Photo/ Courtesy of Shergaun Roserie
A little over a year ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shergaun Roserie, co-founder of Orbtronics, as he and his business partner Keeghan Patrick were in the early stages of championing STEM education in St. Lucia. At the time, they had already impacted hundreds of young minds in St. Lucia, but they were just getting started. Fast forward to today, and Orbtronics has reached new heights, touching the lives of over 800 students and expanding their influence across the region. When I caught up with Shergaun and Keeghan again recently, they shared their remarkable journey of growth, innovation, and their unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation of Caribbean tech leaders.
A Regional Impact
Since its inception, Orbtronics has aimed to empower young minds across the Caribbean through innovative STEM education. In 2024, their reach expanded even further with the Generative AI and Python Summer Camp, a regional program sponsored by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, and Ministries of Education. The program equipped high school students with cutting-edge Generative AI and Python coding skills to solve real-world problems and was guided by local industry experts including Orbtronics.
"We’ve seen incredible growth in our students, both technically and creatively," Keeghan shared, reflecting on the experience. At the summer camp, students aged 13-18 from Antigua, Saint Kitts, Nevis, and Saint Lucia designed and showcased healthcare and disaster management chatbots. Their creations demonstrated both technical proficiency and real-world application.
The winning projects included Miss Khalifa, a chatbot designed to provide teenagers with accurate, non-judgmental sexual health education, developed by the Pink Panthers team from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Navi, a chatbot that provides instant, personalized weather and traffic updates, developed by Team Azure Avengers from St. Kitts and Nevis and AI-den, a chatbot aimed at revolutionizing emergency care by enhancing patient assessment and diagnosis accuracy designed by Saint Lucia’s team AI-den.
Shergaun and Keeghan at the ECCU Generative AI & Python Summer Camp Showcase
Orbtronics' influence now stretches across the Caribbean. Beyond their STEM programs in St. Lucia, Shergaun and Keeghan have forged partnerships in Trinidad, working with organizations like the Sapphire Miriam Foundation. Their focus? Upskilling young girls through education and entrepreneurial training.
"Our goal is to promote educational programs that are inclusive, especially for girls who haven’t had as much representation in STEM," Keeghan emphasized. The team also spearheaded a robotics initiative in collaboration with the Taiwan ICDF fund, training teachers across St. Lucia’s 18 districts, impacting over 200 students and 15 teachers.
Innovation Hub and Further Expansion
Orbtronics' success doesn’t end with education. Their commitment to digital innovation has led to the development of Rifbid, an AI-powered e-procurement platform aimed at streamlining government procurement processes across the Caribbean.
“There are a lot of manual and paper-based processes in government procurement, making it tedious and complex. Rifbid aims to change that,” Shergaun explained. Their pitch won the St. Lucia leg of the Entrepreneurship World Cup, and now they’re competing globally for a chance to win a share of $1 million in cash prizes at the EWC Global Finals in Saudi Arabia.
As Orbtronics continues to grow, Keeghan outlined their vision: "We want Orbtronics to be the parent company that births other innovative solutions like Rifbid."
In addition to Rifbid, Orbtronics is in the process of establishing the Orbtronics Innovation Hub, a co-working and co-education facility in St. Lucia. With $500,000 XCD in funding from the St. Lucia government, the Hub will be a space where entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts alike can access Orbtronics' services.
"We’re targeting the end of this year to launch the hub, which will be a game-changer for the local tech scene," Keeghan shared.
Their work has been supported not just by local governments, but by international organizations like the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), where Shergaun and Keeghan serve as youth envoys. This position has allowed them to gain insight into global tech policies and strengthen Orbtronics’ network.
A Bright Future for Orbtronics and the Caribbean
Looking back on their journey, Keeghan and Shergaun’s achievements are many. From launching education programs that have led young students to Ivy League universities, to winning international competitions, they’ve proven the potential of Caribbean youth in the global tech landscape.
St. Lucia's all girls robotics team at the First Global International Robotics Competition
"When we started Orbtronics, women and girls weren’t as represented in STEM. Now, we have a full girls’ robotics team heading to Athens for the First Global International Robotics Competition. It’s a dream come true," Shergaun reflected proudly.
As Orbtronics continues to empower the next generation of tech innovators, it’s clear that Shergaun and Keeghan are just getting started. Through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Orbtronics is not only transforming the Caribbean's tech ecosystem but also paving the way for future generations. Their work serves as a beacon of hope and a testament to the region's untapped potential.
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