Direct Investment Venture Capital Program

A program under Minnesota's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) that provides equity support to small businesses by co-investing in seed-stage to early-stage funding rounds alongside private investors. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and managed by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), targets investments in Minnesota-based startups within key sectors such as life sciences, climate solutions, agtech, foodtech, software, technology, and advanced manufacturing. The University of Minnesota Office of Investments and Banking administers the program.