$10M up for grabs as DBL rolls out CSR Revolving Fund, Shark Tank style competition

Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fuelling entrepreneurship and innovation in Guyana, offering $10 million in grants through a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) revolving fund.

The flagship programme – dubbed the Dream, Build, Lead Innovation Tank 2025 – was officially introduced by DBL’s Senior Manager of Investment and Business Development, Imran Badruddin. The initiative is designed to provide 10 young entrepreneurs with non-repayable grants of up to $1 million each, awarded through a competitive “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition. Unlike traditional financing, the Innovation Tank will focus exclusively on grants rather than loans, lifting the burden of repayment from young business owners. Eligible businesses must be registered in Guyana, no more than five years old, and present ideas that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and aligned with national development goals.

Importantly, applicants do not need to be existing customers of Demerara Bank. The programme is also being strengthened through partnerships with the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Guyana, and the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD), which will provide mentorship and guidance to successful applicants.
Explaining the inspiration behind the name, Badruddin noted that “Dream, Build, Lead” reflects the acronym DBL, embodying the bank’s mission to encourage people to dream, provide resources to build, and support them as they lead.
“This landmark initiative is part of Demerara Bank’s corporate social responsibility strategy designed to empower guiding start-ups and early-stage businesses. Through an engaging innovation tank-style competition, entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas before a live judging panel for a chance to secure these transformative grants. This support is designed not only to finance ideas but also to nurture innovation, responsibility and sustainability.” “It reflects exactly what we want to stand for as a bank. A bank that encourages people to dream, provide resources to build and walks beside them as they lead. So, every time you hear ‘Dream, Build, Lead’, we want you to think of what Demerara Bank is here to do. Support ideas, strengthen businesses and help entrepreneurs turn vision into reality,” Badruddin said.

An annual event
This year marks the first cycle of the initiative, but DBL has pledged to make the programme an annual event, expanding both the reach and size of the funding pool in future years. He added that the programme represents more than just financial support – it is an investment in innovation, a platform for young entrepreneurs, and a commitment to building a culture of creativity and problem-solving in Guyana. “Demerara Bank is committed to making this an annual programme, expanding its reach year after year. Even more importantly, we will work towards increasing the pool of funds available so that with each cycle, more entrepreneurs can benefit and larger grants can be awarded. This is our pledge, to grow with you as you grow with us,” Badruddin added.
Meanwhile, Programme Lead at CLBD, Ron Glasgow, has hailed DBL’s newly launched Dream, Build, Lead Innovation Tank as a transformative opportunity for Guyanese entrepreneurs to access much-needed financing.

Encouraging innovation
Speaking at the launch, Glasgow noted that limited access to finance has long been one of the greatest barriers to growth for local businesses. With this in mind, he praised DBL for stepping into this space with a $10 million grant fund, stressing that the partnership between financial institutions and capacity-building organisations like the CLBD strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Guyana.
“You have an entity that builds robust skills necessary to do business, and then you have institutions that provide financing and other services. That, for me, is the quintessential element of innovation,” Glasgow said. Glasgow also encouraged beneficiaries to embrace transparency and constructive criticism as DBL rolls out the first edition of the competition, predicting that the initiative will spark a ripple effect in Guyana’s financial sector. “Now, having worked at the centre for some number of years, access to finance really has been one of the, if not the biggest, drawbacks for growing businesses to break from that micro level to the small level, and then from that small level to the medium level. So, when you see initiatives like this come about, it really is an opportunity for you to jump on, and I’m glad to see some familiar entrepreneurs in the room. They’re taking advantage of it, and I’m so proud of you… I want to charge you with a couple of things. Do what you have to do to win. And that does not mean sabotage anybody. Y’all do things the right way, but do what you have to do to win, and ensure you make, you use this money very strategically.”
“Ensure you promote your experiences so that others can benefit from this opportunity as well. One thing I know about Guyanese entrepreneurs is that there’s a lot of opportunities that are available to you. However, you don’t take advantage of them simply because you do not know it. We are in the age of technology. You have a smartphone, and I know all of y’all got a social media presence,” Glasgow said.