National Startup Incubator & Innovation Growth Act

Republica Dominicana
Presidential Decree No. 036-DR
Issued by: Future DR President Candidate

Subject: National Startup Incubator & Innovation Growth Act

Effective Immediately

To unleash the creative potential of Dominican entrepreneurs, attract global talent, promote small business development, and position the Dominican Republic as a regional leader in innovation, this decree establishes a nationwide startup incubator system and support structure.

Article 1 – Creation of the Dominican Startup Incubator Network (DSIN)

  1. The government will launch a National Startup Incubator Program, branded as "Impulsa RD", with regional hubs in:
    • Santo Domingo
    • Santiago
    • Punta Cana
    • San Pedro de Macorís
    • La Vega
  2. These incubators will serve as:
    • Co-working and development spaces
    • Startup coaching and mentorship centers
    • Grant and investment matchmaking platforms

Article 2 – Startup Categories Prioritized for Incubation

  1. The following sectors will be given priority:
    • Green energy & waste-to-energy tech
    • Agricultural innovation (urban farms, hydroponics, supply chain tech)
    • Tourism technology & eco-tourism startups
    • Fintech, AI, and healthtech solutions
    • Dominican cultural export platforms (media, music, art)

Article 3 – Access & Eligibility

  1. Eligible applicants must:
    • Be Dominican citizens, permanent residents, or approved foreign entrepreneurs
    • Have a viable business idea, prototype, or revenue-generating project
    • Commit to a 12-month incubator development program
  2. Selected startups will receive:
    • Free workspace for 1 year
    • RD$100,000–RD$500,000 in seed funding grants
    • Access to training, mentorship, and legal guidance

Article 4 – Public-Private Innovation Partnership Fund

  1. A National Innovation Fund of RD$1 billion will be seeded to:
    • Co-fund startups with private investors
    • Match capital raised with grants up to 2x
    • Offer equity-sharing with government recapture at exit
  2. Corporations, banks, and foreign investors may partner for preferred access to emerging technologies and early market entry.

Article 5 – Dominican Youth Accelerator & Scholarship Pipeline

  1. A new “Young Innovators Track” will target:
    • Dominican high school and university students
    • Students of coding academies and technical schools
  2. Top youth startups will receive:
    • RD$50,000 in seed cash
    • Summer mentorship residencies
    • Guaranteed university entrepreneurship scholarships

Article 6 – Legal & Regulatory Fast Track

  1. All startups accepted into Impulsa RD will receive:
    • One-click RepublicaID + RepúblicaPay integration
    • Business registration within 48 hours
    • One-year corporate tax waiver and customs exemptions for tech tools
  2. A dedicated Startup Ombudsman Office will assist with licensing, IP protection, and labor law navigation.

Article 7 – Global Visibility Campaign

  1. A national and international campaign titled “Innovar Aquí” (Innovate Here) will be launched to:
    • Promote DR as the Caribbean’s top startup launchpad
    • Attract diaspora talent and remote founders
    • Host annual “Startup Week Dominicana” expos and pitch summits

Ideas deserve fuel. Dreams deserve structure. Innovation deserves a home. And from today forward, that home is the Dominican Republic. Let’s build the next generation of leaders — from right here, right now.

Signed,
Future DR President Candidate
President of the Dominican Republic
Date: Day One, Term One