The Bravo Family Foundation has announced the launch of its inaugural Bravo Venture Fellowship, aimed at providing equity funding and support to early-stage founders in Puerto Rico.
This new initiative marks a significant shift from the Foundation’s traditional charitable financing to direct venture investments, reflecting its commitment to nurturing local entrepreneurial talent and fostering economic growth.
Key Takeaways:
- The Bravo Family Foundation launches the Bravo Venture Fellowship to support early-stage founders in Puerto Rico.
- Fellows receive equity funding, networking opportunities, visibility, and mentorship.
- The initiative builds on the Foundation’s efforts to grow Puerto Rico’s startup ecosystem.
- The Bravo Family Foundation, established by Orlando and Katy Bravo, focuses on social and economic empowerment in Puerto Rico.
Supporting Local Innovators
The Bravo Venture Fellowship is designed to identify and support promising startups with the potential to achieve global scale and drive lasting economic impact in Puerto Rico.
Selected fellows will receive equity funding, strategic networking opportunities, enhanced visibility within the global investor community, and one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders associated with the Bravo Family Foundation and Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity firm.
Highly Competitive Selection Process
Candidacy for the Bravo Venture Fellowship was highly competitive, drawing applications from alumni of the Foundation’s Rising Entrepreneurs Program accelerator and standout founders within the broader Puerto Rican entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Selection criteria focused on the quality of the business model, scalability potential, and commitment to fostering economic growth and job creation within local communities.
Inaugural Fellows
The first cohort of Bravo Venture Fellows includes:
• Emmanuel Oquendo, Co-Founder and CEO of BrainHi: An AI-enabled virtual assistant for healthcare organizations aiming to provide fully digital patient experiences. BrainHi helps businesses rescue missed calls, streamline operations, and grow revenue. It was the first Puerto Rican startup to participate in San Francisco-based accelerator Y Combinator in 2018.
• Juan Parra, Co-Founder and CEO of Skootel: A micro-mobility company providing eco-friendly transportation alternatives in Puerto Rico and the greater Caribbean. Skootel is the first Puerto Rican company to offer by-the-minute rentals of alternative transportation vehicles via a mobile application.
Blanca Santos, Executive Director of the Bravo Family Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the new initiative, stating:
“We are thrilled to support this extraordinary group of entrepreneurs. Their innovative products and services are already a testament to the bright economic future of Puerto Rico, and we’re looking forward to contributing to their progress through the Bravo Venture Fellowship and beyond.”
A Commitment to Puerto Rico’s Startup Ecosystem
The launch of the Bravo Venture Fellowship builds on more than five years of the Foundation’s efforts to grow Puerto Rico’s startup scene.
Since 2019, the Bravo Family Foundation’s philanthropic accelerator, the Rising Entrepreneurs Program, has supported over 120 founders building 60 companies across key sectors such as software and technology, consumer goods, and healthcare.
About the Bravo Family Foundation
Established in 2017 by Orlando and Katy Bravo, the Bravo Family Foundation focuses on social and economic empowerment in Puerto Rico.
Orlando Bravo, a native of Puerto Rico and a Founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, aims to foster principles of social justice and empower underserved communities through the Foundation’s initiatives.
The Bravo Venture Fellowship represents a significant milestone in the Bravo Family Foundation’s mission to support and scale Puerto Rican startups.
By providing vital resources and mentorship, the Foundation is helping to unlock the potential of local entrepreneurs and drive sustainable economic growth in Puerto Rico.
