Ideas to Impact: Demerara Bank launches $10M innovation programme for entrepreneurs

Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) has launched a bold new initiative designed to fuel innovation and entrepreneurship in Guyana. On Saturday, the bank unveiled the Dream Build Lead (DBL) Innovation Tank — a $10 million Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) revolving programme aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs through grants, mentorship, and capacity-building.

The programme will support ten entrepreneurs with non-repayable grants of up to $1 million each. To qualify, businesses must be registered in Guyana, no older than five years, and pursuing innovative solutions that contribute to national development while remaining environmentally sustainable.

Speaking at the launch at the bank’s Camp Street corporate office, Imran Badruddin, Senior Manager of Investments and Business Development at DBL, said the initiative reflects the bank’s long-standing history of pioneering creative financial solutions.

“For more than three decades, Demerara Bank has been leading the way in creating products that address the unique needs of our customers,” he noted.

Over the years, the bank has rolled out unsecured credit lines for rice farmers, revolving facilities for the forestry sector, unsecured loans for poultry farmers, and residential mortgages with interest rates as low as 5%.

But the DBL Innovation Tank goes beyond just funding. Entrepreneurs will also benefit from structured mentorship, technical guidance, and exposure to networks through partnerships with the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA), the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Guyana, and the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD). Participants will pitch their ideas before a live judging panel, blending competition with opportunity.

Govindra Raghubansi, Executive Director of GMSA, underscored the programme’s potential to strengthen local industries:

“We’ve seen the transformational impact that access to finance, mentorship, and partnerships can bring.”

Richard Leo, Executive Director of AMCHAM Guyana, highlighted the value of international links, saying:

“This represents a pathway for U.S. firms to connect with local businesses, while facilitating knowledge and technology transfer.”

Meanwhile, Ron Glasgow, Programme Lead at CLBD, said the collaboration aligns with Guyana’s rapidly evolving entrepreneurial landscape.

“What I like about this is that it builds the robust skills necessary to do business, and then you have institutions that provide the financing [support].”

The DBL Innovation Tank underscores Demerara Bank’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable growth in Guyana — turning bold ideas into impactful businesses.