Las empresas emergentes de Puerto Rico fortalecen los lazos biotecnológicos con Nueva York
Puerto Rico’s growing life science and STEM startup sector took center stage in New York City as 13 founders from the island participated in the New York-Puerto Rico Life Science Exchange, an initiative linking Puerto Rico’s emerging innovation ecosystem with New York’s established biotechnology industry.
The two-day investor networking event, held Sept. 29-30 and hosted by IndieBio NY, part of SOSV NY LLC, brought together entrepreneurs from BioLeap — Puerto Rico’s life science and STEM incubation program managed by parallel18 under the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (PRSTRT).
The visit was made possible through Empire State Development, New York’s economic development agency, as part of its Life Science Initiative and partnership with IndieBio New York, an early-stage deep-tech investor.
“This initiative reflects our long-standing commitment to building global bridges for Puerto Rico’s innovation ecosystem,” said Lucy Crespo, CEO of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust. “By connecting our startups with world-class partners like IndieBio and Empire State Development, we’re not just accelerating science, we’re unlocking economic development opportunities for the island.”
The exchange builds on a broader alliance announced in 2023 by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and then-Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi to foster collaboration in life science research and entrepreneurship.
During their visit, participants attended workshops on refining elevator pitches, toured incubators and research centers in West Harlem, and met with investors to learn about New York’s incentives for early-stage biotech companies.
“This partnership underscores our shared commitment to innovation, collaboration and inclusive economic growth,” said Hope Knight, president and CEO of Empire State Development. “By connecting Puerto Rico’s emerging startups with New York’s world-class life science community, we’re strengthening the global competitiveness of both regions.”
The event concluded with a panel discussion titled “How Local Capital Shapes Global Biotech Hubs,” featuring industry leaders from Nucleate NY, NYC Innovation Hot Spot and NYCEDC. Founders also visited the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Harlem Biospace, Columbia University and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.
According to Sean O’Sullivan, managing general partner at SOSV, hosting Puerto Rico’s founders marked “the second phase” of the Life Science Exchange initiative.
“It was exciting to watch them put into practice the skills they learned during our entrepreneurship bootcamp in San Juan earlier this year,” he said.
For participants, the exchange offered access to investor networks and hands-on exposure to global biotech practices. The workshops and meetings allowed founders to apply skills developed through BioLeap while expanding their understanding of international markets.
“At parallel18, we believe startups grow faster when ecosystems grow together,” said Héctor Jirau, executive director of parallel18. “This partnership with IndieBio NY proves what’s possible when borders don’t limit innovation and when our founders are given the opportunity to lead on a global stage.”
