Banj

What Banj does

Banj operates Haiti's principal innovation hub and startup accelerator from its headquarters in Port-au-Prince, delivering a combined workspace-and-acceleration platform built around an 800m² coworking facility, a 150-seat auditorium, training rooms, and private offices. The organization serves Haitian entrepreneurs, developers, creatives, and digital-skills learners through its core product surface: Banj Workspace (flexible coworking and event venues) and Banj Labs (startup incubation and acceleration delivered in partnership with Google Launchpad). Banj Labs sits at the center of a broader program portfolio that includes the Creative Tech Lab (backed by the Inter-American Development Bank), D-CLIC (digital-skills certification with OIF and ESIH), DevExpo (annual developer conference), Haiti Start (Google-powered bootcamp), ProAI (AI adoption program), PAIR (social entrepreneurship with the EU and Gret), and the Programme Communautaire Ideathon (PIC) reaching all 10 Haitian departments.

The underlying technology is primarily physical infrastructure (coworking space, auditorium, training rooms) layered with a self-serve booking integration via Roomzilla (currently temporarily unavailable) and basic web/mobile surfaces for member applications and program enrollment. The platform does not rely on proprietary software; its differentiation rests on curated physical space, structured program content, mentor access, and partnership-driven capital pathways.

Banj runs a hybrid revenue model combining recurring membership fees for workspace access, professional-services revenue from training programs and event hosting, and institutional grants from partners including Google, BID, the European Union, and OIF. Distribution is community-led and event-driven: 500+ annual events, a network of 100+ mentors and 150 partners, and a 100K+ person reach funnel prospects into the membership and program pipeline. The operating geography is concentrated in Haiti, with the Creative Tech Lab providing selective reach into Jamaica, Honduras, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Name

Banj

Legal name

Banj

Website

https://banj.ht

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Banj operates Haiti's premier innovation hub and startup accelerator in Port-au-Prince, delivering coworking space, incubation, digital-skills training, and acceleration programs to Haitian entrepreneurs, developers, and creatives in partnership with Google Launchpad, the Inter-American Development Bank, the EU, and OIF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator and Innovation Hub

NAICS

Office Administrative Services (5611)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAHAA

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Entrepreneurship & Business Enrichment

SECONDARYBPAGADAF

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDAAAOAM

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

Keywords

• Coworking spaces
• Startup accelerator
• Innovation hub
• Entrepreneurship programs
• Venture incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Haiti

HQ country

Dominican Republic

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue from community members joining Banj through subscription/membership
2. Training and Programs: Revenue generated from specialized trainings, workshops, and educational programs
3. Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting events, conferences, and gatherings in their 150-seat auditorium and 800m2 collaboration spaces
4. Grants and Partnerships: Funding and grants from institutional partners like BID and Google Launchpad for specific programs

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Banj operates a coworking and innovation hub in Haiti that provides shared workspace, training programs, and a startup accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs and creatives. It also runs initiatives connecting young Haitians to digital job opportunities and corporate partnership programs supporting startup growth.

Product overview

Banj is a Haitian coworking space and startup accelerator ecosystem offering flexible workspace solutions alongside structured entrepreneurship support programs. The core product portfolio consists of Banj Workspace (800m² coworking facility with meeting rooms and 150-seat auditorium) and Banj Labs (accelerator with incubation and acceleration services). Banj Labs encompasses multiple specialized programs including Creative Tech Lab (CTL), D-CLIC (digital skills), DevExpo (developer events), Haiti Start (Google-powered bootcamp), PAIR (social entrepreneurship), and ProAI (AI adoption). The company also maintains a startup portfolio featuring ventures like GIDEM. The infrastructure integrates with Roomzilla for space booking, though this booking module is currently temporarily unavailable.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Banj Labs: Incubation and acceleration accelerator program for Haitian startups, providing mentorship, workspace, training, networking, and funding access in partnership with Google Launchpad.
• Programme Communautaire Ideathon (PIC)
• Creative Tech Lab
• D-CLIC
• DevExpo
• Haiti Start
• ProAI
• PAIR

Products and services

• Banj Coworking Space
• Startup Accelerator Program
• Innovation Hub Programs
• Digital Job Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ members registered in the community
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Google LaunchpadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Google Launchpad to operate Banj's accelerator program, providing Haitian startup founders with resources necessary for growth and development.
• Kingston Creative HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Jamaica to strengthen creative economy innovation ecosystem through the Creative Tech Lab program.
• UTH AvanzaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Honduras to strengthen creative economy innovation ecosystem through the Creative Tech Lab program.
• École Supérieure d'Infotronique d'Haïti (ESIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for D-CLIC digital skills training program in Haiti.
• Ayiti AnalyticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the D-CLIC digital skills initiative.
• Institut National de Formation Professionnelle (INFP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in D-CLIC program for vocational training in digital professions.
• PUSHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in D-CLIC digital skills training initiative.
• Haiti Flying LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in D-CLIC program for drone and robotics training.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Startupbootcamp: Global network of industry-focused startup accelerators with programs in emerging markets. Comparable as a partnership-driven accelerator, though Startupbootcamp focuses on equity-aligned cohorts versus Banj's grant-funded cohort model.
• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs with presence across Latin America and the Caribbean. Comparable as a coworking-plus-incubator network with social impact focus, though Impact Hub operates as a mature multi-country franchise versus Banj's single-country footprint.
• MassChallenge: Global zero-equity startup accelerator operating multiple programs including in Latin America. Comparable in offering structured accelerator programs and partnership-driven funding access, though at significantly larger scale and operating in more developed markets.
• Seedstars: Emerging-markets startup accelerator and competition platform with strong presence in Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean. Comparable as a regional startup ecosystem builder, though Seedstars focuses more on competition and venture exposure versus Banj's coworking-led model.

Direct peers

• iHub: Nairobi-based innovation community for African technologists and entrepreneurs offering coworking, mentorship, and programs. Comparable in operating model (community-driven hub serving emerging-market entrepreneurs) and target demographic.
• Jokkolabs: Africa-based network of innovation hubs combining coworking, training, and incubation for local entrepreneurs. Comparable in targeting underserved emerging-market entrepreneurs with community-led GTM and donor partnerships.
• CcHUB (Co-creation Hub): Africa's leading innovation hub combining coworking, incubation, and accelerator programs targeting young entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to Banj's model of physical hub + structured startup programs + corporate/donor partnerships.

Regional players

• AfriLabs: Pan-African network of over 400 innovation hubs supporting entrepreneurs across Africa. Comparable in operating as an ecosystem-builder with donor/multi-stakeholder support, though focused on Africa rather than the Caribbean.

Emerging players

• Venture For Africa: Talent network connecting African professionals to startup and venture roles. Comparable as a youth-focused, ecosystem-building organization supporting entrepreneurship in fragile/emerging markets, though focused on talent intermediation rather than physical coworking.

Others

• Nestlé's Youth Entrepreneurship Platform (YEP): Corporate-sponsored youth entrepreneurship programs in emerging markets. Comparable as a funder/partner of entrepreneurship training for underserved youth in fragile economies, adjacent rather than directly competitive.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/banjHT
• Facebookfacebook.com/Banjht
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/banjht

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Banj