For Guam’ s small businesses seeking to grow
8 PACIFIC BUSINESS PARTNERS JUNE 2025
The Guam Economic Development Authority( GEDA) is introducing the Destinu Guahan Venture Capital( DGVC) Fund, a dynamic opportunity specifically tailored for small businesses on Guam seeking to grow, innovate and attract significant investment.
Established as part of the U. S. Department of the Treasury’ s State Small Business Credit Initiative( SSBCI), Guam is poised to receive up to $ 58 million, facilitating direct financial support for local businesses through strategic venture capital investment.
The DGVC Fund offers matching investments in seed, early, or late-stage businesses, emphasizing aggressive and viable projects with clear growth potential. Investments can range up to $ 1 million for businesses at various development stages. Essential to the program’ s structure, DGVC requires businesses to have secured at least 50.1 % of their capital from other non-debt cash sources before qualifying for additional matching funds.
Businesses eligible for the program include corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and cooperatives, provided they have fewer than 750 employees and operate within DGVC’ s targeted sectors, including agriculture, aquaculture, technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing startups, and export-oriented enterprises.
The investment must support genuine business activities, such as startup costs, working capital, equipment purchases, and facility renovations, explicitly excluding passive real estate investments or non-operational assets.
This exciting initiative underscores GEDA’ s commitment to stimulating Guam’ s economic landscape by nurturing innovative businesses poised for substantial growth and development.
To take full advantage of this opportunity and position your business for success, reach out to the Guam Small Business Development Center
( SBDC). Our expert advisors are ready to help you navigate the application process, ensure compliance with program guidelines, and strengthen your business
plan to attract valuable investment.
Contact SBDC today and let’ s transform your business vision into reality.
BUSINESS PURPOSE: Investment proceeds are to be strictly for a business purpose which includes, but is not limited to, start-up costs; working capital; franchise fees; and acquisition of equipment, inventory, or services used in the production, manufacturing, or delivery of a business’ s goods or services, or in the purchase, construction, renovation, or tenant improvements of an eligible place of business that is not for passive real estate investment purposes. Venture capital funds may be used to purchase any tangible or intangible assets except goodwill. The term“ business purpose” excludes acquiring or holding passive investments in real estate, the purchase of securities, and lobbying activities.( Source: GEDA)