About the program

Xpand is an entrepreneurial program designed by parallel18 to support growth-stage companies in Puerto Rico by providing business resources and network opportunities that can potentiate sustainable expansion into new and international markets.

A business support initiative with a social mission: to offer entrepreneurs around the world access to high-quality business education, financing and networking to help them expand globally, while positioning Puerto Rico as a strategic center for business technology-based innovators. Created in 2015 by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, parallel18 stands out for its high-caliber, results-focused incubation, pre-acceleration, acceleration and post-acceleration curriculum.

As described in Public Law 214-204, is a nonprofit organization created in 2004 to promote the participation and creation of jobs on the island in the global knowledge economy by promoting investment and the financing of research and development of science and technology. The PRSTRT invests, facilitates, and builds capacity to continually advance Puerto Rico’s economy and its citizens’ well-being through innovation-driven enterprises, science and technology, and its industrial base. With the goal of Puerto Rico being an innovation center of global recognition. The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust was also designated one of the 31 Tech Hubs, by President Biden’s administration in 2023, to lead the PRBio Tech Hub, with a multi-sector consortium on the Island.