Over the past decade, the Center has impacted 4,637 individuals, supported 1,253 ventures, and facilitated more than 10,000 personalized mentoring sessions.
By Institutional Communication
Santurce, Puerto Rico – A decade ago, the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado) established Neeuko, Puerto Rico’s first collaborative innovation center within a university setting. What began as a laboratory designed to strategically integrate the creativity, production, and research generated across the institution’s academic programs has evolved into the cornerstone of Sagrado’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and a platform that transforms ideas into projects with economic, social, and creative impact.
Neeuko, whose name originates from the abbreviation of “new company,” has supported 4,637 participants, assisted 1,253 ventures, facilitated 10,090 personalized mentoring sessions, and promoted 39 strategic collaborations during its first ten years of operation.
These results reflect the evolution of an initiative that has grown alongside Sagrado’s academic vision. In 2020, Neeuko was formally integrated into the University’s entrepreneurship curriculum, becoming one of the defining features of its educational model. As part of this approach, all undergraduate students, regardless of their academic major, complete 18 credits in entrepreneurship throughout their four years of study.
As a result, students graduate with an entrepreneurial project that may take many forms, from an artistic proposal or scientific or social research initiative to a community-based project or a business venture. The goal is for every project to provide tangible solutions and create value for its surrounding community.
To support the development and validation of these ideas, Neeuko combines academic coursework with specialized mentorship and access to state-of-the-art technological infrastructure. Its facilities include collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and a FabLab equipped with 3D printers, laser-cutting technology, a vacuum former, woodworking areas, robotics equipment, and computer numerical control (CNC) machines, enabling students to design, test, and prototype their ideas. The Center also offers support in brand and product development, as well as consulting services on financial, legal, and regulatory matters.
As part of its continued evolution, during this academic year the Collaborative Innovation Center-Neeuko became part of Sagrado’s School of Business, together with the Entrepreneurship faculty. Through this new structure, the Center will continue providing services, experiences, and opportunities to students across all academic disciplines at the University.
“At Sagrado, entrepreneurship is understood as the ability to identify opportunities and develop sustainable, creative, and responsible solutions that address community needs and the challenges of a constantly evolving society. More than a discipline, it is a way of thinking and acting that transcends all fields of knowledge and prepares our students to create value in any professional setting,” said Dr. Anuchka Ramos Ruiz, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Sagrado.
Showcase@Sagrado: From the University Project to the Marketplace
The growth of Sagrado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem was on full display on Thursday, October 15, during Showcase@Sagrado, an event that brought together over 180 students to present products, services, and projects developed as part of their academic experience.
The initiative gives students the opportunity to showcase their ideas to the public, validate their concepts, strengthen their sales skills, and gain firsthand experience in bringing entrepreneurial ventures to market. Its continued growth reflects the expanding opportunities Sagrado provides for students to take classroom ideas into real-world settings.
Since its first documented edition in 2022, which featured 16 student participants, Showcase@Sagrado has steadily expanded its reach, bringing together more than 180 participants in its October 2026 edition.
“We want our students to have the opportunity to pursue the entrepreneurial journey with guidance and access to meaningful resources. In addition to the Showcase, we offer several programs such as La Cepita, which has awarded $94,000 in seed funding to 47 student entrepreneurs, as well as our Entrepreneurship HUBs, which provide specialized mentoring and support to help participants move from idea to execution,” said Sandra Pedraza Torres, Dean of the School of Business.
Similar stories
Sagrado Recognized at Boricua Emprende Fest, with Faculty Honors and Student Finalist in Enactus Early Stage Competition
Entrepreneurship can no longer remain theory: Sagrado shows how a country is transformed
Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Solutions at Sagrado