Who I Am

My name is Sylvan, a Trinidad & Tobago–born creator, cultural storyteller, IT professional, and founder of IERE Publishing. My background spans journalism, communications, radio hosting, music, and community work, combined with professional experience in IT, programming, and systems analysis.

This blend of creative and technical expertise allows me to build platforms that celebrate Caribbean culture while ensuring strong, scalable digital foundations.

I’ve spent my life creating spaces where Caribbean people can be seen, heard, and represented.

Caribbean Food Finder is the next step in that mission.

What I’m Creating

Caribbean Food Finder will be the first global directory dedicated to every region touched by the Caribbean Sea — not only island nations, but the entire Caribbean Basin, including:

Islands

Trinidad & Tobago • Jamaica • Barbados • Haiti • DR • Grenada • St. Lucia • Antigua • St. Kitts • Dominica • St. Vincent • Cayman Islands • Bahamas • and more

Mainland Caribbean Nations

Belize • Venezuela • Colombia • Mexico’s Caribbean coast • Costa Rica (Limón) • Guatemala (Caribbean coast) • Honduras • Nicaragua • Panama

Across all these regions, our cuisine shares deep roots — African, Indigenous, Latin, Creole, Garifuna, East Indian, and European influences blended into dishes known around the world.

This platform will celebrate all of it.

What the Platform Will Do

Caribbean Food Finder will give visibility to:

• Restaurants

• Caterers

• Street vendors

• Rum shops

• Food trucks

• Bakeries & sweet makers

• Caribbean groceries

• Cultural food events & promoters

Visitors will be able to:

• Browse menus & food photos

• View vendor profiles

• Discover festivals & events

• Explore ads & promotions

• Navigate with maps

• Filter by island, region, or cuisine style

• Find Caribbean food anywhere in the world

This directory fills a major gap:

Caribbean businesses are scattered across social media — this platform brings them together.

Why I’m Raising Funds

To build the platform professionally — with vendor dashboards, subscription systems, menus, ads, events, and a clean user interface — the development cost is:

$15,000 USD

(Approximately $20,000–$22,000 CAD)

To successfully launch in 2026, I also need funding for:

• Branding

• Marketing & promotions

• Influencer partnerships

• Diaspora outreach

• Social media ads

• Vendor onboarding

• Hosting & security

• Legal setup

Bringing the total fundraising requirement to:

$30,000 CAD

As a solo founder currently self-funding everything, your support will move this vision forward.

The Timeline

Once funds are raised:

Development (4–6 weeks)

✔ Full directory system

✔ Vendor dashboards

✔ Menu & media uploads

✔ Ads & promotions

✔ Subscription system

✔ Mobile-friendly design

✔ Testing & polishing

Beta Launch

A test roll-out with selected vendors across different islands and mainland regions.

Full Launch:

2026

How Your Donation Helps

✔ Supports Caribbean small businesses

Many rely only on social media. This gives them real visibility.

✔ Connects the diaspora

Millions worldwide want authentic Caribbean food — this creates one place to find it.

✔ Preserves culture

Food is heritage. This platform documents and showcases it.

✔ Strengthens economic ecosystems

Restaurants, food trucks, caterers, and home cooks all benefit.

✔ Creates a long-term digital asset

This isn’t temporary — it’s built to last generations.

Donation Goal

$30,000 CAD

This covers development, hosting, branding, marketing, onboarding, security, and launch.

Donor Recognition Tiers

(These acknowledgments are expressions of gratitude — not purchases or product sales.)

• $20 — Your name on the “Thank You” page

• $50 — Early beta access

• $100 — “Founding Contributor” badge

• $250 — Sponsor a Caribbean vendor listing

• $500 — Permanent Founders Wall placement

$1,000 — Founders 5-Year Premium Pass (Limited to 20 Supporters)

For major supporters who want to help shape the platform, this tier includes:

• 5 years of Premium listing access once launched

• Featured placement during launch year

• Top-tier Founders Wall recognition

• Priority onboarding as a vendor (if applicable)

• Exclusive development updates

• Optional thank-you call/video message from the founder

Limited to 20 spots to maintain exclusivity.

How You Can Support

Donate — every bit helps

Share the link — it makes a huge difference

Share with:

• Caribbean & diaspora communities

• Friends and family

• WhatsApp contacts

• Social media groups

• Food lovers & tourism networks

A Final Message

Caribbean food is more than flavour — it’s identity, history, love, and connection.

From the islands to the mainland coastlines, our cuisine tells the story of who we are.

Caribbean Food Finder is more than a website.

It’s a cultural project.

A business platform.

A global bridge.

A gift to our community.

Your support helps bring this vision to life.

Thank you for believing in this project.

With gratitude,

Sylvan