About
From less than $50 to a global botanical community.
The story behind Botapreneurs — and the conviction that plants can transform our world when the right people meet around them.
Our Vision
A world where every community values its plants, understands them, protects them, and grows with them.
Our Mission
Botapreneurs connects the people of the plant world — decision-makers, scientists, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and creators — to turn plant knowledge into real impact.
A glance at the work
25+
Years in botany & conservation
2003
Year JBC was founded
3
Communities on the platform
3
Languages: EN · FR · ES
Our Founder
William Cinéa
Botanist · Founder of Botapreneurs · Director, Jardin Botanique des Cayes · BGCI IAC Member
William Cinéa is a Haitian botanist and the founder of the Jardin Botanique des Cayes (JBC) — which he launched in 2003 with less than $50 USD and transformed into his country's 'nature brain.' He holds a Master in Botanical Garden Leadership from Cornell University, trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK), was personally coached by the internationally renowned Peter Wyse Jackson, completed the Kinship Conservation Fellowship, and serves on the BGCI International Advisory Council (IAC). With over 25 years of work in biodiversity conservation, ethnobotany, and ecosystem restoration, William now helps institutions, entrepreneurs, and communities around the world turn their plant vision into lasting impact.
Credentials
Training, affiliations, and recognition
The journey
Twenty-plus years at the intersection of plants, people, and institutions.
2003
Founded the Jardin Botanique des Cayes, Haiti
Launched with less than $50 USD. Today it is Haiti's 'nature brain' — a living hub for science, conservation, and community learning.
2006–2012
Built the JBC collection and training programs
Documented native Haitian flora, grew the garden's educational mission, and trained a first generation of local botanists and horticulturists.
2014
Trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK)
Deepened formal training in horticulture and botanical garden management at one of the world's most respected institutions.
2016
Kinship Conservation Fellowship
Selected for one of the most competitive conservation leadership programs in the world — a network of global practitioners.
2019
Master in Botanical Garden Leadership — Cornell University
Completed the program and brought the combined discipline of science, leadership, and business back to Haiti and beyond.
2022
BGCI International Advisory Council
Joined the BGCI IAC, shaping global strategy for botanical gardens and plant conservation.
2025
Founded Botapreneurs
Launched the international community that turns plant knowledge into real ventures — three communities, three languages, one mission.
Our Values
Our Values
Natural
Think in ecosystems.
Every species plays a role in a web of interdependence; we act with respect for ecology and living systems.
Intelligent
Observe, measure, understand.
Our decisions rest on careful observation, data and evidence.
Innovative
Drawing on life to create.
Biodiversity is a source of solutions: we turn it into useful products and projects, without depleting it.
Global
Connected, like nature.
A network connecting researchers, entrepreneurs and communities around plant knowledge, everywhere.
Elegant
The simplicity of life.
Making rigorous knowledge simple, beautiful and accessible to all.
Ready to turn your plant vision into action?
Book a first exchange. We'll listen, map your project, and point you to the right path — whether or not you end up working with us.