RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program
Government fundParamaribo · Pre-Seed–Seed
Find your way into RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program
Sign up to see every warm intro you have to RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program
- Paths you didn't know you had: your email and LinkedIn already hold routes to the RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program team. We find them for you
- 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: the friend-of-a-friend routes that take hours to manually find through your inbox or LinkedIn
- Answers now, not in days: momentum is everything in a raise. Skip asking around whether someone knows someone
Days of research, done the moment you sign in, with every route ranked by how warm it is.
Investment thesis
The RISE Program supports young Surinamese entrepreneurs (ages 18-35) across five districts (Paramaribo, Wanica, Nickerie, Commewijne, Brokopondo). It serves two groups: aspiring entrepreneurs who build a business foundation and receive start-up capital to formally launch, and existing entrepreneurs who strengthen and expand their businesses with financing for equipment or goods. The 18-month program delivers general and sector-specific training across eco-tourism, oil & gas services, recycling & circular economy, ICT & digital services, creative industries, healthcare & natural products, and hospitality & food, alongside mentoring, capital allocation, and aftercare. It is financed through a government Social Bond as a priority social project.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 27, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program invest at?
- RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program focus on?
- RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program focuses on Circular Economy, Cloud Computing, Creator Economy, Energy, FoodTech, Healthtech, Travel & Hospitality.
- Where is RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program located?
- RISE / SME Diversification & Start-Up Support Program is headquartered in Paramaribo, SR.
Images
Similar investors
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that writes pre-seed checks and is backed by a community of founder and operator LPs.
Range is a venture capital firm that invests in founders building novel solutions in overlooked or challenging categories. The firm focuses on consensus founders with unique insights, backing companies at various stages across diverse sectors.
MPG Fund is an early-stage venture investor backing technology startups.
OMERS Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in founders globally, with investment teams based in New York, Palo Alto, and Toronto.
SENACYT (Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación) is Panama's national government agency for science, technology and innovation, which runs public funding calls such as 'Panamá Innova 2025' offering non-reimbursable grants to science- and technology-based ventures.


