Three Young Bocartoreño Entrepreneurs Win Seed Money to Help Launch Their Businesses

Ideas were flowing and the entrepreneurial spirit was in the air. Seven compelling pitches were made to the panel of judges, complete with start-up costs, market analysis, sales projections and a few tasty product samples. It was the first chapter in the brand story of businesses created by young enterprising Bocartoreño minds. There were seven finalists representing the communities of Boca del Drago, Bahía Honda, La Barriada, Buena Esperanza, Isla San Cristóbal and Bocas Town.

– ARTÍCULO EN ESPAÑOL –

This contest was held on July 10, 2025. It was the finale of a special entrepreneurship course, organized by Give and Surf through its hospitality vocational training program B. E. S. T. Bocas Educación de Servicio y Turismo, made possible by Rotary Global Grant and the generous support of Rotary Clubs in Colorado and Massachusetts, along with the Bocas Del Toro and Playa Coronado clubs in Panama.

All of the proposals were intriguing and the presentations well-executed. It wasn’t easy for the judges to come to a decision, but in the end three winners were chosen to be granted seed money for their projects. The original plan was actually for two winners. However one of the judges, Luis Mou of the Hou Wang Museum, was so inspired by the presentations he decided to support a third winner with seed money with a donation on behalf of the museum! You gotta love this community. 

Congratulations to the winners!

1st place: Evila Atencio, Panederia Lucía: baked goods made with a lot of love, located in the heart of Isla San Cristobal with a driven young lady elected by the community to lead the project.

2nd place: Narciso Beker, Beker Design Diseño Ngäbe: a fashion design company with a storefront selling modern clothing incorporating traditional Ngäbe patterns in the design.

3rd place: Wilmer García – Jhoss Decor: a family business that is already off the ground, decorating cars for Christmas parades, providing custom piñatas and decorations for every occasion, with expansion plans for a home decor store on Isla Colón.

Honorable mention to the other finalists:

Glenda Abrego – Leny Bollos, production and sales of bollos (corn dough dumplings)
Abdel Quintero – Kogo Art, coconut shell art
Milla Machado – Casita Infantil Génesis, a daycare center in La Barriada
Roberto Ellington – El Rincón de Chocolate, cacao tour and cacao products (including his star product, cacao wine!)

Your presentations were strong and the act of organizing yourself for this opportunity was a valuable experience in itself. Many business people will agree that success takes time and persistence, which often means overcoming more than a few “nos” before achieving your dream.

Thank you to the Museo Hou Wang for hosting the activity, which is not only an amazing events space, but a living testament to the virtue of persistence. Thank you to the other judges for dedicating your valuable time to participate.

Much respect to the Club Rotario Bocas del Toro and the supporting clubs near and far. Thank you to Give and Surf and all who support this fabulous impactful non-profit. Special recognitions to their fearless leader Executive Director Emily Talentino and the program’s professor of English and this entrepreneurship course, Mr. Alejandro Jonah. 

Johah led the coursework with the ten students, ages 18-30, learning business management, marketing and entrepreneurship skills. He is an educator and orator extraordinaire, proprietor of Bocas’ most delicious empanadas, which you can enjoy every time you hear his signature smooth but booming voice “patty, patty, plantain tart!” as he cruises the streets of Bocas Town on his tricycle.

Again, you gotta love this community.

Every year The Bocas Breeze chooses a different worthy cause and local nonprofit to highlight through our Breeze Card membership club program. In 2026 the theme is tourism and hospitality training. Five percent of all 2026 Breeze Cards sold will be donated to Give and Surf in honor of their vocational training program, B.E.S.T., Bocas Educación de Servicio y Turismo. Pictured here are graduates of the program in December 2025.