Draft:Hector Jirau

Hector Jirau is a Puerto Rican entrepreneur known for his role as the Executive Director at Parallel18, an international startup accelerator program under the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust. Born in 1993 in Puerto Rico, Jirau has played a significant role in fostering early-stage startup development within Puerto Rico and beyond.

Early life and education
Information regarding Jirau's early life and upbringing is limited. He obtained a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus in 2014. Later, he pursued a Master of Science in Financial Engineering from Worldquant University and completed a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences Campus in 2021. Additionally, Jirau holds a Series 65 - Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination from the NASAA and has been registered under FINRA as an investment advisor representative since 2019.

Career
Jirau's professional journey includes serving as the investment fund manager for Parallel18 Ventures, the venture capital arm of the accelerator, where he focused on valuations and financial due diligence, leveraging mathematical finance principles. In 2022, he assumed the role of Operations & Investment Director at Parallel18, overseeing the operations of the Parallel18 Innovation hub and leading various programs. He was appointed as the Executive Director of Parallel18 in 2023, succeeding Sebastian Vidal. In this capacity, he spearheaded initiatives such as BioLeap, the first life sciences incubation program funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration through Parallel18.

Additionally, Jirau has served as an advisor to Unity Growth Fund LLC, a private equity firm based in Virginia, USA, focusing on secondaries and late-stage private equity investments.

Throughout his career, Jirau has contributed to publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine  and has been featured in media outlets including Forbes and Bloomberg. He served as a judge for the Forbes 30 under 30 Local Puerto Rico for 2023. Recognized for his expertise in biomedical sciences, particularly biotechnology, Jirau frequently engages as a speaker and advisor for various organizations and institutions.

In his scientific endeavors, Dr. Jirau conducted research in environmental toxicology and inhalation & respiratory toxicology as part of the Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research at the University of Puerto Rico.