Phase1 Business Incubation Program – US

The incubator focuses on providing access to entrepreneurship education and promoting new ideas through a business cycle that includes specialized training, mentoring, and access to the startup community in a dynamic, high-impact environment.

As a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, Fase1 is part of the organization’s entrepreneurship pillar along with Colmena66 and the parallel18, pre18, P18 programs, among others. Phase1, in turn, is part of the Small Business Incubators and Accelerators Program (SBIA), financed with CDBG-DR funds.

Phases

Phase1 is divided into two phases:

• Phase1 Lab
  • Educational modules with basic entrepreneurship and more. You must complete the first three modules to apply to Intensive.
• Phase1 Intensive
  • 12-week incubator with hybrid sessions on Saturdays.

What are the benefits of Phase1 Intensive?

• Technical sessions for the development of your prototype or MVP.
• Hybrid sessions (in-person/virtual) on Saturdays.
• Support with the registration of your startup and logo development.
• Access to the entrepreneurship community.
• One-on-one mentoring sessions with local and international specialists.
• It’s in Spanish.
• Transportation credit.
• Professional pictures.
• Coworking space.
• Prize opportunity at DemoDay.
• Up to 30 projects will receive direct passage to the pre18 evaluation committee.

What are the benefits of Fase1 Lab?

• Personalized support in each of the stages of the modules.
• Access to work tools to develop your business idea and the prototype of your product or service.
• Opportunity to complete the Phase1 Intensive application upon completion of the first three modules.

Phase 1 Lab Modules

Modules or online courses that allow you to become familiar with basic topics about entrepreneurship. All modules are available and accessible all year round.

• Module 1
  • Entrepreneurship fundamentals: basic terminology, myths and realities.
• Module 2
  • Idea generation: how to identify it, explain it and decide which one you should develop.
• Module 3
  • Market validation: the steps you need to take to understand if your idea has a potential market that is willing to pay for it.

Who is Phase1 for?

• Be available to participate in person in some program activities.
• Be a resident of Puerto Rico, US citizen or resident agent.
• The program is designed so that anyone who wants to start a business can achieve it. Now, if you still feel that this is not for you, ask yourself the following:
  • Have you been thinking for a while that your business needs a twist and you are not sure how to do it or what it should be?
  • Do you want to change your professional life, but you don’t want to do it without planning?
  • Did you retire from an industry and have a lot of knowledge? Would you like to understand how you can use that knowledge to do something else?
  • Are you working on your student project and want to explore the idea of ​​turning it into a startup without the commitment of participating in mandatory days in a program?
  • Do you need something that fits your time and responsibilities, but are you dying to know the basics of entrepreneurship?
• And, remember, Phase 1 is free and without fixed schedules. So get started and don’t be intimidated:
  • Depending on your age: whether you are a student, working adult or retired, both parts of the program are simple and enjoyable for everyone;
  • Because your schedule is tight: Phase1 Lab has no start or end deadline, so you can view the modules when you have time. The videos are short and to the point, so that time is not a limitation. Likewise, the Phase1 Intensive incubator is in a hybrid format and with an accessible schedule on Saturdays;
  • Because starting a business is difficult: subscribing to Phase1 and starting the modules does NOT force you to have to create a business. In fact, you can even start without an idea. The purpose is to provide free education, including specialized training in prototype development, so you can determine if entrepreneurship is your path.

For more information, visit Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust.