Haiti’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) has opened a call for expressions of interest to recruit the first cohort of a new national university-focused startup incubation initiative, aimed at revitalizing the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. Spearheaded by MCI Minister James Monazard as part of the government’s mandate to boost trade, industrial development, and small business growth, the Project to Support Entrepreneurial Invention and University Startups (AIESU) seeks to build a resilient, interconnected university entrepreneurial ecosystem across Haiti through a phased rollout of campus-based startup incubators.
The initiative is launching its pilot phase at Quisqueya University, with this call for candidates marking the first major milestone of the pilot. Through the open call, program organizers will select eight innovative early-stage ventures to participate in a six-month structured incubation program, designed to help founders refine their concepts and scale their impact.
Eligible applicants include current students, recent graduates, academic researchers, and cross-disciplinary teams affiliated with any accredited higher education institution in Haiti. The program accepts proposals across eight high-priority sectors that align with Haiti’s long-term economic and social development goals: digital technologies, artificial intelligence, agribusiness, manufacturing, green economy, health, creative industries, and innovative services.
Shortlisted ventures will be evaluated based on a clear set of criteria that balance innovation potential and national impact. Judges will score applications on the originality of their idea, market fit, technical feasibility, long-term business model viability, projected growth trajectory, team capacity and commitment, and the venture’s projected contribution to inclusive economic and social progress across Haiti.
Selected startups will gain access to a comprehensive package of support to advance their projects. Benefits include dedicated co-working space, structured entrepreneurship training, one-on-one mentorship from industry experts, end-to-end technical, legal, and administrative guidance, support in preparing for future funding rounds, and referrals to Haiti’s Investment Facilitation Center (FDI) for high-performing projects with strong investment appeal.
To complete an application, candidates must submit a filled-out application form, official photo identification, curriculum vitae for all team members, official proof of affiliation with a recognized Haitian higher education institution, and a five-page maximum concept note outlining their venture. All application materials must be submitted through the official MCI portal at https://mci.gouv.ht/aiesu.
The selection process follows a structured multi-step timeline, beginning with a closing date for applications of August 15, 2026. Administrative eligibility checks will run from August 17 to 25, while the independent selection committee will conduct technical evaluations of qualified applications between August 26 and September 10. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to deliver in-person or virtual pitches to the committee between September 15 and 20, followed by final deliberations between September 21 and 25. Results will be published between September 25 and 30, with selected ventures receiving official notification by the end of September. The six-month incubation program is scheduled to officially launch on October 1, 2026.
Participation in the open call is completely free for all eligible candidates. MCI notes that selection for the incubation program does not guarantee direct funding, and reserves the right to request additional documentation or conduct compliance verifications at any stage of the selection process.