Know Hub Chile, in collaboration with Mexico’s Tec de Monterrey, opens a call to select three Latin American science and technology startups and support them in structuring their business.
Know Hub Chile announces the launch of the call for Know Hub Ignition 04, the fourth edition of its acceleration program for science- and technology-based ventures.
This time, in collaboration with Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, startups from all over Latin America have the opportunity to apply for an investment of USD 140,000, as well as specialized support in structuring their business.
For the first time, the organization is extending its call to Colombia, given the country’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, which has achieved significant development in areas such as information technology, biotechnology and renewable energy, among others.
The program has an allocation of USD 140,000 to be distributed among the winning teams, divided into two categories. The first covers various areas of science and technology, such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, robotics, software, synthetic biology, sensors and space technologies. The second focuses on dual innovation, where science and technology interact to generate value in both the civilian and defense spheres.
In addition, the three winning teams will have an international immersion phase in an ecosystem suited to their target market, business model and technology readiness level, such as Mexico, Spain, France or the United States, among others, with the location to be determined during the program.
According to Javier Ramírez, executive director of Know Hub: “This year we wanted to expand the call to Colombia, as the country has taken significant steps in strengthening its technology entrepreneurship ecosystem. Chile has the opportunity to learn from these experiences and best practices to boost its own development. It also opens the door to collaboration, investment and knowledge transfer between both countries, fostering a beneficial exchange for growth and innovation in the region”.
About the call for startups
Taking part in this program gives science- and technology-based companies (EBCTs) the opportunity to significantly advance their Technology Readiness Level (TRL). This means that startups will be able to improve and validate the maturity of their technologies, moving from the early stages of research and development to more advanced phases where their products and solutions are ready to be commercialized and used in the market.
The call, already open and running until July 16, is open to multidisciplinary teams of entrepreneurs, researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and other professionals linked to research and development institutions in countries of the region. Each team must have at least two members, and the ability to combine technical and business skills, as well as others relevant to the entrepreneurial challenge, will be valued.
This strategic collaboration between Know Hub Chile and Tecnológico de Monterrey is also supported by Chile’s National Research and Development Agency (ANID) and Lockheed Martin.
Interested startups can register free of charge until July 16 at: www.knowhub.cl/ignition04.
