10 teams selected for the third edition of Know Hub Ignition

Science- and technology-based ventures in cybersecurity, circular-economy food biotechnology, manufacturing and materials, and medical devices are now part of Know Hub Ignition, the innovation program run by Know Hub Chile in collaboration with UC Riverside, with support from ANID, sponsorship from Corfo, and backing from Lockheed Martin and CircularTec.

The call for the third edition of Know Hub Ignition was well received by the national and international innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. More than 100 teams from Chile and other countries in the region applied to this initiative, run by Know Hub Chile in collaboration with UC Riverside, which focuses on the value proposition and customer segment of science- and technology-based ventures, accelerating their early and global growth.

Of all the teams that applied, 28 were first selected for the pitch stage. Then 10 were chosen to take part in the current edition, covering a wide range of specializations. There is Gazuone, specialized in cybersecurity. Also Begood Spa, Bioproc and Gota, specialized in climate change. Bioup, in molecular biology. TIM, in the digital health category. In the circular economy category are Infood Protein and Beloop. In the automation (AI) category, Movener. And in the materials and manufacturing category, Drop It.

Óscar Astudillo, Innovation Coordinator at Know Hub Chile, highlights that most of the teams “are formally established ventures in the process of technical and commercial validation, seeking acceleration and maturity, which they will no doubt be able to achieve through the program”.

“There are teams from circular-economy food biotechnology, as well as cybersecurity, manufacturing and materials, and medical devices. We believe this edition will be very competitive given the very high level the teams have today”, Astudillo stresses.

The protagonists

And what do the selected teams think about being part of Know Hub Ignition? Karina Quiroga, from Gazuone, says they hope to improve their commercial and product proposal, “so that we can access external funding to boost the current prototype and turn it into a consolidated product ready for commercialization”.

Paola Aceituno, from Begood Spa, describes the program as the opportunity they were looking for to strengthen and consolidate their value proposition. “For a startup it is essential to have the support of ecosystem players who understand what an EBCT is, and how these companies create and communicate their value proposition, which usually has a global impact. Being selected will not only allow us to gain that knowledge, but also expert views on how to develop our value proposition, business model and national and international scaling”, she says.

Making the most of the program by learning about business models is what Alexis Veliz, from Bioup, highlights; his team seeks to achieve technology transfer, build ties with industry and connect with investors: “We hope this program will be the springboard to drive our projects. Ultimately, we hope to strengthen all the areas where EBCTs are generally weakest”.

Know Hub Ignition has the level of rigor needed to scale and unlock sales for Bioproc, says Gabriela Villouta, as well as to achieve national and international reach to expand its goals and long-term roadmap. “That, plus working with mentors and executives who strengthen us, will be a way to raise the limits and objectives we have set”, she says.

Francisca Zamorano, from TIM, says they hope to gain new knowledge and connect with national and international mentors who will help them enhance their skills and improve the company’s growth plan. They also hope, she adds, “to network with other science- and technology-based ventures to learn from their experience and receive feedback”.

Patricio Cuevas, from Infood Protein, adds that having partners and founders from the sciences gives them significant advantages when developing innovative products and technologies. However, he says, “we recognize that the commercial side is equally important to bring these developments to market through a clear, well-structured business model. We know this program stands out precisely for its focus on these aspects, which makes it a perfect complement to achieve our goals”.

Gabriel Sanllehi, from Beloop, says they hope to validate their solution much more robustly, fine-tuning details to add as much value as possible for their customers and the planet. “We also hope to gain greater clarity on the theoretical and practical development of our technology’s TRL levels. Finally, we see it as a tremendous school for growing as an organization and as entrepreneurs seeking triple-impact solutions for the 21st century”, he explains.

Getting to know the Hub’s technology transfer experts, as well as the network of contacts at UC Riverside, especially on air quality issues, is what Ismael Tagle, from Gota, highlights: “We hope to find new ideas for our business model and refine it so that we have something attractive for next year”.

Gonzalo Pacheco, from Movener, notes that Know Hub Ignition is an excellent opportunity to systematize the process of taking a technology from Chile to the world, backed by an excellent support network. “We hope to accelerate our validation process with national and international institutions such as UCR and bring our product to market soon in Chile and the USA”, he says.

An opportunity to bring top-level professionals on board as advisors to improve their processes, products and value proposition, says Nicolás Retamal from Drop It: “Being selected for this program shows the great work and perseverance of our team in the quest to eliminate excess packaging and create a new generation of environmentally responsible products”.