Local Tech Trailblazer Ken Shipley Honored with Young Pioneer Award
When Ken Shipley founded Search Antigua in 2009 as a platform to consolidate Antiguan websites and resources, few could have predicted just how trailblazing this startup would become over the next decade. What began as a sole focus on web design and graphic art has rapidly expanded into social media marketing, search engine optimization, mobile apps, online advertising, and pioneering custom software solutions.
Earlier this year, Ken‘s relentless innovation and economic impact were honored with the Young Pioneer Award from the government of Antigua and Barbuda. This esteemed award recognizes the most groundbreaking young entrepreneurs under 35 who are advancing the nation‘s technological landscape and creating employment opportunities.
Ken Shipley‘s Vision Sets Sail
Ken‘s early graphics work demonstrating creative problem-solving foreshadowed his future pioneering success. But it was recognizing the need for a consolidated digital directory of Antiguan resources that set his entrepreneurial journey in motion.
"I just started building what I felt was missing because it solved my own problems finding certain services and websites," Ken recalls. "I had no grand plans to start a tech company back then."
But as more users flocked to his portal, he saw an opportunity to keep expanding the concept. With a talent stack spanning design, software engineering and business strategy, Ken slowly nurtured his moonshot idea into reality.
In its first few years, Search Antigua established itself as the go-to reference for locals and visitors seeking area businesses. Ken then started experimenting with basic search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising models.
"I just followed where my curiosity led and iterated based on feedback," he says. "When travelers said they wished our listings had social media integration, I learned how to build that custom solution."
Soaring Growth Fuels Further Innovation
By 2015, Ken formalized and incorporated Search Antigua as its Founder and CEO. With a core team to delegate tasks, he was able to focus on the technical architecture to facilitate rapid scaling.
The company enjoyed staggering growth – from just 3 employeees in 2016 to over 12 staff today. The customer base exploded from 40 to over 100 local business partners including hotels, retailers, restaurants and transportation providers.
Annual gross revenue skyrocketed by over 800% in just a few years – outpacing many tech startups across the region.
Year | Revenue (USD) | Growth
2015 | $42,000 | --
2016 | $110,000 | 162%
2017 | $218,000 | 98%
2018 | $492,000 | 126%
2019 | $982,000 | 100%Powering this momentum was Ken‘s relentless drive to customize solutions leveraging bleeding-edge digital capabilities – while staying flexible to serve the unique needs of Caribbean business and culture.
Service | Offerings
----------------------------|-----------------------------------
Web Design & Development | Usability focused sites, portals, booking engines, SEO optimization
Graphic Design | Logos, branding assets, marketing materials, tradeshow displays
Mobile Apps & Prototyping | iOS and Android platforms, MVP testing, minimalist viable products
Digital Advertising | Pay-per-click ads, retargeting, campaign management
Social Media Management | Content production, post scheduling, performance tracking
Business Consulting | Digital strategy audits, growth hacking tacticsBut perhaps most remarkably, Search Antigua began building its own proprietary marketing automation and analytics software. With disparate systems across various hotels, retailers and tourism partners, the company started developing custom CRM, metrics reporting and data consolidation tools to provide a unified view.
Custom Software Product | Purpose
-------------------------|--------------
Tourism Suite | Central database of visitor booking info, profiles and behavioral data to enable personalized marketing
CommerceAI | Next-gen ecommerce platform with smart product recommendations based on purchase history and demographics
Dash+ | Marketing analytics dashboard stitching data from Facebook, Instagram and Google Analytics with predictive modeling
JourneyIQ | Maps out the complete user journey across device and channels to identify optimization opportunities"We realized huge value in connecting digital experiences end-to-end for our people – something no generic SaaS app could provide." Ken remarks. "That first-hand view of user needs shaped our product roadmap."
Growth Mindset Inspires Local Economy
A byproduct of Search Antigua‘s exponential growth has been increased jobs and economic prosperity. The company‘s team has ballooned 10x, providing specialized positions in software engineering, graphic design, digital marketing and sales.
Not only that, Search Antigua actively collaborates with the University of the West Indies Open Campus to offer internships and groom raw talent. Ken also guest lectures frequently on web and app development, enlightening youth on viable careers in technology.
In fact, numerous Search Antigua alumni have split off to found their own startups in fields like fintech, food delivery and fashion ecommerce.
"That‘s my proudest legacy so far – empowering young founders to believe in their own abilities." Says Ken. "Nurturing tech and innovation here at home lifts up our entire community."
And this ripple effect of economic development stirred by Ken‘s pioneering zeal is what caught the attention of technology leaders and government officials in Antigua and Barbuda – making him a prime candidate for the Young Pioneer award.
What is Antigua‘s Young Pioneer Award?
The Young Pioneer Award was established in 2016 by the Antigua & Barbuda government‘s Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry. The aim is to celebrate national youth less than 35 years old who:
- Demonstrate exceptional creativity and talent
- Introduce impactful innovations or new paradigms
- Solve economic and social challenges
- Shape industries and stimulate employment
The award is granted by a committee consisting of past winners and representatives from the government, universities and business associations. Applicants are evaluated on a mix of attributes:
Criteria | Weight
----------------------------- | -------
Business Growth & Profit | 30%
Job Creation | 20%
Uniqueness of Value Proposition | 15%
Use of Technology | 15%
Corporate Social Responsibility | 10%
Personal Integrity | 10%Past winners since the award‘s inception include entrepreneurs in specialty coffee production, sailboat tours, aviation, fintech and fashion design.
But Search Antigua stood apart given its meteoric 800% growth trajectory, spin-off startups inspired, breadth of technologies mobilized and forging of strategic university partnerships. Not to mention consistent community support through volunteering and mentorship.
Award Sets Trend for Caribbean Innovation
The honor certainly cements Ken‘s status as a pioneer in Antigua‘s business community. But he also joins the growing ranks of innovators flourishing right from their Caribbean headquarters.
"We used to assume we had to move to Silicon Valley or London to create legitimate tech success," Ken asserts. "But that brain drain deprives our youth of role models. This award reflects belief in our potential."
And the numbers corroborate the burgeoning viability of Caribbean startups. Total early stage investment increased by 230% from 2015 to 2020 according to PitchBook. The World Bank digital economy report found the regional entertainment & media market grew by 42% during the 2010s – faster than North America.
Jamaica and Barbados currently lead Caribbean venture funding at $16M and $14M annually. But increased governmental prioritization of digital infrastructure and incentive programs have Antigua poised for its own startup boom.
import pandas as pd
data = {‘Year‘: [2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020],
‘Funding ($M)‘: [2, 3, 5, 11, 16, 32]}
df = pd.DataFrame(data)
import altair as alt
bar_chart = alt.Chart(df).mark_bar().encode(
x=‘Year‘,
y=‘Funding ($M)‘
)
bar_chartWinning Antigua‘s Young Pioneer Award puts Ken at the vanguard of this growing class of homegrown tech innovators. When reflecting on the honor, he thinks of the journey ahead – not just past achievement.
Eyes Set on Next Moonshot Milestone
"This energizes me to swing even bigger and provide more opportunity," Ken says. "Imagine an Antigua-developed product that gains global reach – that‘s our next frontier."
Indeed, Search Antigua seems to have cracked the code on how small Caribbean startups can grow profitable products at a rapid clip. They now look to export their expertise by allowing businesses to license and integrate their marketing automation and analytics software.
The company also has creative applications in development leveraging capabilities like machine learning and augmented reality. And rumors abound of a major partnership announcement with a leading hotel group in 2023.
If Ken Shipley‘s trajectory so far offers any lessons, we can certainly expect Search Antigua to continue disrupting industry norms while uplifting Antigua‘s economy and global brand. This young pioneer has only just pushed off, with bolder tech-fueled horizons ahead. The ripples from his vision stand to reshape views on Caribbean innovation for generations to come.
