Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

1. Background

Fase1 is a business incubation program for residents of Puerto Rico who want to transform great ideas into successful startups. Our incubator focuses on providing access to educational content in entrepreneurship and on driving new ideas through our business cycle, which includes specialized training, mentorship, and access to our startup community in a dynamic, high-impact environment. 

Fase1 is a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (the “Trust”), which in turn is part of the Small Business Incubators and Accelerators Program (SBIA), funded with federal funds from the Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR), allocated for Puerto Rico’s long-term recovery following the 2017 hurricanes, and administered by the Department of Housing (Vivienda). 

The Trust is a nonprofit organization created in 2004 to promote participation, job creation, investment, and funding in research, development, and technology. Its mission is to invest, facilitate, and develop capabilities to continuously drive Puerto Rico’s economy and the well-being of its citizens through innovation-, science-, technology-, and public health–based enterprises. Its vision is for Puerto Rico to become a globally recognized innovation hub. The organization manages and hosts more than a dozen initiatives ranging from grants and technical support to events and educational resources for researchers, entrepreneurs, farmers, investors, and other groups. Fase1 is part of the Trust’s entrepreneurship pillar, along with Colmena66 and parallel18, among others. 

Each year, through an open call, 50 new early-stage ideas or startups are selected to participate in the Fase1 Intensive incubator, which consists of a specialized 12-week curriculum designed to help new entrepreneurs validate their ideas and develop their minimum viable products or services (MVPs) with the goal of launching them into the market in a short period of time. Throughout the curriculum, participants receive multiple workshops and technical trainings on early-stage entrepreneurship, individualized mentorship, professional services, as well as access to a coworking space, among other benefits. 

Fase1 also offers a virtual entrepreneurship academy called Fase1 Lab, which includes short online educational modules available 24/7 on our platform at no cost. This virtual academy serves as a preliminary step and preparation for those interested in participating in the Fase1 Intensive incubator, which opens its application once a year. Anyone in our community is welcome to apply during the open call period. 

2. Main Objective

Fase1 exists to transform a large number of ideas into innovative businesses and to create a strong base of successful companies in Puerto Rico. Its objective is to provide access to entrepreneurial education and to drive new ideas in a dynamic, high-impact environment so that participants can develop their minimum viable product, be trained and ready to launch it into the market, and move on to other incubation, pre-acceleration, and/or acceleration programs such as parallel18, Acércate al Grant, Bio Leap, among others, where they can access seed capital for their startup development. 

Additionally, Fase1 prioritizes benefiting low- and moderate-income individuals, as established by the guidelines for the use of CDBG-DR funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in compliance with federal objectives (National Objectives). These requirements establish that at least 51% of CDBG-DR funds must benefit this population. 

As required by HUD, CDBG-DR funds allocated to the SBIA program address the urgent need to support and rebuild the Island’s economy and businesses. The program aims to assist small businesses affected by the 2017 hurricanes and support the development of ideas that emerged or were shaped as a result of these events. SBIA will support the development of new businesses, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth in Puerto Rico. 

Specific Objectives 

  1. Play an active role and have a positive impact on Puerto Rico’s long-term economic recovery and growth.  
  2. Guide participants from the idea generation stage to the development of their minimum viable product with a global and innovative mindset.  
  3. Turn ideas into reality and make them tangible.  
  4. Ensure participation from both the public and private sectors.  
  5. Motivate and support participants to join programs like parallel18 and its subprograms, as well as other incubation and acceleration programs in Puerto Rico.  
  6. Foster a creative and innovative environment within the community that goes beyond technology. 

3. Expected Outcomes

  1. Turning ideas into minimum viable products or prototypes, ready for market launch, by facilitating a greater level of knowledge and improved business capacity. 
  2. Transform ideas into MVPs or prototypes ready to launch by increasing knowledge and strengthening business capabilities.
  3. Promote the creation of successful startups that generate jobs and contribute to local economic development.
  4. Provide tools for participants to validate ideas with the potential to become successful startups.
  5. Minimize the risk of business failure by providing free and accessible education, training, and entrepreneurial resources.

4. Fase1 Intensive Participants

  1. Participants must be available to attend the incubator for the full twelve (12) weeks (primarily Saturdays). 
  2. Participants may choose to attend in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual). Some sessions will be exclusively in person and attendance will be required. 
  3. If there is more than one founder, a startup leader must be designated and must attend all sessions during the program. 
  4. Up to two (2) people per startup may participate. Additional participants may be approved at the discretion of the Fase1 team, if justified and reasonable. 
  5. Participants must be at least eighteen (18) years old. If the founder is under 18, written parental authorization is required. 
  6. Participants must be residents of Puerto Rico. If they have an established business, it must be located and registered in Puerto Rico. 
  7. Participants must be U.S. citizens or resident agents. 
  8. Participants must provide all requested information and documentation required by Fase1. 

5. Fase1 Intensive Program Activities

Fase1 Intensive takes place over twelve (12) consecutive weeks, primarily in a hybrid format. It includes workshops led by local and international mentors covering key business topics such as customer definition, idea validation, market definition, and product development. Participants receive tools, training, and activities to support the development of their MVP or functional prototypes. Weekly topics are introduced while participants actively work on their projects. 

Refer to Fase1 for more details about program benefits. 

Required Activities: 

Participants must attend the following: 

  1. Virtual– Orientation session BEFORE the Fase1 Intensive Kickoff (required for startup leader and additional team member). 
  2. In-person– First session or welcome event of Fase1 Intensive (Kickoff): Participation in the Fase1 Intensive Welcome activity will be required for the team leader and the additional team member who will take part in the program. 
  3. In-person– Rehearsal session for Demo Day: This session will take place prior to the Demo Day event at the Fase1 Intensive facilities or at a location designated by the Fase1 team. At a minimum, the participant who will present the startup at Demo Day must attend in person. 
  4. In-person– Fase1 Intensive Demo Day (Closing): Participation in the Fase1 Intensive Demo Day will be required for the owner or team leader who will present the startup in the form of a pitch (a short presentation of their startup) in front of an audience. 
  5. The project leader/founder must be available during the 12 weeks (primarily Saturdays from 9:00am–4:00pm). Some weekday virtual sessions may occur from 6:00pm–8:00pm.
  6. Any additional required sessions determined by the Fase1 team.
  7. A maximum of two (2)excusedabsences are allowed with prior written notice to the Fase1 Team. The program may require additional information whenever it is necessary. 

These absences do NOT apply to the following (4) mandatory events: 

  • Orientation session
  • Kickoff event
  • Demo Day rehearsal
  • Demo Day 

If a participant fails to attend required activities without proper notice, Fase1 may terminate participation or apply corrective measures.  

Exceptions will be evaluated case by case.

6. Application for the Fase1 Intensive Program

Fase1 Intensive will be available to interested applicants through an online application at fase1.org. The application will collect demographic information in compliance with SBIA program requirements and will request information, requirements, and deliverables related to the applicant’s project or idea. 

Each applicant must complete and submit all required information and supporting documentation. Failure to provide the requested information may result in the application being denied. 

Applicants may access and submit their application for the fifth generation (cohort) of Fase1 Intensive starting April 20 (for the Fase1 waitlist) or April 21 (for the general public) through May 29th, 2026. The application will be available at Fase1. 

Communication: 

The opening of the Fase1 Intensive application period will be announced through a notice on the Fase1 Program website Fase1 and via social media platforms, press releases, emails, and communications to organizations within Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, among others. 

Applicants who have questions or require technical assistance may contact the Fase1 team at [email protected]. Multiple outreach events will also be held for interested individuals, and all events will be promoted through Fase1’s social media channels. 

Application Process: 

Applicants may only apply through the electronic registration system available on the Fase1 website: Fase1  

All required documents must be submitted in the format specified in the application. Applications must be received within the established application period. Any application received after the deadline will not be evaluated or considered. 

 

Application Limits: 

A singular applicant may submit multiple applications for different startups or business ideas per opencall. However, only one of the applications per applicant may be selected to participate in the Intensive incubator. In such cases, Fase1 will select the application that best meets the program’s evaluation and selection criteria. 

If an applicant or multiple team members submit more than one application for the same startup, the program will evaluate the most recent and complete submission. Fase1 may contact applicants with duplicate submissions for clarification if necessary. 

7. Evaluation and Selection Criteria for Fase1 Intensive

Requirements: 

Applicants must meet the following requirements: 

  1. Be a resident of Puerto Rico.
  2. Be at least 18 years old.
  3. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  4. Have completed at least three (3) Fase1 Lab educational modules (all founders must meet this requirement).
  5. Have fully completed the Fase1 Intensive application, including all required supporting documents.
  6. Have an innovative and scalable business idea.

    • For more information on the topic, you can refer to the Module: Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship in Fase1 Lab, specifically the topics “Innovative vs. Traditional Ways of Thinking” and “Scalable and Disruptive Businesses”: https://fase1.wisboo.com/product/modulo-1 
  7. Submit a short video (approximately two minutes) presenting their idea.
  8. Complete an income self-certification and/or provide household income documentation for all founders.Any request for additional information must be provided within the period established by Fase1. 

8. Participant’s Statements

By accepting participation in Fase1 Intensive, participants certify that: 

  1. All information provided is accurate, complete, and truthful. 
  2. Failure to disclose relevant information may result in termination of the program. 

Participants agree not to violate intellectual property, confidentiality, privacy, or other legal rights. 

9. Citizen Complaints

The program will receive complaints related to the administration of CDBG-DR funds. The Department of Housing is responsible for ensuring timely responses, typically within fifteen (15) business days. 

Complaints may be submitted via: 

  • Mail: 

Programa CDBG-DR 

Attn: División Legal del Programa CDBG-DR – Quejas 

P.O. Box 21365 San Juan, PR 00928-1365 

Alternative methods include phone or in-person submissions if necessary. 

Although formal complaints are required to be submitted in writing, they may also be made verbally or through other necessary means, as applicable, when Vivienda determines that the particular circumstances of the complaining citizen do not allow them to submit a written complaint. In such instances, however, Vivienda must convert these complaints into a written format. Alternative methods include, but are not limited to: 

  • By telephone: 1-833-234-CDBG or 1-833-234-2324 (TTY: 787-522-5950) 
  • In person at: Vivienda Central Office or at the Programs’ designated Intake Centers
    *Service hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

The Citizen Complaints Policy and all CDBG-DR Program policies are available in both English and Spanish on Vivienda’s website at: 

10. Request for Administrative Review

Fase1 operates under a non-discrimination policy, ensuring equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics. 

Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities. Requests may be submitted via email at [email protected] 

 (written requests are recommended but not required). 

The program also provides support in English for those who need it. 

Questions about Fase1 Intensive may be directed in English or Spanish to [email protected]. 

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust reserves the right to unilaterally amend these terms and conditions in future publications. Participants will receive electronic notification of such changes. Continued participation in the Fase 1 program will be understood as consent to the updated version of this document. 

1 The Fase1 team will maintain a record of each participant’s participation and absences during in-person and virtual sessions. The Program reserves the right to evaluate special situations and will determine whether any necessary corrective measures should be authorized. 

2 is the closing event for each cohort or generation where each participant presents their startup to a business audience. 

3 The Fase1 Program will evaluate and determine whether the applicant qualifies as low- or moderate-income, as defined by HUD. The Program will validate that at least 51% of the participants selected for the incubator are low- or moderate-income individuals. 

4 A duplication of benefit (DOB) occurs when an individual, household, business, or other entity receives disaster assistance from multiple sources for the same recovery purpose, and the total assistance received for that purpose exceeds the total need. The duplication amount or value is the amount or benefit received in excess of the total need for the same purpose. 84 FR 28836, 28837 (June 20, 2019). 

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