Joseph Hernandez is an American entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and visionary leader in biotechnology, healthcare, and advanced technology. A Cuban refugee and the son of a political prisoner, he fled the grip of communist rule at the age of seven, arriving in the United States with nothing but hope, and a determination to build a better life.
A proud product of Florida public schools, Joseph earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, a Master of Science in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, and an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida. He later completed a Master of Science in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Yale University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Global Healthcare Leadership at the University of Oxford.
Over the course of his career, Joseph has founded, invested in, and led more than a dozen biotechnology, healthcare, and technology companies. He has taken multiple companies public on the NASDAQ, ringing both the opening and closing bells numerous times, a testament to his track record of building transformative organizations and delivering results for investors.
He currently serves as the Founder and Senior Managing Partner of Blue Water Venture Partners LLC, where he continues to invest in innovations that improve public health, accelerate scientific discovery, and address critical human diseases.
His professional journey began at Merck & Co. and continued at Affymetrix in Silicon Valley, where he oversaw the launch of a dozen groundbreaking diagnostic technologies. At Digene Corp, Joseph helped advance commercialization for the first FDA-approved test for human papillomavirus (HPV), a major milestone in cancer prevention and early detection, which led to the company’s acquisition by Qiagen.
Joseph is the proud father of three children: Alexander, 18; Sebastian, 14; and Estella, 11; whose futures continue to inspire and motivate his work every day.
Joseph’s love for America knows no bounds. He feels utterly indebted to this nation and to the American people who opened their arms to a young refugee and gave him the chance to dream, build, and succeed.
