Fase1 Intensive Gen.4 showcases 47 projects at Demo Day
The Fase1 Intensive incubator marked the end of its fourth cohort with Demo Day, where 47 entrepreneurs presented business ideas in industries including tourism, hospitality, science, education, health care and social assistance.
“During the 12-week Fase1 Intensive program, I was able to transform my online membership idea into a platform where I can reconnect and grow the community, while having a clear idea of where we’re headed in order to scale,” said Andrea Sofía Alemañy of Un Respiro a la Vez, one of the participants.
The fourth cohort included entrepreneurs from 19 municipalities, with 62% women and 51% identifying as low- or moderate-income individuals under U.S. Housing and Urban Development definitions. Since its launch, the program has supported 189 entrepreneurs with a 94% retention rate.
Led by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, Fase1 Intensive operates under the Housing Department’s Small Business Incubators and Accelerators Program with Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding. Each participant had four minutes to pitch, and $10,000 in prizes were awarded to top ideas.
In the Top 3 Pitches category, winners were Yarett E. Piñeiro-Rodríguez of Boriseñas, Thelma L. González-Santana of Glam Backstage and Isabella Pérez of Milo, each receiving $2,000. The $1,500 Innovation Award went to Ángel E. González-Bravo of QuantumCare, while Piñeiro-Rodríguez also received the $1,500 Overall Favorite award through public voting.
Richard Artze of FuzzForo earned the $1,000 Commitment Award for perfect attendance, and Sebastián Rodríguez-Vázquez of Olimpo Labs won a strategic mentorship prize from Barras LLC.
During the event, the Trust announced Fondo IntensO, a new initiative funded by the Puerto Rico Community Foundation and Fondo Oriental, which will provide $25,000 in seed capital to program graduates.
“We’re very happy to be able to continue supporting new innovators and visionaries ready to build a better Puerto Rico,” said Program Director Bárbara Rivera-Chinea. “They leave Fase1 Intensive prepared to propel their businesses and achieve success with the tools and connections they acquired throughout the program.”
Science Trust CEO Lucy Crespo added, “It fills us with pride and satisfaction to see the transformation of each of the business ideas developed in this fourth generation of Fase1 Intensive. At the Trust, we’re willing to continue supporting and promoting projects that foster innovation and economic growth on the island.”
Rivera-Chinea noted that entrepreneurs can access the Fase1 Lab academy en línea year-round at no cost. The platform, available in Spanish, offers 11 modules of entrepreneurial education and serves as the first step toward applying for the intensive program.
