BioLeap Gen.2 is Thriving: Celebrating Milestones and Looking Ahead
We’re officially one month into BioLeap Gen.2, and things are moving fast! As we celebrate the milestones of this cohort, we’re also gearing up for more exciting initiatives
This year, BioLeap, a program of parallel18, welcomed 13 Puerto Rican startups to its second edition. This cohort of entrepreneurs receive structured business development support to help them launch prototypes, develop patentable technologies, and position their bioscience innovations for commercialization in global markets.
BioLeap Gen.2: Diverse Cohort Tackling Real Challenges
Our Gen.2 startups are tackling challenges across a variety of industries, including medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutic tool, digital health platforms, Big Data, among others. The cohort includes: Ama Earth Group, Baby Abrazo, Consusis Inc., Diversia Health, Equiply.io, Omiquity Health, Prisma Diagnostics, Nura Health, MedETechni,, T-CAN, iHnnova, ReleaseBio, and Yagüez Diagnostics.
Building Stronger Ties: Puerto Rico and New York
One aspect of BioLeap Gen.2 excites us most? Collaboration with visionary partners. We partner with Empire State Development and IndieBio NY; a deep tech program of SOSV. SOSV ranks among the U.S. top biotech venture capital firms.
This partnership -from a 2023 agreement between the governments of New York and Puerto Rico- connects local growing biotech and STEM ecosystem with NY’s innovation network. This initiative helps accelerate life science research and commercialization between both regions.
It also builds on last year’s designation of PRBio Tech Hub, part of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust (PRSTRT). We’re named one of 31 federally recognized Tech Hubs in the U.S.
As part of this collaboration, IndieBio recently led a two-day bootcamp for BioLeap Gen.2 participants and alumni. This gave startups direct access to key players in New York’s Life Sciences scene, covering topics like:
- From Lab to Layperson: Communicating Science with Clarity
- Inside Venture Capital: Understanding Investor Expectations
- Proving Your Value Proposition: Achieving Product-Market Fit
“We’re excited to lead this initiative for New York ESD and our partners in NYC,” said Sean O’Sullivan, Managing General Partner of SOSV/IndieBio/HAX. “As global investors, we know the importance of finding the best science and scientists, wherever they may be. Puerto Rico has incredible potential, and we’re eager to see this partnership thrive.”
What’s Next?
During the upcoming weeks of the program, #BioLeapers will continue to dive into a curriculum designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercialization. Then, they’ll enter a 14-week technical assistance period, where they receive ongoing support in fundraising, operations, grant writing, and more.
As we continue to support the Life Sciences ecosystem in Puerto Rico, the development of a new laboratory space to help startups conduct experimental research is on its way.
Meanwhile, BioLeap participants have access to lab facilities through our parent organization, the PRSTRT, to push their innovations forward.
Also, the next phase of the New York-Puerto Rico Life Science Exchange will involve a visit into New York’s ecosystem. In Q3 of 2025, a delegation of PRSTRT including members of parallel18 and BioLeap teams and Puerto Rican startups will travel to New York to engage with key stakeholders and strengthen collaborations between the two jurisdictions.
More details are coming soon, so make sure to follow BioLeap on LinkedIn and parallel18’s channels to keep up with the latest news!
