The Local Mobile App Industry

With over 100% mobile phone penetration in Trinidad and Tobago, a large and growing proportion of which represents smartphones, more and more people are downloading and using apps. Thousands of smartphone users will have ideas for apps, with a subset willing to take steps towards having these apps created.

According to the BBC, “a mobile app is short for application and this can be any type of computer programme  Applications have been around for as long as computers, but the term ‘app’ is associated with the software that runs on a smartphone or tablet device. Apps are usually accessed by clicking or tapping on an icon on the homescreen of your smartphone or tablet.  This means you don’t need to search for a programme or key in the address of a website.”  This, by its very definition, means that apps are more convenient to the user, so we do expect the app industry to explode to an even greater extent in the next few years.

The developer community in Trinidad and Tobago comprises mainly of mobile app developers who are at varying levels of experience, expertise and activity. Some are self-taught developers, while others have received formal training here in the region, at a North American or European institution, or online. Judging from participation in events like hackathons, local and international competitions, start-up weekends, and networking events around the country, it can be inferred that the number of people with advanced mobile application development skills is in the low hundreds.

In terms of demographics, while mobile app development might have a natural, almost instinctive appeal to tech savvy millennial, the demographics of mobile app developers in Trinidad and Tobago, and wider Caribbean, vary widely in terms of age, gender and income. Several educational institutions in Trinidad and Tobago offer mobile app development training at certificate, diploma, Bachelor or Master’s Degree level. In all cases where the training is offered at tertiary level, these courses are offered as individual modules or even part of an ICT module rather than as a specialism or main area of focus. In some instances, one-off short courses are also offered by technology partners like Microsoft, who have a vested interest in promoting their brand.

However, knowing the precise number of mobile app developers is less important than understanding the trends in terms of people showing an interest in becoming mobile app developers, or coming up with ideas for apps. The trends show an increasing number of people seeking formal and informal training in app development, as well as participating in proof of concept competitions and start-up competitions with mobile app ideas, prototypes, or fully built solutions which can all be provided at CARIRI’s mCentre.

The Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) is a flagship development of CARIRI which is aimed at facilitating Research, Development and Innovation. The Tekmania arm of CED accommodates Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project initiatives being undertaken by CARIRI that are geared towards enhancing the operational efficiencies of SMEs.

One section of TekMania is the mCentre which is the only mobile applications laboratory and accelerator in the region which incubates high potential mobile app developers. The lab provides world class business and technical training to high potential individuals on mobile application development and entrepreneurship on all platforms. mCentre is a shared space where technology and entrepreneurs can interact, work, gain access to tools and expertise, deploy their solutions and start and grow their businesses.

As part of it growth, CARIRI’s mCentre was selected to be a part of the Caribbean Mobile Innovation Project (CMIP).

CMIP is a two-tiered partnership approach to support growth-oriented mobile app businesses in the region.  As part of the World Bank’s infoDev ICT development approach, the CMIP seeks to build mobile innovation communities by bringing together a variety of stakeholder groups.  The hubs operate out of Jamaica (main mobile application hub), Trinidad and Tobago (CARIRI), Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Barbados and Suriname.

Mobile app entrepreneurs using the services of the CMIP in each respective market will be able to access technical, business and project management training, mentoring, and business incubation services.  The goal of the training will be to support mobile app entrepreneurs to move their idea from ‘mind to market.’

It is with this in mind that CARIRI’s mCentre will be hosting the local leg of the regional competition, CODESPRINT on Thursday 21st April 2016.  Persons who have a working mobile app (either a prototype or one already on a mobile app store) will be asked to present to a panel of judges for the chance to win seed funding, prizes, and mentoring.