These entrepreneurs represent a new generation of Puerto Rican business leaders building scalable companies with the potential to expand across the United States and beyond.
By Sin Comillas Editorial Team
Bravo Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 2017 by Orlando and Katy Bravo, announced the 2026 cohort of the Bravo Venture Fellowship, a one-year program that provides equity investment, operational support, and strategic mentorship to founders of Puerto Rican descent who are building high-growth companies. This year, the program is expanding beyond Puerto Rico, extending eligibility to Puerto Rican founders developing companies in New York City and Miami.
Selected participants receive investment on founder-friendly terms, strategic mentorship, and hands-on execution support. The program includes specialized consulting, ongoing guidance, and access to Bravo’s network of leaders and advisors.
These entrepreneurs represent a new generation of Puerto Rican business leaders building scalable companies with the potential to expand across the United States and beyond.
Nicole González is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Raya Power, a “plug-and-play” solar energy company with operations in Puerto Rico and California. A multidisciplinary engineer with degrees from Princeton University and Stanford University, González previously worked on NASA’s Mars rover team. When Hurricane María interrupted communication with her family in Puerto Rico for two weeks, that experience fueled her mission to make solar energy as simple and accessible as a household appliance. Raya Power’s permit-free system can be installed in just a few hours, requires no roof modifications, and is designed to serve renters and low-income households that are often excluded from traditional rooftop solar systems.
Carlos Vázquez is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of GoSprout, a Miami-based apprenticeship program management platform designed to eliminate the administrative barriers that have historically limited the scalability of these programs. Raised in the Bronx and the first college graduate in his family, Vázquez dedicated nearly two decades to education and workforce development before founding GoSprout. The platform allows employers, educational institutions, and sponsors to manage the entire apprenticeship program lifecycle in one place, expanding access to well-paying, debt-free career pathways for workers across the United States. GoSprout has already helped digitize more than half a million apprentice records.
“When we launched the Bravo Venture Fellowship, we knew Puerto Rico was only the beginning,” said Orlando Bravo, Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Bravo Family Foundation, and Founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo.
“By opening the program to founders of Puerto Rican descent in New York and Miami, we are recognizing what we have always believed: Puerto Rican entrepreneurial talent is everywhere, and it deserves world-class support wherever it is found.”
The inaugural 2025 cohort included Emmanuel Oquendo, founder of BrainHi, and Juan Parra, founder of Skootel. Their progress during the program’s first year demonstrated the transformative potential of the Fellowship and set a high standard for future cohorts.
“The first year of the Bravo Venture Fellowship exceeded our highest expectations, proving that when exceptional talent is combined with local determination, the results are extraordinary,” said Blanca Santos, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bravo Family Foundation. “Juan and Emmanuel’s growth validated the enormous entrepreneurial talent connected to Puerto Rico. We are proud to champion a new era of Puerto Rican leadership and to accompany Carlos and Nicole as they begin their year in the program.”
Since 2020, the Rising Entrepreneurs Program has supported more than 140 founders across more than 80 companies, contributing to innovation in sectors such as software, healthcare, and consumer products.