Local Tech – By Deslyn A Joseph
Local Tech Innovator Prepares
The Founder and Managing Director of Cyber Hawk Solutions Software Agency, Canice James will travel to the USA on Sunday where he will participate in the 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship.
James was selected — along with Joshuanette Francis of Good Humans 268 — to represent Antigua and Barbuda in the prestigious professional development program.
Since founding Cyber Hawk Solutions in 2019, he has grown the agency into a competitive entity focused on high-level digital solutions.
For James, the YLAI fellowship is more than a personal milestone — it is a vehicle to bring international technical standards back to the local hospitality and business sectors.
He envisions a future where the twin island nation serves as a regional hub for digital innovation, a goal he compares to creating a local version of Silicon Valley. He also believes that by fostering the right talent and infrastructure, Antigua and Barbuda can produce digital products — ranging from complex apps to administrative portals — that are capable of competing in the global marketplace.
“My vision is that we can create products that can prosper internationally,” James said. “When I saw the opportunity for YLAI, I just knew I had to apply. It’s been a really incredible process so far.”
The experience begins with an orientation in Houston, Texas, followed by a four-week professional placement. James will then be hosted in San Diego, California, a city known for its fast-paced tech industry. He plans to use this time to study the operations of world-class software agencies, focusing on the processes, strategies, and leadership models that drive successful innovation.
James expressed a particular interest in navigating the current industry changes sparked by Artificial Intelligence (AI). He hopes that by observing how US firms react to these shifts, he can better position Cyber Hawk and other local agencies to capitalize on the technology.
One of James’ primary goals is to create a “channel” for other Antiguans to enter the software engineering space. He said he intends to use the connections made during the fellowship to open doors for local innovators to enter the US market, while simultaneously bringing international business back home to support the local workforce.
“I’m hoping to learn a lot about software agency operations so that I can do my leadership work more effectively,” he explained. “I want to bring back opportunities for persons who want to become software engineers or be part of the innovation space.”
As he prepares to be a part of the 250-member cohort in the USA, James encouraged other Antiguan and Barbudan entrepreneurs to pursue similar international exchanges.
He noted that applications for programmes like YLAI typically open mid-year and serve as a vital platform for those looking to scale their businesses and increase their community impact.
