Photio
Know Hub Chile supported Photio in its transition from the lab to commercial validation.
See the success story
Success stories
Bluera
Winners of Know Hub Ignition 2025. Their WASTEMILL® technology turns environmental liabilities into valuable resources, with projects in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala and Morocco.
- Program
- Know Hub Ignition 2025
- Technology
- WASTEMILL®: waste-to-energy and waste treatment
- Projects
- Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala and Morocco
- Ties in Europe
- Germany and Switzerland
- Focus
- Environmental liabilities as valuable resources
Taking a scientific technology to the industrial market
Bluera is a science-based startup (EBCT) that develops waste-to-energy and waste treatment solutions, powered by its WASTEMILL® technology, which turn environmental liabilities into valuable resources for key industries.
Supporting the step from validation to scale-up
In Know Hub Ignition, Bluera moved from the development and technical validation stage to consolidating industrial projects in Chile and an active internationalization strategy. The program strengthened its scale-up capabilities and its connection with the innovation ecosystem.
- 4
- countries outside Chile with operations and projects under way
- 2
- European markets with strategic ties
- 2025
- Startup of the Year in Chile (El Mercurio)
Key milestones and progress
Its own infrastructure, sales abroad and awards.
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01
Development and infrastructure
Construction of the new WASTEMILL® demonstration unit in Chile for operational validation with real waste from industrial clients.
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02
Internationalization
Projects and closed sales in Peru, partnership and investment prospects in Guatemala, agreements in Bolivia and a contract for the aeronautics sector in Morocco.
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03
Awards and validation
Selected as a Deep Tech Pioneer (Hello Tomorrow), Startup of the Year Chile 2025 (El Mercurio), Avonni 2025 finalists and winners of InnovaMinería (Anglo American) and AntofaEmprende.
Testimonials
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Taking part in the Ignition program was a great find for us. It came at exactly the moment when we had to take on the challenges of being a science- and technology-based company and bring our technology to market. It has certainly been very demanding, and we believe the tools Know Hub gave us have been truly enriching. It's definitely something we recommend.
Lucas Guzmán
Co-founder and CFO of Bluera
Other success stories
Science applied to real challenges.
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MOV
At Know Hub Ignition it advanced from an early technology readiness level (TRL 2) to validation in a safe environment (TRL 7).
See the success story
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Acústica Marina
Know Hub Chile supported Acústica Marina through the Avante Challenge, helping validate and develop its hydroacoustic technology.
See the success story
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Innercore
Know Hub Chile drove Innercore's development through its open innovation program Desafío Avante 2020, supporting the validation of its automated analysis technology and its later scale-up toward strategic defense applications and the civilian market.
See the success story
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Desafío FORTIS
Know Hub Chile co-designed a challenge with Lockheed Martin to adapt and validate in Chile the FORTIS exoskeleton, developed by the multinational to assist with heavy lifting tasks.
See the success story
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Bioproc
Through the Ignition program, Know Hub Chile supported Bioproc in validating its business model and exploring international markets, with specialized mentoring from experts at the University of California, Riverside.
See the success story
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Soquimat
Know Hub Chile supported Soquimat in developing its business model and commercial strategy through the Ignition program. As one of the three winning startups of the fourth edition, it earned an international immersion stage to advance its path to market.
See the success story
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