Joseph Hernandez

Joseph Hernandez is an American entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and leader in biotechnology, healthcare, and advanced technology. A Cuban refugee and the son of a political prisoner, Joseph fled communist rule at the age of seven and arrived in the United States with hope, determination, and a deep gratitude for the promise of America.

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 earned a Master of Science in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Yale University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Global Healthcare Leadership at the University of Oxford.

Throughout 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 NASDAQ and has rung both the opening and closing bells, reflecting a proven record of building organizations, advancing innovation, and delivering results.

Joseph currently serves as Founder and Senior Managing Partner of Blue Water Venture Partners LLC, where he invests in technologies and companies focused on improving public health, accelerating scientific discovery, and addressing critical human diseases.

His professional journey began at Merck & Co. and continued at Affymetrix in Silicon Valley, where he helped oversee the launch of groundbreaking diagnostic technologies. At Digene Corp, Joseph helped advance commercialization of the first FDA-approved test for human papillomavirus, a major milestone in cancer prevention and early detection that contributed to the company’s acquisition by Qiagen.

Joseph is also the proud father of three children: Alexander, Sebastian, and Estella. Their futures continue to inspire his work, his public service, and his commitment to protecting the American Dream that gave his family the opportunity to build, succeed, and give back.