Strategic gateway
A Dutch-speaking bridge between the Caribbean and South America, with direct trade and cultural links to Europe, North America and the wider Guiana Shield.
Suriname Vision 2030 · National Development Platform
Bridging capital,
Bridging capital,
talent & growth
across Suriname
Venture for Suriname is the nation's platform for growth — building national capacity, driving transformation and technological breakthroughs, structuring businesses for scale, and uniting entrepreneurs, global investors and government through the unmatched power of collaboration.
Who we are
Solutions that turn Suriname's momentum into structured, investable opportunity.
From Paramaribo to Sipaliwini, Venture for Suriname builds the connective tissue of a modern economy — preparing talent, launching ventures and channelling capital into the districts where the future is being created. We act as the bridge between government ambition, global investors and local operators, so projects move from vision to reality.
$25M+Capital mobilised
40+Ventures incubated
10Districts engaged
500+Jobs created
Why Suriname
Where a green frontier meets a growing economy
Suriname offers a rare combination: vast natural resources, a strategic position between the Caribbean and South America, a Dutch-speaking business culture and one of the greenest economies on earth — now accelerating across energy, agriculture and digital services.
Resources & energy
Rainforest, gold, fertile farmland, hydropower and offshore energy — a resource base that powers ventures in agri-tech, logistics and sustainable energy.
Innovation breakthroughs
From digital ecosystems to applied research pilots, Suriname is leapfrogging legacy systems and building future-ready technological infrastructure.
Strength of collaboration
Government, investors and local operators moving as one — enhanced collaborative models turn national ambition into executed projects.
The strength of collaboration
“No venture rises alone. When government, capital and community move together, national ambition becomes national achievement.”
Our solutions
Solutions engineered for national growth
Solution 01
National capacity building
Closing the national skills gap — training programmes, vocational tracks and leadership development that prepare Surinamese talent to lead the modern economy.
- Entrepreneurship bootcamps
- Digital & technical skills
- Leadership development
Solution 02
Transformation and innovation
Modernising how the nation works — digital ecosystems, applied research and future-ready systems engineered for long-term competitiveness.
- Digital ecosystem development
- Applied research & innovation
- Future-ready national systems
Solution 03
Business growth modelling and structures
Turning ideas into investable ventures — incubation, acceleration and growth structures built for performance, expansion and sustainability.
- Incubator & 12-week accelerator
- Revenue & market expansion strategy
- Venture structuring & advisory
Solution 04
International investor forums and seminars
Bringing global capital to Suriname — investor forums, seminars and delegations that convert international interest into committed investment.
- Investor forums & delegations
- Deal-flow showcases & Demo Day
- Market intelligence seminars
Solution 05
Business innovation and scaling support
Built to scale, not just to start — innovation strategy, operational systems and hands-on growth support that take Surinamese businesses from early traction to regional scale.
- Innovation & growth strategy
- Operational systems & scale-up support
- Market expansion across the region
Solution 06
Technological & innovation breakthroughs
Leapfrogging legacy systems — applied research, AI-enabled services and smart infrastructure pilots that make Suriname globally competitive.
- AI & digital systems pilots
- Applied research programmes
- Smart infrastructure ventures
Across the nation
Invest where Suriname's future is being created
HQ & innovation hub
Paramaribo
Commerce & technologyThe capital district — Suriname's commercial heartbeat and home to its growing tech and services ecosystem.
How it works
From first conversation to lasting impact
01
Application & screening
Founders, students and partners apply through our platform. Every application is reviewed by our investment and programme teams.
02
Bootcamp & mentorship
Selected candidates join intensive bootcamps and are paired with mentors from our national and diaspora expert network.
03
Incubation & prototyping
Ventures refine their model, build prototypes and validate markets with hands-on operational support.
04
Demo Day & growth partnerships
Graduates showcase their ventures to partners and our network. The strongest businesses enter long-term scaling partnerships.
Impact & results
We shift the narrative.
Every engagement is a transformation with a before and an after. Filter the results by solution below.
From classroom to career in 90 days
Our first national skills cohort graduated 120 trainees in digital and technical tracks, with employer partners hiring directly from the programme.
120Graduates
78%Placed in 90 days
From rice fields to regional exporter
A precision-farming venture entered our incubator with an idea and left with export contracts serving the wider Guiana Shield.
14 moIdea to export
3Export markets
From local producer to regional scale
A family food business rebuilt its operations and distribution with our scaling support — tripling output and entering two new markets within a year.
3xOutput growth
2New markets
A forum introduction became a joint study
Twenty-two international investors joined our Paramaribo forum; two energy joint ventures entered due diligence within a quarter.
22Investors hosted
2JVs in diligence
Permit turnaround cut from weeks to days
A digital workflow pilot with three public agencies replaced paper queues with trackable digital permits.
70%Faster processing
3Agencies onboard
Clean power for three river villages
An applied-research pilot brought reliable solar micro-grids to interior communities — a model now scaling to more villages.
3Villages powered
24/7Reliable energy
Voices
Stories from the ecosystem
The accelerator gave me more than funding — it gave me a network of mentors who understood both Suriname and scale.
Venture for Suriname does the hard work of diligence and structuring. It is the most credible deal-flow partner in the country.
I joined for the skills training and left with a business plan, a prototype and the confidence to pitch.
Meet the team
The people behind the platform
Alicia Poeketi
Managing Director
Two decades across development finance and venture building in the Guiana Shield.
Ravin Bholasing
Head of Programmes & Training
Leads national capacity building, bootcamps and the mentor network.
Diana Krosenburg
Investment & Deal Flow Lead
Structures deals and manages relationships across the investor network.
Jerrel Wagernaar
Partnerships & Government Relations
Bridges ministries, investors and operators on national projects.
Forums & seminars
Upcoming events
Where investors, founders and policymakers meet. Get your ticket — places are limited.
12Nov 2026
Green Energy & Infrastructure Roundtable
Hydropower, solar and resilient infrastructure — a working roundtable for project partners and investors.
11Jan 2027
From Forest to Value: A New Model for Suriname's Wood & Timber Sector
A working forum on building value-added in country — moving Suriname's wood and timber sector from raw log exports to certified processing, engineered wood and finished products that drive economic growth, jobs and profits.
Objectives
- Present the value-added model: from raw timber exports to in-country processing and engineered wood products
- Quantify the upside — export value, margins and GDP contribution captured locally
- Map the jobs engine: forestry, sawmilling, logistics, certification and craftsmanship skills
- Align government, concessionaires, investors and buyers on sustainable certification and market access
- Agree pilot projects and investment needs for Suriname's first value-added processing facilities
Who should attend
- Forestry and timber companies
- Sawmill and wood-processing entrepreneurs
- Investors and development finance partners
- Government and forestry regulators
- Exporters, buyers and furniture makers
- Training and skills institutions
11Feb 2027
Catalysing Suriname's Growth: AI, Fintech and Compliance, Risk & Governance
A working roundtable on how AI and fintech — governed by strong compliance, risk and governance frameworks — can become the engine of Suriname's next decade of growth.
Objectives
- Map how AI and fintech can unlock financial inclusion, trade and public services in Suriname
- Define a compliance, risk and governance approach that enables innovation rather than blocking it
- Connect founders, financial institutions, regulators and investors around concrete pilot opportunities
- Agree a shared 12-month action agenda for responsible AI-fintech growth
Who should attend
- Fintech founders and technology builders
- Banks, insurers and financial institutions
- Regulators and policymakers
- Investors and development partners
- Compliance, risk and legal professionals
- Innovation and digital-transformation leaders
11Mar 2027
Strategic Imperatives: The Panama–Suriname Collaboration
A binational working forum on how countries design and deliver their strategic imperatives — with Panama and Suriname sharing playbooks on logistics, finance, energy and sustainable development.
Objectives
- Share Panama's growth playbook — logistics hub, financial services and infrastructure — and what Suriname can adapt
- Define Suriname's strategic imperatives for the decade: energy, food security, logistics and digital services
- Build government-to-government and business-to-business channels between Panama and Suriname
- Identify three joint pilot initiatives with named owners, partners and timelines
Who should attend
- Government strategists and policymakers
- Trade and investment agencies
- Logistics, finance and energy leaders
- Investors and development banks
- Diplomatic and regional cooperation bodies
- Founders with cross-border ambitions
15Apr 2027
Blue Harvest: The Future of Aquaculture in Suriname
A sector forum on building a commercial aquaculture industry in Suriname — sustainable shrimp and fish farming, processing and export, designed for economic growth, jobs and coastal resilience.
Objectives
- Map Suriname's aquaculture potential: shrimp, tilapia and native species across coastal and inland water systems
- Present the sustainable model — mangrove-safe farming, water quality and certification standards
- Connect producers with feed, technology and cold-chain partners
- Unlock export pathways to the Caribbean, Europe and North America
- Agree investment and training needs for the first wave of commercial farms
Who should attend
- Fishers and aquaculture producers
- Agri-food entrepreneurs and processors
- Investors and development partners
- Government and fisheries regulators
- Exporters, chefs and retail buyers
- Research and training institutions
News & insights
The Suriname Dossier
Developments, policy updates and success stories from across the venture ecosystem.
Why global investors are turning their attention to Suriname
Offshore energy, green hydropower potential and a strategic Caribbean–South American position are putting Suriname on the institutional map.
Read brief →Cohort One: 12 founders begin the Venture Accelerator
From agri-tech to eco-tourism, our first accelerator cohort brings together twelve ventures from five districts.
Read brief →New public-private framework unlocks project support
An enhanced collaborative model between government, investors and local operators accelerates national development projects.
Read brief →From Nickerie rice fields to regional agri-tech exporter
How one incubator graduate turned precision farming into an export business serving the wider Guiana Shield.
Read brief →
FAQ
Your questions are always welcome
Who can apply to Venture for Suriname programmes?
Founders with an early-stage venture, students and professionals seeking skills development, investors exploring Surinamese opportunities, and organisations seeking project support or partnership.
What sectors do you focus on?
We prioritise agri-tech, sustainable energy, eco-tourism, logistics, digital services and natural-resource value chains — sectors where Suriname holds a structural advantage.
How does business scaling support work?
After an initial assessment, we build a scaling plan with you — covering operations, market expansion and innovation — and work alongside your team to execute it, typically over three to six months.
Do I need to be based in Paramaribo?
No. We actively recruit across all ten districts and from the Surinamese diaspora. Programmes blend in-person and remote participation.
How can investors or government partners get involved?
Reach out through the contact form. Our team arranges an introductory call to align on sectors, ticket sizes and collaboration models.
Join the movement
Join the Business Innovation Club
Whether you're a founder with an idea, a business ready to innovate and scale, an investor, a partner in national development, or talent ready to grow — there's a track for you.
Contact
Find out how we can support your goals
- Emailinfo@ventureforsuriname.com
- Phone+597 000 000
- OfficeParamaribo, Suriname