A look back on our “KAL” Project
Innovation often emerges from necessity, and in Haiti—where formal job opportunities are limited—entrepreneurship is more than an ambition; it is a lifeline. It was within this context that we launched KAL, a project whose name reflects both its mission and its roots: Kreye l (Create it), Anrejistre l (Register it), Lage l (Launch it). KAL was designed to support young, local startup entrepreneurs by helping them protect one of their most valuable yet often overlooked assets—their trademarks.
Why KAL Was Needed
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro and medium enterprises (MMEs) play a critical role in fostering economic resilience and job creation, especially in developing economies. In Haiti, where employment opportunities are constrained, encouraging entrepreneurship is a key catalyst for economic growth.
However, through our work with local entrepreneurs, we consistently observed a significant gap: while many founders made the effort to register their commercial or business names, their trademarks and logos often remained unprotected. This left businesses vulnerable at a very early stage—precisely when they were beginning to build recognition and trust.
Through discussions, three main reasons emerged for this widespread lack of trademark protection:
Misconceptions about registration - Many entrepreneurs believed that registering a business name was synonymous with registering a trademark. In reality, these are distinct legal processes, and registering one does not automatically protect the other.
Limited financial resources - When funds are scarce, priority is understandably given to essential startup costs such as inventory, rent, equipment, internet access, or marketing. Trademark registration was often perceived as a “nice-to-have” rather than a necessity.
A lack of awareness of trademark value - Perhaps most significantly, many entrepreneurs did not yet see their trademark or logo as a valuable asset worth protecting.
These challenges highlighted the need for a program that went beyond registration alone—one that would educate, support, and reduce barriers to entry.
Launching the KAL Initiative
KAL was created to directly address these issues. The project was built on two core pillars:
Education, to demystify trademarks and explain their importance;
Access, by making trademark registration more affordable and easier to navigate.
To amplify our reach within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, we partnered with Impact Hub, an organization deeply embedded in Haiti’s startup and innovation community, with hundreds of active members. This partnership allowed us to connect with young founders who were already building businesses and seeking guidance.
Together, we developed:
A short educational video explaining what trademarks are, why they matter, and how we could help;
Informational webinars focused on the importance of intellectual property protection;
An easy-to-follow online process that simplified trademark registration for first-time applicants.
Beyond the basics, we also offered hands-on support, including help drafting accurate logo descriptions and advising entrepreneurs on selecting the appropriate trademark classes—an area that often causes confusion and delays.
Lingering Challenges
Unfortunately, despite this initial momentum and a couple applications, the project eventually came to a standstill. One of the biggest obstacles was the complex political climate. During periods of unrest, priorities understandably shifted toward short-term survival—keeping doors open, securing physical spaces, and sustaining basic operations during frequent shutdowns.
We did explore additional avenues to revive and expand the initiative. Notably, we began discussions with the Central Bank around sponsoring trademark registrations for 100 women entrepreneurs. This partnership had the potential to significantly scale our impact. However, escalating political instability and repeated civil riots led to prolonged office closures, which ultimately halted progress and dissipated the project’s momentum.
Another factor that deeply affected KAL—and the broader entrepreneurial landscape—was the introduction of the Biden administration’s Humanitarian Parole program. Many promising young entrepreneurs chose, out of necessity, to leave Haiti in search of personal safety. In doing so, countless projects, businesses, and long-term investments were abandoned, not due to lack of talent or ambition, but because survival became the overriding concern.
This exodus represented not just a loss of individual ventures, but a pause in collective innovation and local economic development.
Lessons Learned
KAL taught us that in a complex and volatile political environment, entrepreneurship becomes exponentially harder. Local founders are forced to prioritize immediate needs, while long-term considerations—such as protecting intellectual property—often fall by the wayside.
Yet, there is also reason for hope. The latest statistics from our market share report show that although overall application numbers declined, filings by local entrepreneurs remain dominant. This resilience signals that creativity, ambition, and innovation continue to thrive, even under extraordinary pressure.
Looking Ahead
KAL may have paused, but its purpose remains as relevant as ever. Protecting creativity is not a luxury—it is a foundation for sustainable growth, brand equity, and long-term success.
As ever, our mission is to make a meaningful impact on the local economy and empower as many local entrepreneurs to become leaders and trailblazers on a global stage.
