-
About
-
Global
-
About GEN
Operating in 200 countries to make it easier for anyone to start and scale.
-
Board + Staff
Leading the strategic direction and daily execution of the GEN mission.
-
Our Partners
A range of organizations contributing expertise, experience and energy.
-
About GEN
-
National Leadership
-
Managing Directors
Individuals leading GEN chapters and all aspects of national engagement.
-
Global Leaders
Individuals contributing to national engagement in GEN programs.
-
Managing Directors
-
Compass Awards
Celebrating excellence and honoring those making a difference.
-
Contact GEN
Reach out to our team with any questions.
-
Global
-
Our Work
-
Our Pillars
-
GEN Ecosystems
Stronger and more globally-connected entrepreneurial ecosystems.
-
GEN Founders
Empowering innovators from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential.
-
GEN Invest
The right capital in the right hands – at the right time.
-
GEN Policy
Evidence-based ideas for smart policy design to help entrepreneurs thrive.
-
GEN Ecosystems
-
Our Work
-
GEN Programs
View a list of all our programs.
-
GEN Events
Flagship events + ongoing event series driving connectivity.
-
GEN Programs
-
Our Impact
-
Impact Reports
In-depth look at GEN’s impact each year since it began in 2008.
-
Impact Stories
Examples of GEN’s impact on individuals and ecosystems around the world.
-
Impact Reports
-
Our Pillars
-
Resources
-
GEN Connect
-
Ecosystem Connect
Connect with ecosystem builders + community leaders worldwide.
-
Founder Connect
Connect with founders building the next generation of startups.
-
Investor Connect
Connect with angels, VCs + other investors aligned to your stage + goals.
-
Mentor Connect
Connect with experienced mentors across our global network.
-
Ecosystem Connect
-
Policy + Research
-
GEN Atlas
Collection of public sector policies + programs to drive economic growth.
-
GEN Research Library
Collection of the latest research strategies, reports, data sets + more.
-
GEN Atlas
-
More Helpful Tools
-
Events Calendar
Find events advancing entrepreneurship near you + around the world.
-
GEN Speakers Bureau
Commission-free directory of speakers for your next entrepreneurship event.
-
GEN Community Directory
Searchable directory of GEN members representing 200 countries.
-
Builders Studio
An AI-powered platform that guides entrepreneurs from idea to launch.
-
No Bad Ideas
Card game designed to help turn your ideas into great ones – no mistakes.
-
Events Calendar
-
GEN Connect
-
Events
-
Overview
Brief summary of all GEN events + gatherings
-
Global Entrepreneurship Congress
Global gathering of delegates shaping the future of entrepreneurship.
-
GEC+
Regional or sector-specific deep-dives built off the GEC model.
-
Global Entrepreneurship Week
Join the movement of 40,000 events around the world each November.
-
GEN Exchange
Virtual webinars for GEN community members to explore timely issues.
-
GEN Meetup
Open-source model to hold your own ecosystem event.
-
Startup Huddle
Chapters crowd-sourcing advice + support, one entrepreneur at a time.
-
Startup Nations Summit
Gathering of policymakers on regulatory issues + innovative programs.
-
GET Forum
A global forum connecting Latin America and the Caribbean's ecosystem leaders.
-
CoCreate
One of the world's leading sourcing events for e-commerce sellers looking to scale.
-
Events Calendar
Find an entrepreneurship event near you.
-
Overview
-
News
-
Global Newsfeed
All of the unfiltered news + updates from the GEN community.
-
The Startup State
Major entrepreneurship announcements, reports, commentary + features.
-
Press + Media Kit
Official GEN assets and information for journalists, partners, and storytellers.
-
Subscribe
Sign-up to receive important updates, event invitations + more.
-
Global Newsfeed
- Countries
User login
Parallel18
Parallel18 is an innovation hub that provides Puerto Rican startups with business training, mentorship, connections, grants, and investment opportunities.
What are the main aims and objectives?
The program’s mission is to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters innovation, economic development, and global business growth. The program seeks to attract high-potential startups, providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support to scale their operations. By offering comprehensive business training, funding, mentorship, and access to a robust network of investors and business leaders, Parallel18 aims to position Puerto Rico as a competitive and attractive hub for technology and innovation.
How does the program work?
Parallel18 is an all-encompassing organization that provides training and support for startups at any stage of the growth process. Parallel18 provides four main programs to help entrepreneurs establish and scale their startups: Pre18, P18, Xpand, and BioLeap.
Pre18 is a three-month pre-acceleration program that focuses on early-stage projects in Puerto Rico. Along with providing entrepreneurial education, the program provides startups with a $25,000 grant to help entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground.
P18 is a five-month acceleration program that provides business education, business connection, and investment opportunities. The program offers entrepreneurs a $40,000 grant to scale their startups. In 2023 P18 distributed $760,000 in grants among 19 startups.
Xpand is a post-acceleration program with the goal of supporting Puerto Rican growth-stage startups in expanding and scaling their businesses to new markets. The program is sponsored by Banco Popular and offers entrepreneurs access to an international investor network.
BioLeap is an innovation incubator specifically for the Life Sciences industry that launched in 2023. The program aims to fast track projects from the laboratory to the market. BioLeap offers entrepreneurs a strong incubation curriculum, technical assistance, and a network of connections.
Parallel18 also has an investor network, parallel18 Ventures, that aims to support startups by providing access to their investor network in order for startups to get advice and funding.
What is the overall cost?
There is currently no available information on the overall cost of the programs, however, in 2023 Banco Popular, AeroNet, Mastercard, and DECA Analytics partnered with Parallel18 to support and fund their programs.
How was it implemented?
Parallel18 was founded in 2015 in Sancture, Puerto Rico. The program is an initiative under the Puerto Rico Science,Technology, and Research Trust, a non-profit organization that promotes investment of science and technology research in order to create jobs and boost participation in the global economy.
What impact has been measured?
Parallel18 has launched its programs gradually with P18 in 2016, Pre18 in 2018, Xpand in 2021, and BioLeap in 2023.
161 companies have participated in the Pre18 program and $3.4 million in grants have been distributed since the creation of the program in 2018. In 2023 all of the startups that participated in the Pre18 program that had products on the market reported an increase in sales.
As of 2023, 279 startups have graduated from the P18 program. P18 has distributed over $1.7 million in grants since the creation of the program in 2016. The 2023 P18 cohort of startups generated $1.3 million in revenue. Since its founding in 2021, 19 companies have completed the Xpand program and 100% of participants are still in business.
