Ramphis Castro
Ramphis is a licensed professional engineer with an undergraduate degree from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez computer engineering program, and holds a JD from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law with a focus on AI and robotics law. He has earned certificates in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, and public policy from MIT, Stanford, and the Harvard Kennedy School, respectively.
Ramphis is the co-founder of ScienceVest (YC F3), a fund and platform for hard-tech and life science companies, and Impact Science Angels, an angel group focused on investing in companies that can impact 1M+ lives.
As an individual, Ramphis has worked extensively in creating a full-stack startup ecosystem acceleration and support roadmap that deploys programs facilitating experiential education to all stakeholders in a country. From entrepreneurs to emerging managers in the venture industry, Ramphis has supported ecosystem growth in dozens of countries around the world. Most recently, he successfully executed the first Startup Weekend in Cuba. In 2016, upon invitation of the White House, Ramphis was part of the US delegation with President Obama on his historic visit to Cuba.
As a long-time Global Facilitator for UP Global/Techstars, a global organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, grassroots leadership, and strong communities, Ramphis has helped train hundreds of academics and lean startup instructors around the world on the principles and practices used for the Lean Launch Pad and iCorp programs. He serves as Adjunct for the New York City Regional Innovation Node's I-Corp Program.
He has served as policy adviser on entrepreneurship, technology, and economic development policy to leaders in Puerto Rico, Norway, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guatemala, among others.
As an entrepreneur, he has launched and successfully commercialized intellectual property now used across multiple industries around the world.
Ramphis is a member of Class 19. He served his fellowship at Mindchemy and Expansive Ventures under the mentorship of Expansive Ventures' founder, Adeo Ressi.