AniMints, the animation studio and creative support arm of Yaad Labs Ltd – A Jamaican Startup established in 2022, is on a mission to grow original Caribbean intellectual property (IP) through world-class illustration and animated storytelling.

Thanks to the Creative Caribbean Grant, AniMints successfully produced its first animated short series—“The Tipsy Turtles”—and laid the foundation for a new model of digital monetization powered by blockchain technology.

In simple terms, AniMints has taken the familiar model of content meets collectibles—like Pokémon’s relationship to trading cards or Disney’s cartoons to its merchandise—and applied it to the digital age. The studio plans to sell its main characters as digital collectibles (NFTs), giving fans the chance to own a piece of the show they love.

The grant funding was essential in completing the studio’s ambitious production goals: 30 character turnarounds, 101 detailed backgrounds, and over 640 seconds of animated content.

These assets form the creative backbone of AniMints’ business strategy—content that can now be directly monetized and leveraged to attract clients and collaborators across the globe.

With production wrapped and the series “export ready,” AniMints has already begun to see real results. The studio has received multiple client inquiries, secured paying animation contracts, and generated over $34,000 USD in NFT and digital collectible sales.

This early success demonstrates the commercial viability of blending Caribbean-inspired storytelling with cutting-edge blockchain distribution on platforms such as Twitter/X, Discord, and the Cardano Blockchain. Beyond immediate business outcomes, the project also had a meaningful social impact. The grant enabled AniMints to hire and fairly compensate six regional creatives, providing valuable income and experience in a challenging industry. Collaborations with other indie studios, such as Cmills Animation Studio, strengthened local creative networks and ensured production quality remained high.

Importantly, AniMints is already expanding its vision. Building on the success of The Tipsy Turtles, the studio is developing Anansi Tales, an animated series designed to preserve and modernize Afro-Caribbean folklore. By recording stories on the blockchain, AniMints hopes to both protect cultural heritage and ensure its longevity for future generations.

Since receiving the grant, Yaad Labs and AniMints have achieved significant milestones— raising capital, securing new funding, placing in the Top 10 of an international accelerator program, and signing a major collaboration with Draper University, one of Silicon Valley’s top venture networks.

The completion of The Tipsy Turtles marks a turning point for AniMints: the successful fusion of Caribbean creativity, digital innovation, and sustainable business strategy. With a proven model and a growing audience, AniMints is poised to make the region’s next great cultural export—one animated frame at a time.

This October, the Turks and Caicos Islands will host the inaugural CaribCon, a groundbreaking gathering designed to showcase Caribbean culture, content, and creativity while connecting the region’s most dynamic voices in media, influence, and innovation.

Scheduled for October 23^rd – 26^th, 2025,  at The Shore Club Resort in Long Bay, Providenciales, CaribCon will bring together influencers, content creators, media professionals, marketers, and brands from across the Caribbean and diaspora to learn, connect, and collaborate.

The event is the vision of Omega Simmons, founder of SOS Media, whose Bahamian roots and Turks and Caicos heritage fuel her passion for Caribbean culture and creativity. CaribCon was created as a bold platform to fuel the growth of the Orange Economy in the Caribbean, positioning the Turks and Caicos Islands as a vibrant hub of cultural and creative influence.

“The Turks and Caicos Islands is celebrated worldwide for its pristine beaches and luxury tourism, but what the world should also see is the richness of our creative community. Our singers, storytellers, designers, and digital creators stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of the Caribbean. Hosting CaribCon here is about showing that Turks and Caicos is not only a premier tourism destination, but also a hub where culture, creativity, and innovation can thrive.

“Our region is known for its music and dance, but we are also comedians, innovators, designers, thespians, visual artists, storytellers, and digital creators. CaribCon is not just about showcasing talent; it’s about access. It’s about building bridges to global industries, so that our creatives are not only celebrated, but also supported, empowered, and positioned to monetise their craft on the world stage. This is the piece we’ve been missing, and that’s the heart of why CaribCon exists.”

CaribCon will feature four days of immersive programming, including dynamic panels, hands-on workshops, live brand activations, a TikTok Turks and Caicos Takeover, curated networking opportunities, and cultural showcases that celebrate the region’s unique spirit.

All of this will unfold against the stunning backdrop of the Turks and Caicos Islands, home to the world-famous, award-winning Grace Bay Beach. The setting provides an ideal stage for participants to immerse themselves in both innovation and inspiration, with the islands’ natural beauty enhancing the cultural and creative energy of the event.

Attendees can expect to be inspired by bold voices shaping the future of media and influence, connect with creators, communicators, and brands, discover innovative ways to monetise creativity and expand their platforms, and participate in a movement dedicated to amplifying Caribbean creativity on the global stage.

Registration for CaribCon opens September 1^st, 2025. Travel details will be published in the first week of September.

For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co