Valerie Capital, whose first fund ShriCatalyst Resilience Fund I is in structuring, and I am Director, Caribbean and LATAM, at Cornerstone International (UK), fund manager for Dimi Family Office (Monaco).
My work runs from capital (funds, credit lines and investment cases) to the systems that capital pays for: ports, energy, payment rails and AI tools, and the people who run them. I studied e-governance at EPFL, climate finance at the Frankfurt School and internet governance with DiploFoundation. I am Vincentian, born in Ethiopia, of Nigerian heritage, and I live in St Kitts and Nevis.
Experience
Organisation roles
- Founder and Managing Director, Quintessence Consulting Inc.2000
- Founder, Q-Genics AI (formalised)2024
- Managing Partner, Edge Catalyst Finance LLP (UK)2025
- Founder and Lead, Valerie Capital Ltd. (manager of ShriCatalyst Resilience Fund I)2020
- Head of Governance and Execution; Product Lead, PACM, Interstellar2021
- Head of Execution and Governance, Bantu Blockchain Foundation2020
- Director, Caribbean and LATAM, Cornerstone International (UK), fund manager for Dimi Family Office (Monaco)2026
- Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Inova Foundation (InnovatetheNext)Active
- Advisor, CARAIA2026
- Technical Advisor, CariPhil2026
- Co-Founder; Head of Governance and Compliance, PayNomad Capital2022
- Co-Founder, Prohaus Labs2015–2020
- Founder and CEO, Osusu Technologies (Osusu Labs)2011–2017
Earlier career
Earlier career: shipping and logistics coordination with Tropical Shipping and on the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise (2003–11), which grounds my ports work; then fund management, development-bank credit lines and climate finance advisory across the Caribbean. These roles are listed with their clients under Projects.
Credentials
Education and certificates
- Executive Master of Advanced Studies in e-Governance, EPFL2007–09
- PGCert Internet Governance and Policy; PGCert ICT Policy and Strategy Development, DiploFoundation2010–11
- PGCert Climate Finance; CECAF; Adaptation Finance Fellowship alumna, Frankfurt School2017–18
- New Learning Technologies instructional design, GIZ and Furtwangen University2011
- Certified Chartered E-Commerce and E-Business Consultant, Institute of Certified E-Commerce Consultants2004
- CAIA Scholar 20202020
- IDB Impact Fund Manager Masterclass2026
Memberships
- ECCB Working Group on the Developments of the ECCU Payments System (member)2016–2023
- Caribbean ICT Virtual Stakeholders Community2005
- ICMCI / CICMC2008
- ECLAC Caribbean Knowledge Management Centre2011
- PMI2014
- Charter 100 Women in Finance2017
- AFFP Alumni Ambassador Association2018
- Open Earth Foundation Climate Action Data 2.0 Workgroup2020
- Invest for Better Caribbean Circle2021
CONTACT · WORK WITH ME
Tell me what’s costing you time or money.
Write to me about structuring a fund or financing mechanism, preparing an infrastructure investment case, or building an AI tool or training programme for your team.
02 · LINKEDINlinkedin.com/in/tvonu ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Connect on LinkedIn for speaking, advisory and board roles.