In this episode, I sit down with Vincent, co-founder of Sentoo, and Wendy, their Marketing Manager, for a 90-minute deep dive into how a team from Curaçao built one of the Caribbean's most important fintech companies. No Silicon Valley budget. No credit card requirement. Just vision and execution.

We cover:

* What Sentoo actually is and how it works (simplified)

* Why they chose to partner WITH banks instead of disrupting them

* The real barriers to getting merchants and consumers to adopt digital payments

* How they bridge generational gaps in a cash-heavy culture

* The Shopify integration and what it means for local businesses

* The economic case for keeping transaction fees on the island

* Advice for the next tech builder in the Caribbean

Whether you're a business owner, a developer, or just curious how a payment hits your account in 10 seconds, this episode is for you.

🔗 Try Sentoo: sentoo.io

📲 Follow Sentoo: @sentoo.cw

In this episode, we strip away the hype and get to what actually works. Because while everyone's chasing the latest AI app, the real opportunity is right in front of us. And you don't need to leave Curaçao to grab it.IN THIS CONVERSATION:The €22 Million Mistake – How messy data costs companies fortunes (and how fixing it creates opportunity)3 Business Blueprints for Curaçao – Specific AI businesses you can start tomorrow:The 75/25 Creative Studio (AI does grunt work, you do the polish)The Authenticity Tag (verifying real content in a deepfake world)The Identity Hub (helping artists license their AI rights safely)AI Duplicity & Identity Licensing – How local musicians and creators can be in two places at once and get paid while they sleepThe Papiamentu vs English Debate – Why language matters (and where the real digital divide is)The Ethics Question – Does using AI make us lazy, or is it the only way to survive?Hosts:Jürgen Koeiman - Host Tekiamentu Production:Tekiamentu StudiosFollow our socials:https://www.instagram.com/tekiamentu/https://www.tiktok.com/@UCli9L4AMtkq9WIswfeDptGg

Behind the Slides with Olga Job: Wellness, Mindset, and Finding Balance in a Tech-Driven WorldWelcome to Behind the Slides, our intimate interview segment where we go beyond the presentation to discover the real stories behind Curacao's tech innovators and leaders.In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Olga Job, Wellness and Mindset Consultant, to discuss her presentation at Curacao Tech Meetups. Special co-host for this episode: Joim from the OnBrand Podcast! It was fantastic to finally collaborate on something, even though it came together on short notice.Olga brings a unique perspective to our tech-focused conversations, exploring how wellness and mindset principles apply to the tech world. We discuss alignment intelligence and the importance of connecting more deeply with ourselves to understand how to use technology to truly advance our lives, not just distract from them.The conversation touches on meditation and mindfulness practices. Yes, there are apps and tech tools for meditation, but Olga emphasizes that you still need to be aligned with yourself for these tools to be effective. Technology can support the practice, but it can't replace the inner work.We also tackle a fascinating question: Is it wise to use AI chatbots as therapists or virtual companions? Olga's answer is nuanced. While AI can be incredibly useful for certain aspects of mental health support, it cannot replace the emotional depth, empathy, and human connection that a real therapist provides.Hosts:Jürgen Koeiman - Host Tekiamentu Joïm Coffi - Host OnBrand ProdcastProduction:Nova Studios

Behind the Slides with Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten: Currency, Cybersecurity, and InnovationWelcome to Behind the Slides, our intimate interview segment where we go beyond the presentation to discover the real stories behind Curacao's tech innovators and leaders.In this fascinating episode, we sit down with Lonneke (Eleonore), Jordan, and Soraya from the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten to discuss their presentation at Curacao Tech Meetups and dive deep into the technology protecting our financial systems.We explore the transition from ANG to XCG and what that means for our islands. The conversation gets technical as we discuss cybersecurity challenges in modern banking, how the Central Bank protects against digital threats in an increasingly connected world, and the sophisticated systems keeping our financial infrastructure secure.But it's not all about defense. We get an inside look at their cutting-edge Innovation Centre, where the future of banking is being developed right here in our region. And perhaps most intriguing, we dive into the advanced anti-counterfeiting technology embedded in our bills. Can they be copied? The answer might surprise you.

Welcome to Behind the Slides, our intimate interview segment where we go beyond the presentation to discover the real stories behind Curacao's tech innovators and leaders.In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Veronique Toulon, an entrepreneurial hairstylist who's reimagining what a modern hair salon can be through technology. While most salon owners stick to traditional methods, Veronique is boldly pushing boundaries to make her business more efficient and customer-friendly.Veronique opens up about the challenges of going fully digital with online booking only and eliminating the receptionist role. The resistance she faced from both clients and the industry was real, but her resilience kept her moving forward. We explore how she navigated pushback, maintained her vision, and continued innovating despite the obstacles.But here's where it gets really exciting: Veronique shares her vision for using augmented reality in her hair salon. Imagine clients seeing their new hairstyle before the first cut or trying different colors virtually. This conversation proves that tech innovation isn't just for software companies. It's for every entrepreneur willing to think differently.Hosts:Jürgen Koeiman - Host Tekiamentu Sarah Numan - Senior Manager Deloitte Production:Nova StudiosFollow our socials:https://www.instagram.com/tekiamentu/https://www.tiktok.com/@UCli9L4AMtkq9WIswfeDptGg

Welcome to Behind the Slides, our intimate interview segment where we go beyond the presentation to discover the real stories behind Curacao's tech innovators and leaders.In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Vincent, Co-Founder of Sentoo, to discuss his presentation at Curacao Tech Meetups, the takeaways and more.Vincent takes us back to the beginning, sharing the events and challenges that inspired the creation of Sentoo. Did they expect their impact on Curacao to be this significant? Vincent gives us an honest answer that might surprise you. We explore Sentoo's plans for the future and dive deep into one of fintech's biggest challenges: security. How does a local startup build trust and protect users in the high-stakes world of digital payments?Finally, we tackle a question every Curacao entrepreneur faces: Is our island's small size an advantage or disadvantage when launching a startup? Vincent's perspective offers valuable insights for anyone building a business in a small market.Hosts:Jürgen Koeiman - Host Tekiamentu Adric Walter - Founder Curaçao Tech MeetupsSarah Numan - Senior Manager Deloitte Production:Nova StudiosFollow our socials:https://www.instagram.com/tekiamentu/https://www.tiktok.com/@UCli9L4AMtkq9WIswfeDptGg

Part 2 of our insightful conversation with Gabi Ras from Papiamentu.ai is here! In this episode, we dive into the heart of LengaGPT: why a Papiamentu large language model is essential. Gabi explains the critical need for this technology within the Papiamentu-speaking community and underscores the power of diverse data in training effective AI models. We explore how a wide range of linguistic and cultural data is crucial for LengaGPT's accuracy and relevance, and how this diversity ensures the model truly reflects the nuances of the Papiamentu language. Discover the importance of inclusive AI and the impact of LengaGPT on language preservation and accessibility.

Welcome to a very special episode of Tekiamentu, recorded on the first day of Curaçao Tech Meetups 2025! The theme of this inaugural day was "Women Leadership in Tech", and what better way to kick off this event than with an inspiring panel discussion.Join host Jurgen Koeiman and special co-host Adric Walter (founder of Curaçao Tech Meetups) as they sit down with four incredible women leaders who are shaping the tech and business landscape in Curaçao. This inspiring panel discussion celebrates Women in Tech and Leadership and showcases the unique perspectives and superpowers that women bring to the industry.Hosted by:Jurgen Koeiman - Host of TekiamentuAdric Walter - Founder of Curaçao Tech Meetups (Special Co-Host)Meet Our Amazing Panelists:Jacinta da Silva Correia - Leading Expert in Business Development and MarketingVanessa Toré - Director of Foreing Economic CooperationMischa Van Gelderen - Human-Centered Leadership ExpertRejauna Rojer - Tax Lawyer Specialized In Technology SectorWhat We Cover:- What families think tech workers do vs. reality (spoiler: it's hilarious!)- Unique superpowers women bring to tech in Curaçao- Making tech more inclusive for young women- Debunking myths about women in tech- Navigating male-dominated industries and reaching leadership positions- The importance of human-centric thinking in our AI-driven world

In this episode of the /TeK/iamentu podcast, we sit down with Gabi Ras, one of the brilliant minds behind Papiamentu.ai. Before we dive into LengaGPT and the future of Papiamentu AI in Part 2, we lay the foundation here. Gabi breaks down the basics of AI, large language models (LLMs), and neural networks — and she even answers the big question: Can AI really think? Spoiler: It’s not what you expect. We also get into how AI can be used in wild ways — like creating plants that can survive any climate or fruits that stay fresher longer. In Part 2, we’ll dive deeper into LengaGPT, the first-ever Papiamentu language model, and its exciting real-world use cases. Trust us — you won’t want to miss it.

In this episode, we dive into what it’s really like to work remotely for Curaçao while living abroad. Max and Zahir from IT4Curaçao join us to discuss their mission to connect Curaçaoan tech talent in the diaspora with companies and projects back home.We also tackle a big question: If you move back to Curaçao, does it have to be permanent? Zahir shares his perspective on making it a temporary move.And of course, the real debate—if you're working remotely from Curaçao for a company in NL, do you wake up at 3:30 AM like Zahir, or stick to island time like Max?Hit play to find out, and let us know in the comments: Would you ever work remotely for Curaçao?