Founder

Ingrid Riley is one of the Caribbean’s original disruptors, an award-winning ecosystem pioneer, events producer and host, super-connector, and the visionary behind SiliconCaribe.

Silicon Caribe curates events and experiences for Caribbean tech’s most remarkable entrepreneurs,  CEOs, tech professionals, and investors – all designed to gather, inspire, and educate the Tech Community.  

We’ve hosted over 300 events across 12 countries- from Jamaica, Bahamas, to Trinidad and Tobago, New York, Miami, to Nairobi, and written over 2000 stories about it all. 

From Kingston BETA to Caribbean BETA conference, Startup Weekend Jamaica, AgriHack Caribbean, Caribbean Bloggers Week, Fintech FWD, Future of Caribbean Money Conference, Beyond the Beach Summit, and Invite-only Private Dinners. Coworking Popups, Impact Tours. Tech Happy Hours. Workshops. Bootcamps, SiliconCaribe has consistently built spaces where knowledge is shared, talent discovered, deals are made, and innovation thrives.

We’ve helped entrepreneurs meetup with their peers, find co-founders, upskill, hire talent, connect to investors, get ecosystem player support, be accepted into global accelerators, and get millions of dollars in investment deals.

Impact at a Glance:

• Kingston BETA — the first and longest-running Caribbean tech event series and community.
• 300+ events in 10 Caribbean countries plus Miami, New York, Kenya, and London.
• 100,000+ people directly impacted.
• 3,000+ stories told about Caribbean tech, startups, and innovation on the SiliconCaribe blog
• 4 micro-communities for entrepreneurs, women in tech, tech talent, and investors.
• US $1M in deals for 6 entrepreneurs in the last 18 months through partnerships with Entrepreneurs Across Borders and Techstars — with startups now valued between US $3M and US $8M.
• A vibrant network where entrepreneurs, talent, and industry leaders actively collaborate and do business together.

Ingrid is also Co-Founder of GridNet Events, a next-generation events and experiences company curating world-class gatherings in Travel, Wellness, Culture, and Entertainment.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• Queen of Caribbean Tech – Caribbean Media (2012)
• Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Game Changer Award (2012)
• Techlinks Caribbean Innovators Game Changer Award (2013)
• Caribbean Future Proofer – Pitch Magazine UK (2019)
• Best Technology Blog – Jamaica Blog Awards (2010, 2011)
• Blog of the Year – Jamaica Blog Awards (2010)

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Event IP Creation & Production
Creator of 300+ conferences, meetups, hackathons, and summits- transforming ideas into repeatable, brandable event IPs.

Community Building & Network Orchestration
Built and connected thousands across industries, founding the Caribbean’s first and longest-running tech community.

Trendspotting & Thought Leadership
Published thousands of articles, identified emerging digital and tech trends early, and advised ecosystems and leaders regionally and globally.

Storytelling & Media Creation
Crafted powerful narratives through articles, interviews, keynotes, and media platforms that shape conversations around innovation and culture.

Ecosystem Stewardship & Influence
Established credibility and trust, earning awards and global recognition for redefining how Caribbean tech and entrepreneurship are perceived.

WHAT I BELIEVE

I like the kind of level playing field it presents to us here in the Caribbean and the Diaspora. It’s a fantastic opportunity for stunning innovations we can create when paired with what we do best in the world. It can create significant and lasting success in individual Caribbean countries and our Region and position us better in the Global Digital Economy.“ 

– Ingrid Riley, Founder – SiliconCaribe