Eight Companies Concluded the First Phase of the BioLeap Program, the First Bioscience Incubator in Puerto Rico!

Last month, BioLeap’s Gen. 1 successfully concluded its first phase of the curriculum with eight Puerto Rican life sciences companies and projects! As the first bioscience incubator in Puerto Rico, BioLeap bridges a critical gap between life sciences research and successful commercialization.

Our inaugural cohort included local companies in agrotech, biotechnology, digital health, pharmaceuticals, and platforms driven by A.I. and Machine Learning. The pioneering #BioLeapers were: Cultimar Technologies, Let’s Burble, GENOS LLC, REOF Tech (EC Care), Dynamiko Pharmaceutics, LUDI, ImmunoVations, and AVID Data.

During this stage of the program, the #BioLeapers achieved amazing milestones, including 16 life sciences business pitches to capital allocators, submitted 5 grant proposals, and raised $580k in funding, fueling their next phase of growth.

BioLeap, part of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust (PRSTRT) and managed by parallel18, provided a 12-week curriculum of education and mentoring to startups and projects focused on life sciences. The initiative aims to drive economic development through innovation and entrepreneurship in key areas such as biotechnology, AI-driven medical technologies, genomics, among others.

As Eng. Lucy Crespo, CEO of PRSTRT, explains, “We promote visionary projects from the laboratory to the market, accelerating research towards tangible solutions, and taking their innovative technologies and projects to another level. The resources and strategic mentorship this first cohort has received during the program will allow them to continue growing and expanding their operations.”

Now, Gen. 1 prepares for its second phase of the incubator program, which will extend specialized technical assistance in grant writing, intellectual property, and business development, among other tools needed to equip life sciences entrepreneurs and professionals for transformative solutions.

Furthermore, BioLeap’s approach involves utilizing its local resources in conjunction with the processes of parallel18. It also takes advantage of other programs within PRSTRT, such as the Technology Transfer Office, Advanced Research Grants Program, SBIR/STTR Grants Program, and Colmena66.

Wrapping up the first phase of their incubation journey, the cohort presented their solutions, achievements, and future plans in their long-awaited Showcase to an audience of investors, corporate partners, and members of the local and international business ecosystem.

During the event, two of the startups received prizes, including two Innovation Awards valued at $500 each and sponsored by the company Deca Analytics. The official recipients were Let’s Burble and Dynamiko Pharmaceutics. Additionally, Dynamiko Pharmaceutics received the Jumpstart Award, granted by the Puerto Rico State Society of Certified Public Accountants, consisting of a five-hour strategic mentoring session.

To explore the list of companies that presented at the Showcase, you can access the e-book.

For more information about BioLeap and other parallel18 programs, visit www.parallel18.com.