Startup Grind 2026 – Redwood, CA – April 27-29
PUERTO RICO IS OPEN FOR
VENTURE.
Puerto Rico’s official delegation arrives at Startup Grind Global with 10 high-growth startups and $30M in government-backed co-investment capital ready to deploy alongside private investors.
$30M
AVAILABLE UNDER SSBCI
$1.37M
AVERAGE INVESTMENT SIZE
Pari Passu
SAME TERMS AS YOUR ROUND — ALWAYS
WHAT IS VCAP?
The Puerto Rico Venture Capital Access Program (VCAP) partners with seed and early-stage startups building in Puerto Rico, deploying investment capital to accelerate their growth. The program is an initiative of the Economic Development Bank of Puerto Rico in collaboration with parallel18, a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust. The BDE has been designated by the U.S. Treasury as the implementing entity for Puerto Rico’s $30M SSBCI allocation, authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
GOVERNMENT BACKED INITIATIVE
10:1 federal multiplier:
For every dollar of VCAP capital deployed, the program must catalyze at least $10 in private investment — making every co-investor a force multiplier for the Puerto Rico ecosystem.
WHAT IS VCAP?
The Puerto Rico Venture Capital Access Program (VCAP) partners with seed and early-stage startups building in Puerto Rico, deploying investment capital to accelerate their growth. The program is an initiative of the Economic Development Bank of Puerto Rico in collaboration with parallel18, a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust. The BDE has been designated by the U.S. Treasury as the implementing entity for Puerto Rico’s $30M SSBCI allocation, authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
10:1 federal multiplier:
For every dollar of VCAP capital deployed, the program must catalyze at least $10 in private investment — making every co-investor a force multiplier for the Puerto Rico ecosystem.
$30M
AVAILABLE UNDER SSBCI
$1.37M
AVERAGE INVESTMENT SIZE
Pari Passu
SAME TERMS AS YOUR ROUND — ALWAYS
GOVERNMENT BACKED INITIATIVE
$30M
SSBCI ALLOCATION
Seed-A
INVESTMENT STAGE
10x
FEDERAL CO-INVEST MANDATE
COMPANIES MUST BE BASED IN PUERTO RICO
MEET THE OFFICIAL DELEGATION
From Puerto Rico to the world, 10 innovative startups will join 2026’s Startup Grind Global! These companies are actively raising their next round and ready to lead co-investment conversations.
Interested in meeting our delegation at Startup Grind? [email protected]
FOR INVESTORS
Co-invest alongside public capital.
✓ Invest pari passu — same terms, same price, same instrument as your round
✓ VCAP follows your lead. We do not lead, price, or control deals
✓ U.S. Treasury-backed capital — every $1 you invest can catalyze VCAP’s match
✓ Access a curated pipeline of Puerto Rico startups across 8+ sectors
PRIORITY SECTORS
✓ Biopharma & Life Sciences
✓ Energy & Cleantech
✓ Supply Chain & Logistics
✓ Healthcare
✓ Financial Technology
✓ Manufacturing
✓ Deep Tech & AI
✓ Tourism & Hospitality
Co-invest alongside public capital.
✓ Invest pari passu — same terms, same price, same instrument as your round
✓ VCAP follows your lead. We do not lead, price, or control deals
✓ U.S. Treasury-backed capital — every $1 you invest can catalyze VCAP’s match
✓ Access a curated pipeline of Puerto Rico startups across 8+ sectors
PRIORITY SECTORS
✓ Biopharma & Life Sciences
✓ Energy & Cleantech
✓ Supply Chain & Logistics
✓ Healthcare
✓ Financial Technology
✓ Manufacturing
✓ Deep Tech & AI
✓ Tourism & Hospitality
FOR STARTUPS
Puerto Rico-based startup? VCAP is open.
VCAP invests in seed and early-stage companies with a principal place of business in Puerto Rico that are raising alongside a private lead investor. If that’s you, reach out directly — the program is actively deploying capital and next steps are sent promptly via email.
GET IN TOUCH
Ready to connect?
Investors, founders, or partners — we’re at Startup Grind April 27–29 and available before, during, and after the conference.
Jamie Rodota
Senior Portfolio Manager
GET IN TOUCH
Ready to connect?
Investors, founders, or partners — we’re at Startup Grind April 27–29 and available before, during, and after the conference.
Jamie Rodota
Senior Portfolio Manager
ABOUT PARALLEL18
Parallel18 is a global startup accelerator and investment platform that offers startup founders from all over the world access to high-quality business training, mentorship, connections and investment resources to help them scale globally.
The program is part of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust, a private non-profit organization created with the goal of maximizing Puerto Rico’s participation and creation of jobs in the global knowledge economy by promoting investment and financing of science and technology research development.
Parallel18 is a global startup accelerator and investment platform that offers startup founders from all over the world access to high-quality business training, mentorship, connections and investment resources to help them scale globally.
The program is part of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust, a private non-profit organization created with the goal of maximizing Puerto Rico’s participation and creation of jobs in the global knowledge economy by promoting investment and financing of science and technology research development.
GET TO KNOW US!
