Términos y Condiciones

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pre18 Terms and Conditions

1. ANTECEDENT

Parallel18 is a top-level, performance-driven international startup program with a social mission: offering entrepreneurs from all over the world access to high-quality business training, funding, and networks to help them scale globally while positioning Puerto Rico as a unique hub for innovative businesses and technology.

Parallel 18 is a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust (the “Trust”), a private non-profit organization created with the goal of maximizing Puerto Rico’s participation and creation of jobs in the global knowledge economy by promoting investment and financing of science and technology research development. The organization manages and hosts over a dozen initiatives that range from grants and technical support to meetups and educational resources for researchers, entrepreneurs, farmers, investors, and other groups.

2. MAIN GOAL

The purpose of the pre18 Program (hereafter, the “Program” or “pre18”) is to help innovative, early-stage Puerto Rican startups that have global potential by closing the funding and education gap that allows them to focus full-time on their new business and dream big. The final goal is for them to qualify for P18, our international accelerator program, and grow in and beyond Puerto Rico.

Specific Goals

Play an active role and have a positive impact on the recovery and growth of Puerto Rico’s economy.
Enable as many innovative Puerto Rican companies and founders as possible to become P18-ready.
Sustain the Program over a long time by remaining politically agnostic and showcasing the Program’s value to the island.
Ensure buy-in from the private sector and all government areas by showcasing success and furthering economic development.
Encourage parallel18 corporate partners to engage in business development with startups to explore new opportunities for corporate innovation.
Help fix some of the challenges the Puerto Rican economy faces.

Position Puerto Rico on the map as an active member of the global startup ecosystem and as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship.

3. EXPECTED RESULTS

Companies with high global potential developed and scaled from Puerto Rico.
Partner directly with local organizations to help integrate the Program and its participants into the local business and startup ecosystem.
Increase the number of Puerto Rican companies thinking globally and scaling their businesses from Puerto Rico.
Increase the number of Puerto Ricans going full-time into entrepreneurship and launching startups with a global focus.
Present entrepreneurs and others with opportunities to develop their own businesses and/or intern and work for the new companies created through the Program.
Increase the repatriation efforts of the Puerto Rican diaspora by promoting opportunities for establishing their companies in Puerto Rico and/or employment with the new companies created through the Program.
Create positive global visibility by positioning Puerto Rico as a new innovation hub in the global media.
Work towards inclusion in global innovation indexes.

4. PARTICIPANTS

Startup projects that apply must be incorporated in Puerto Rico, or organized in the U.S.A with an authorization to do business in Puerto Rico from the local Department of State when the Program starts. If your company is not incorporated and/or authorized to do business in Puerto Rico, the Program may refer you to a third party partner for assistance in this process upon starting the Program. Projects will have until the 2nd week of the Program to complete incorporation processes and submit the documentation for the Grant Agreement to comply. Failure to do so may cause termination of the Program. Only founders who own at least fifty-one percent (51%) of their startup may apply. The founder applying to the Program must be

of legal age in Puerto Rico, and the Program participants may not be more than three persons. In addition, the following categories will be considered:

Project (only one)

The project is the participating startup business project or entity as duly specified in the application form behind the startup applying to the Program. To comply, the entity must be incorporated in the United States or Puerto Rico. If the company does not have this legal structure, pre18 may provide guidance for you to create one at the beginning of the Program. Startups will have until the 2nd week of the Program to complete incorporation processes and submit the documentation for the Grant Agreement to comply. The incorporated business shall be a legal entity required to accept and receive the grant funding and be bound by its agreement terms if it achieves the established conditions for the grant. Failure to do so may cause termination of the Program.

Team Leader (only one)

A team leader is a natural person, duly specified during the application form, that is a founder of the project and continues to be a C-level member directly involved in the company’s business strategy and decision-making (CEO or COO), who must act in name and representation of the project, of him or herself, and of the project’s staff and members, as the person responsible before pre18. The person designated as the team leader must work full-time and exclusively on the project and its development during the entire period of the Program. The team leader must be a U.S. citizen and/or a legal resident of Puerto Rico. The person designated as Team Leader must understand all processes and procedures of the company, fully comprehend its financial condition, its operational liabilities, growth metrics and all other assurances that provides guidance to the company’s going concern.

Team Member (max two)

Optionally, the participation of up to two natural persons who may form part of the founding team or are key members required to validate the company’s product and/or market and who are duly specified during the application process may be considered and are welcomed to join the Program if they require to do so. Therefore, if any additional team members will be joining, it is required to be in attendance for the entire pre18 onboarding activities. If the team members who plan to participate in person in pre18 are not U.S. citizens, they must have the ability to apply for a visa to enter the U.S.

The Team Leader and the Team Members are together members of the project, and all and each preceding are considered Participants of the Program. The preceding definitions apply to the terms and conditions of this document. All participants are bound by these Terms and Conditions and parallel18’s rules of conduct as published and amended.

5. ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCING

Those activities enable scaling companies with high global growth potential that use Puerto Rico as a platform to grow. Projects may not consist of consulting services, traditional export companies, or lifestyle businesses, as these are not considered highly scalable projects or have high growth potential. Therefore, projects must be at least: in a stage where there is a functional prototype (having a launching plan with specific dates is a must if your startup is in this stage) or already in the market with some traction. In addition, the project must have at least one full-time founder dedicated exclusively to the company that can execute if accepted to the Program. Finally, a project applying to the Program must be in operation for three years or less.

6. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

The Program will include various activities and/or events, which will be made available to participants of each project, among which a distinction will be made between mandatory and optional activities.

Mandatory Activities.

During the participation the project’s participation in the Program, participation is mandatory for the following activities:

a) Pre18 Onboarding: The Onboarding activities are mandatory for the team leader and all team members who will participate in the Program at any time. The activities include:

1. 1. Pre-program setting up the company with local service providers (local bank, company incorporation, legal, accounting, among others).
  2. Pre-program required readings, webinars, and preparation assignments
  3. Program welcome orientation days
  4. Peer presentation by the company to the incoming cohort
  5. Execution of the Grant Agreement. This process has to be completed on or before the second week of the Program, subject to participants’ compliance with these and the agreement’s terms and conditions.
  6. Initial assessment meeting: explanation of Program rules, the establishment of clear milestones and KPIs of what the company aims to achieve for the next 1.5 months and three months that will be jointly tracked with Program, as well as projected use of funds provided by Program

b) Weekly follow-up meeting: You will be required to meet with the Program staff to analyze weekly progress and strategic plans to facilitate the accomplishments of the goals by providing access to the right resources.

c) Weekly submission feedback of mentor engagements: the Team Leader must submit feedback after every mentor session and meeting 1:1 with a mentor.

d) Midpoint evaluation: The Team Leader will meet with the Program staff and provide a detailed update on their progress. The Program will use the information gathered from program staff and mentors to analyze the company’s progress during the first six weeks of the Program. For example, suppose the company does not meet the Program standards for Progress compared with actual performance, the goals they set at the beginning, or compliance with required attendance, participation, and engagement. In that case, the Program is entitled to put an early end to the project.

If the startup was accepted to the Program with a functional prototype and presented a launching plan, it should be on the market at this point. However, if the startup is not in the market for the midpoint evaluation, the Program is entitled to put an early end to the startup’s participation in the Program.

e) Parallel18 Eligibility Assessment: By the midpoint stage of the Program, you will be eligible to complete a P18 application through a platform specified by parallel18, which the P18 team will use to assess the project’s readiness to be advanced to P18’s Final Selection for the cohort immediately following the Program in which the project is participating.

g) Demo Day: Key public event to showcase accomplishments in the Program to local and foreign corporate partners, local and international investors, and the local business community. Participation in this event is mandatory unless the pre18 staff agrees that

the startup isn’t prepared to present. The startup will be notified at least 48 hours before the event.

h) Exit Interview: Final meeting to close out the Program, discuss plans to continue growing and sustaining the company, and get feedback from the participants about the Program.

i) Other activities: within the pre18 Program designated as mandatory (i.e., Mentor Talks, parallel18 Sessions, GiveBack activities, and more), a circumstance will be communicated to the team leader.

In the event that the Team Leader does not participate in the activities and/ or events specified herein without previous authorization to be excused, the Program may evaluate putting an early end to the project, depending on the reasons.

6.2 Optional Activities.

Optionally, the team leader or team member may participate in and/or carry out the following activities:

1. Presentations, workshops, classes, or other events organized by other Program participants and/or the parallel18 team stated as “optional”.

Other activities related to the project and/or Program were not considered mandatory.

7. CONTENTS OF THE APPLICATION

7.1 The applications must contain at least the following:

1. 1. Background documentation for each team member named in the project application states each person’s nationality, education, technical experience, and work history. The achievements of each one of the participants must be evidenced. The team may be subject to background checks.
  2. Legal entity documentation: if you applied to the Program with a company that was already created, you would be required to submit appropriate documentation as requested in case you are selected.
  3. The following identification documentation will be required for selected companies and members:

For each person: A photocopy of the government-issued photo identification document, copies of both sides for cards, indicating the name, identification number, and dates of granting and the expiration of the I.D. Documents must be valid and unexpired.

If these documents listed above are in the process of validation, a copy of the document that proves this condition must be attached.

The Program application will contain the following:

Dedication to the project from the participants.
Description of leadership history of who applies as a Team Leader.
The product and/or service to develop and/or commercialize.
Description of the competition and the project’s differentiation.
Stage or phase in which the project is at the moment of application. If the startup is applying with a functional prototype, the application must include a launching plan with a launching date before the mid-point evaluation (6th week of the Program).
Explain the reason why you think pre18 would help accomplish the milestones that you are aiming to achieve.
A short video explaining company, product phase, market readiness, team that will execute, and reasons for applying to pre18.
A video demo of the product or services must be included in the application.

7.2. Additionally, the applications may contain the following:

1. Concerning the participants:

a. Motivation to develop the project.

b. Participation in organizations related to entrepreneurship and innovation.

c. Relationship with international networks to position Puerto Rico as an innovation hub.

d. Activities to promote interaction, networking, and the transfer of knowledge skills and best practices to local entrepreneurs and their environment.

2. Concerning the project:

a. Commercialization and scalability strategy.

b. Entry and exit barriers.

c. Progress to date and plan during pre18, including utilization of initial grant disbursement.

d. Market challenge or opportunity addressed by the project.

e. Target market and its size.

f. Market position.

g. Letters of recommendation (optional).

h. Traction

Incomplete applications will be deemed not submitted.

The Program duration is 12 weeks and will be understood to have begun on the date established by pre18 as Orientation Day. This date will be notified once the companies are selected.

8. THE FUNDS

The Trust provides a grant through the execution of a Grant Agreement, subject to the selected participant’s compliance with these Terms and Conditions, to the company’s Puerto Rico-based bank account for $25,000 (USD) delivered in various sets throughout the Program, subject to the participant’s compliance with these Terms and Conditions and the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement. In addition, all disbursed and used funds need to be properly declared by showing corporate bank statements, and in certain cases, an invoice for the service or product acquired, or a contract/payroll stub in the case an individual is hired or contracted, as provided by these Terms and Conditions and the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement.

9. APPLICATION

9.1 Procedure

This Program will be made available to interested parties in the form of an open application round. Communication about the opening of a call for applications will be

conducted by means of a notice published in the Program’s website and social media platforms and on the Trust’s website.

9.2 Means of application.

Companies and the requested technical and economic documentation may be entered solely through the electronic platform entry system available on the website .

The accompanying documents must be text documents, spreadsheets, or other files compatible with the system (such as doc, Xls, jpg, or pdf).

9.3 Limit of applications.

Even if not designated as team lead, each applicant may only apply once with one project per application period. Therefore, every team member must work on only one project per cohort. If a team member is part of various applications for different projects, the Program may consider the project and/or applicant invalid.

10. EVALUATION PROCESS AND CRITERIA.

There will be 4 Phases of the evaluation process:

Internal Screening Round
Judging Round
Interviews
Final Selection

10.1 Analysis of Pertinence or Relevance

The pre18 team will review all applications to determine if they meet the Program’s basic criteria. Those that pass this Internal Screening Round will advance to the Judging Round.

The Program will examine the extent of convergence of the project’s objective with the guidelines and objectives of the Program, verifying the consideration of the level of readiness of the product or service, imminence of going to market, team dedication and fit, and the scalability of the project, among other factors. Likewise, compliance with the following requirements will be verified:

The team leader’s ability to dedicate full time to said project.
The team members’ ability or willingness to dedicate full-time or part-time to said project. (Note that the Team Lead must be full-time in the project.)
That the project does not consist of a consulting firm, export, and import company, lifestyle company, or is otherwise ineligible
The project applying to the Program has been in operation for three years or less.
The application contains the identification documentation for participants.
The team leads to proof of U.S. citizenship and Puerto Rico residency.

As a result of this analysis, the parallel18 team will classify, on a justified basis, the relevance or irrelevance of the projects. If a “Not Relevant” determination is declared, the project will not continue in the evaluation process.

10.2 Judging Round:

The Program will facilitate a panel of international experts, composed of P18 alums and other parallel18 collaborators, to evaluate the applications, giving them a score of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the minimum score and five the maximum score) on the following evaluation criteria:

Product or Service (20%)
Market and Competitive Positioning (20%)
Team Mix, Qualification & Experience (20%)
Team Focus and Dedication (20%)
Impact in Puerto Rico (20%)

10.3 Product or Service (20%)

A critical aspect of evaluating the project is its differentiated and innovative product or service. Given that pre18 is a pre-accelerator program, the product requirements are that the companies need to have a product close to launch on a market, already on market or a functional prototype (or Minimum Viable Product) with a launching plan. The launching date must be before the mid-point evaluation (6th week of the Program). How creative, interesting, and engaging do you find their pitch?

Is the business opportunity unique and innovative? Is it tackling a real need?
New/revolutionary about what they are doing? How will they add value?
What is their competitive advantage?
Are the product and technology presented feasible?
Is the product validated or able to be validated during the Program?

10.4 Market and Competitive Positioning (20%)

All submissions should target a global market and be differentiated from competitors. Projects may be rejected if they are only considering one sole market.

Is this startup’s market share likely to be large? Can this venture achieve a leadership position in its market?
Does the team have a realistic plan on whom the first customer(s) will be?
Does this team understand who the present and future competitors are?
Has the team articulated a clear competitive advantage – exclusive intellectual property, first mover advantage, network effect, etc.?
Would their customers choose to work with them rather than with their competitors?
Is the market validated or able to be validated during the Program?

10.5 Team Mix, Qualification & Experience (20%)

The entrepreneurs and teams we seek should be accomplished and respected individuals with a strong and cohesive team and experience in the industry they are addressing.

Do they have valuable and transferable skills? Notable life experiences? Impressive accomplishments?
If there is a team, how coherent is the team? Do they demonstrate complementary skill sets and dedication to each other and the project?
If there is no team in place yet, does the team lead to understand the roles and profiles he needs to incorporate into the team to execute successfully? How willing can the team lead bring qualified team members during the Program to execute the project?
Is this the right team for this project?
Do the team lead and team members(if applicable) have the proper capabilities and skill sets to develop the project as proposed?

10.6 Team Focus and Dedication (20%)

The entrepreneurs and teams must be fully dedicated to their business and not use the Program simply as an opportunity to receive funding. Given the early stage nature of the

participating projects, it is acceptable if founders have been working part-time on the project before the application, as long as at least one founder can commit to working full-time on the startup during the pre-acceleration Program.

Do they demonstrate dedication, focus, and resilience?
Do they demonstrate a clear plan to continue growing and sustaining the project beyond the Program period?
Does the team lead demonstrate a willingness to continue being full-time after the Program period?
How willing are the team members, if they are already in place, to be full-time during and after the Program period to continue growing and sustaining the company?

10.7 Impact in Puerto Rico (20%)

We want to ensure that this team will be an impactful member of the emerging startup community in Puerto Rico.

Will this team take advantage of the opportunity of the Puerto Rican innovation and business ecosystem and the island’s location as a jumping-off point to scale globally?
Does this company represent the creation of a new industry or the strengthening/modernization of an existing industry that has strategic value for Puerto Rico and makes the island more competitive globally?
Will this team be an active and valuable member of the Puerto Rican startup ecosystem, productively donating their skills and startup spirit?

Interview Round:

During the evaluation period, an interview may be scheduled, or additional information may be requested to clarify questions from the evaluators, including potentially demonstrating updated progress for the service or product proposed by the project. The demo should be presented to the evaluation panel at this stage.

10.8 Final Selection: A local selection board composed of experienced members will make the decision to select up to 30 final companies for the Program objectively.

11. DECISION

Once the evaluation is concluded, the Program will have three business days to inform the applicants about the final decision and extend an offer to join the Program.

12. COMPANY ACCEPTANCE

Upon the company’s acceptance of the offer to join the Program, which includes acknowledgment and execution of the Grant Agreement, including the Program terms and conditions, the process of Onboarding begins, which requires the execution of tasks by both the team leader of the company and by the Program.

13. DELIVERY OF GRANT

13.1 Mode of Delivery

After the execution of the contract between the project and the Trust, the total amount of the funds will be delivered in various sets throughout the Program, the first set being at the beginning of the Program and the second one being after midpoint evaluations, both conditional to good standing in the Program. The grant can only be deposited in a Puerto Rico-based corporate bank account. In specific cases where due to industry- specific regulations a local corporate bank account is not an option, we reserve the right to accept Mainland US corporate bank accounts.

13.2 Conditions for delivery of the grant.

The conditions for the Program to deliver the grant shall be as follows:

Delivery of documentation that declares the participants’ legal status as an individual and as a company.
Execution of the pre18 Grant Agreement.
Successfully comply with the required criteria for the midpoint evaluation.
Maintain good standing status throughout the program duration.

Pre18 reserves the right to verify that the technical and legal information declared is valid and, if any serious unconformity is found, in addition to suspending the delivery of the grant or early termination of the project, it will, if applicable, prosecute civil complaints or report criminal activities to authorities against the possible configuration of any actionable actions under Puerto Rico and federal law.

13.3 Suspension of payments

Continuity in the delivery of funds shall be subject to the evaluation made by the Program of the project’s progress and to budgetary availability of funds.

Pre18, at its sole discretion, may suspend delivery of funds and dismiss a company from the Program during the Onboarding period or at the beginning of the Program if the startup makes significant changes in the project, business model, and/or founding team from those stated in the application, specifically if it fundamentally changes the company’s ability to scale and/or use Puerto Rico as a platform to grow, so that it is no longer aligned with Program’s pre-acceleration experience.

Pre18 may suspend payments temporarily or permanently if it finds that the project is not being carried out satisfactorily or that the participants have failed to fulfill their obligations in whole or part. In these cases, the Program shall impose the measures it deems appropriate to correct the deficiencies detected or to terminate the project early. If the project is terminated early, the recipient must repay the entire grant received as of the date on which pre18 informed the early termination of the project through a written notice.

Additionally, before finalizing the project’s early end, pre18 may order the team to refrain from making further expenditures from the delivered grant. In this case, it may accept expenses associated with activities undertaken up to the date of communication of said order.

Pre18 shall provide due notice to the project once suspension of payments and expenses has been chosen as the course of action.

13.4 Accounts and Expenses Eligible for Financing

Costs associated with the development of the project may be included in the following accounts:

Human Resources: Includes the salaries or fees of technical and/or professional key personnel directly associated with project activities that are legally authorized to work in the United States of America, including the entrepreneurial salary that participants may receive in accordance with what is specified in the legislation in force.
Operating Expenses: Direct spending associated with project execution, such as product development costs, market research and validation expenses, visits to

potential clients and / or providers, activities relating to the promotion and publicizing of the product/service, internet services, and other directly relevant activities approved by the Program.

3. Capital Expenses: Refers to the purchase of durable goods (property, plant, and equipment assets) necessary to implement and achieve the project’s expected results approved by the Program.

Proposed expenses must be consulted and approved by the Program for funds disbursement.

13.5 Expenses Not Eligible for Financing

With the funds provided by pre18 for the project, the following items are not eligible for financing:

Salaries for personnel not legally authorized to work in the United States of America.
Investments in capital markets include buying shares, time deposits in domestic or foreign currency, mutual funds, debts (principal plus interest), or dividends.
Taxes recoverable by the project, taking into account its legal status and applicable tax rules.
Acquisition of properties not related to the execution of the project.
Airfare for persons not directly involved in the project or reasons not attributable to the project.
Alcohol purchases.
Leisure activity expenses.
Any other expenses not directly related to the project.

13.6 Account Reporting

For purposes of account reporting, a pecuniary or cash contribution will be defined as the expenditure of funds due to project execution. In other words, the use of pre-existing facilities, infrastructure, or human resources of the contributor does not correspond to this concept.

Expenditures charged to pre18’s grant must be reported based on actual costs, at a price paid, duly supported with reliable documents that verify the amount.

Notwithstanding the latter, pre18 will verify that the amount claimed to contribute to the project is consistent with the objectives and activities reported.

Expenses incurred for the project as costs of a Limited Liability Company or a Corporation whose owner is the Team Leader or of a company in which the Team Leader has a shareholding of at least 30% (thirty percent) will be accepted, as long as a said company:

Is legally registered in Puerto Rico, or registered in the U.S.A. with authorization to do business from the Department of State in Puerto Rico, and
Does not present initiation of activities related to the project for a period exceeding five months before the date of application to the Program.

These circumstances will be verified by pre18, for which purpose the project must submit, within ten days before the first expenditure expected to be paid by the company or partnership, the following documents:

A simple photocopy of the articles of incorporation and amendments thereto.
A certificate of good standing issued by the competent authority must be no more than 90 days old on the filing date.

13.7 Prepaid Expenses

Only allowable expenses incurred for the execution of the project from the date of communication of the approval decision may be accepted after evaluation and written approval of Pre18 at its sole discretion. Therefore, the lack of formalization of the Grant Agreement will not result in either compensation or reimbursement.

13.8 Monitoring and Reporting

Pre18 holds the authority to track the activities of the participants and third parties hired under the terms of the Grant Agreement without any prior notice. To this end, in the case of hiring activities with third parties, the power of monitoring and control shall be recorded in the contracts entered into by the project with such third parties, with the participant being responsible for breach of its obligations in the event of omission, and if difficulties arise from it for conducting the monitoring duties detailed above. Nevertheless, pre18 does not assume co-management or co-execution of the project, with project execution remaining the participant’s sole responsibility.

The participants must comply with the calendar of monitoring meetings provided by their startup executive and the delivery of reports in accordance with Program

requirements. These reports shall contain at least identifying the activities implemented and the results obtained.

Per the Grant Agreement, the project is responsible for delivering the final use of funds and expenses report made within two weeks after the term’s expiration date for project execution. This term may be extended at the project’s request and subject to the approval of the Program.

Notwithstanding the latter and in accordance with the nature of the project, the Grant Agreement may provide for the delivery of progress reports, the number and timing of which will be determined by pre18 taking into account the characteristics of the project, the activities of the latter, the results and the Program’s budget availability.

The number and timing of progress reports may be modified by pre18, upon a founded request by the Team Leader, or of its own accord, before the deadline has passed for said delivery.

Pre18 may request extraordinary progress reports for the periods determined in light of monitoring of project activities, with no amendment of the Grant Agreement being necessary in this case.

Pre18 shall approve or provide comments to the progress reports and extraordinary reports within 14 days after material reception, or from the on-site review date, as applicable.

In response to a request by pre18 for documentation, modification, or supplementation of reports, the project must comply with such a request within three days of the request.

Reports that do not contain all the information requested or did not attach all supporting records required for technical and financial analysis, or that do not attach a legible copy of these shall be construed as not filed. Pre18 shall notify the project within 20 days from receipt of the report, establishing a term not exceeding five days from receipt of the notification for the project to complete the submission of the report.

14. EARLY TERMINATION

Without prejudice to other grounds for early termination, where established in these Terms and Conditions, the grant’s terms and conditions, or other written rules regarding participation in the Program, the Program may adopt such a decision in the following cases, applying the sanctions detailed below:

14.1 Early termination of the project for reasons not attributable to the participants

Pre18 may impose an early end to the project on its initiative or at the request of the team leader in the following situations:

Failure to achieve critical results or continuity milestones established by pre18 and/or the project for reasons not attributable to the lack of diligence of the project duly qualified by pre18.
It has become convinced that the project will not achieve the expected results and that it cannot be executed within reasonable parameters for reasons not attributable to the lack of diligence of the project duly qualified by pre18.
Other causes not attributable to the team leader’s lack of diligence in carrying out the activities related to the project and/or to the team leader’s participation Participation in the Program, duly qualified by pre18.

If requested by the project and accepted by pre18, it shall be understood that the project has been finished early from the date of the request.

The project must deliver a final use of funds report within a reasonable period to be set out in the notification of early termination, which shall not exceed 30 days from the complete processing. In addition, the project shall return the balance from the grant that has not been justified as actual and eligible company expenses and shall renounce all balances that the Program has not paid.

14.2 Early termination of the project by deed or act attributable to the project

Pre18 may end the project early if the project fails to comply through negligence or lacks due diligence of his or her obligations. The following situations, among others, may constitute a breach of the contract:

Denial or hindrance of project monitoring.
Negligence in performing financial and technical control activities.
Failure to notify pre18 promptly about the impossibility of paying the contributions for which they and/ or the other participants are responsible.
Finding out during the Onboarding period or at the beginning of the Program that the company has made significant changes in the project, business model, and/or founding team from those stated in the application that fundamentally changes the company’s ability to succeed, scale and/or use Puerto Rico as a platform to grow so that it is no longer aligned with the Program’s pre-acceleration experience.

Serious discrepancy between the declared technical and / or legal information and real information.
Non-compliance with critical results or continuity milestones established in the project, for reasons attributable to the lack of diligence by the project, duly qualified by the pre18.
It is having become convinced that the project will not achieve the expected results, that it cannot be executed within reasonable parameters, or that the project will not be able to pay the contribution that is their responsibility for reasons attributable to a lack of diligence by the participants, duly qualified by pre18.
In the reports on financial accountability:
- Duplication in the reporting of proof of expenditures.
- Simulation of acts or contracts.
- Valuation of costs above the market value.
- False or altered accounting documents (such as invoices, bills, credit or debit notes)
Failure to maintain good standing status throughout the Program’s duration.
Other reasons are attributable to the participant’s lack of diligence in carrying out their activities related to the project and/ or the Participation in the Program, as duly qualified by pre18.

In this case, the recipient must repay the entire grant received, expressed in the date for which pre18 informed the early termination of the project through a written notice. The refund will be made within 15 days of the notice of early termination of the project. Pre18 shall make the guarantee deposit effective only if the project does not make restitution within the agreed-upon deadline.

15. Dress Code – “Work Hard, Play Tropical”

At our coworking space for startups around Puerto Rico, we embrace a dynamic and vibrant atmosphere where creativity and professionalism go hand in hand. Our dress code reflects our motto: “Work Hard, Play Tropical.” We encourage a balanced approach to attire that allows for comfort, personal expression, and a touch of tropical flair while keeping its professionalism as a scaffold. Please adhere to the

following guidelines for both the coworking space and our events outside of the space:

15.1 Coworking Space Dress Code:

Embrace a relaxed yet professional look. Feel free to celebrate the spirit of the island by incorporating tropical prints, vibrant colors, or accessories that add a touch of the Caribbean to your outfit. As our motto states, “Work hard, play tropical!

Ensuring that your clothing is clean, well-maintained, and appropriate for a collaborative workspace can work wonders on your projection as an entrepreneur. Furthermore, we want to ensure all our visitors and founders get the best impression.

Productivity is essential, and comfortable shoes contribute to that. Whichever you choose, ensure it is ideal for a safe work environment!

15.2 Events Outside the Coworking Space Hosted by our Organization:

Remember, first impressions matter. Please make sure you look professional and well put-together. Investors and corporate partners are invited to these events, and you want to make a good impression on them as prospective and possible stakeholders.

If the event you are attending is a Demo Day, Industry Meetup, Official PR Science Trust event, or a corporate presentation, please ensure your clothing is clean, well- maintained, and appropriate for a professional environment. Do not wear flip-flops, shorts/bermuda pants or “spaghetti straps”.

To provide a clear idea, we encourage the following:

Business casual attire strikes the perfect balance between professionalism and comfort.
Embrace the tropical spirit for special occasions. You can try a guayabera shirt or dress with tropical accents to add an elegant touch.
Puerto Rico’s tropical climate calls for lightweight and breathable fabrics to ensure your comfort throughout the day.
Personal grooming is essential to maintain a professional image. Please ensure you are well-groomed and presentable.

Remember, our “Work Hard, Play Tropical” atmosphere fosters a collaborative and fun environment while maintaining a strong sense of professionalism. By adhering to this dress code, we create a space where startups can thrive, and visitors can embrace the best of both worlds – a productive workspace and the vibrant spirit of Puerto Rico!

16. WARRANTIES

The participants warrant and represent to pre18 as follows:

The participants have not and shall not violate any intellectual property rights, confidentiality, right of privacy, or another right of any person or entity whomsoever.
The participants represent that the information they provided to pre18 during the application and contracting phases is accurate and complete. However, each participant understands that in the event they have failed to disclose any relevant information which may have impacted pre18’s decision to select and award the grant to their project or have provided false information, pre18 will be entitled to rescind the contract with immediate effect, in addition to any other remedies which pre18 and the Trust may have by contract or by law.

17. INDEPENDENT ENTITIES

The participants of the Program shall remain independent of the Trust. Nothing contained in or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the grant’s terms and conditions shall be construed as establishing or creating an employer/employee relationship or any partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship with the Trust.

The Trust shall not be responsible for any loss, accident, damage, or injury suffered by the participants, arising during or as a result of the participation in the Program. The Trust is not responsible for any and all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in and for the participation of this Program or the P18 Program, whether they may be incurred.

18. NO RIGHTS CONFERRED

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions confers a right to participation in the Program or the right to obtain a grant. Participation in the Program, such as, but not limited to onboarding activities or the incursion of expenses, does not grant a right under this

Program. The Trust reserves the right to deny participation at any time of non-compliant entities and individuals, or at convenience when in the best interests of the Trust and subject to the terms and conditions of a duly executed Grant Agreement.

Except as expressly set forth, participants do not have a right to the Trust’s or its programs’ Intellectual Property. Participants will not use the name of the name, seals, logos, emblems, or any distinctive trademark/ trade name of the Trust and of its programs, including parallel18, without the prior written express authorization.

19. NO WAIVER

The waiver by either the Trust or any participant of an act under any provision or breach of these terms and conditions and, if the project is selected, the Grant Agreement’s terms and conditions shall not prevent subsequent enforcement of such provision or excuse further breaches.

20. LIABILITY

The participants hereby indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and against the full amount of any and all claims and liabilities, including legal fees and costs, which are or may be made, filed, or assessed against the Trust at any time and based on, or arising out of, breach by the participants of any of its representations or warranties under these terms and conditions and, if selected, contract, regardless of whether such representations and warranties are explicitly incorporated herein or are referred to in any attached Appendices.

21. ASSIGNMENT

The participants shall not assign, transfer, pledge or make any other disposition of these Terms and Conditions or any part thereof, or any of their rights, claims, or obligations under these Terms and Conditions except with the prior written consent of the Trust.

22. QUESTIONS OR CONSULTATIONS

Questions may be addressed in English or Spanish to the following e-mail address: [email protected].