The Know Hub Ignition 05 Final Pitch recognized three startups that represent the talent and creativity of the national ecosystem. Six years after its creation, the program has established itself as a benchmark in accelerating science- and technology-based ventures, bringing forward solutions with social, economic and environmental impact.
On Tuesday, September 2, the Final Pitch of Know Hub Ignition 05 took place. This acceleration program by Know Hub Chile, supported by ANID and in collaboration with Alessandri Abogados, has become a key platform for science- and technology-based startups. In an event marked by the talent, vision and potential of the teams, the three winners were announced: Luyef, Bluera and Vitagreen, selected from nine finalists for the strength of their proposals and the impact of their developments.
The jury was made up of leading figures from the innovation and technology transfer ecosystem: Esteban Zapata, head of Transfer and Entrepreneurship at ANID; Patricia Tobar, Senior Manager Business Development at Lockheed Martin; Matías Saavedra, associate in the Patents practice at Alessandri Abogados; Oscar Pino, Senior Account Manager Public Sector at Oracle; and Javier Ramírez, executive director of Know Hub Chile. After a rigorous deliberation process, they selected the projects that will receive strategic support and access to up to USD 100,000 in smart money to accelerate their path to market.
Applied science serving society
The Luyef team, led by José Douguet and Valeria Martínez, developed a technology that produces a vegan version of human type XVII collagen, designed especially for skin care. Produced in the lab with modified yeasts, this advance avoids animal-derived ingredients and animal testing, responding to a global trend toward more ethical and sustainable cosmetics.
Bluera, created by Cristóbal Hurtado and Lucas Guzmán, presented a system capable of turning mixed waste into a clean energy gas. Through a process with no combustion or toxic emissions, the startup seeks to contribute solutions to waste management and the energy challenge, opening the door to a more circular and sustainable economy.
For its part, Vitagreen, led by Patricia Aros, Julio Ibáñez and Constanza Paulsen, developed an innovative method for treating grease sludge, transforming it into valuable byproducts. Its proposal offers a technological alternative to a critical environmental problem, with applications both in industry and in public waste management.
A space that takes research to market
For Javier Ramírez, executive director of Know Hub Chile, the Final Pitch is much more than a competition: “It is a showcase of the scientific and entrepreneurial talent that exists in our country and the region. These teams show how research can be transformed into real solutions with an impact on society and the economy. That is the path toward a knowledge-based economy, less dependent on resource extraction and more focused on innovation.”
Since 2019, Know Hub Ignition has established itself as one of the first programs in Chile to systematically support science- and technology-based startups. Its model combines specialized mentoring, training in technology transfer, protection of intangible assets and customer validation. Across its five editions, it has supported more than 200 teams, connecting them with investors, corporations and international mentors.
The role of Ignition was highlighted by Esteban Zapata, head of Transfer and Entrepreneurship at ANID. “This program plays a fundamental role in energizing science- and technology-based ventures nationwide. The tools it provides help teams strengthen their value proposition and improve their relationship with those interested in these solutions.”
In this edition, the finalist teams received support from a network of national and international experts, led by Alexandra Orozco, a specialist in innovation and international expansion with more than two decades of experience. Óscar Astudillo, Strategic Alliances manager at Know Hub Chile, also emphasized that “Know Hub Ignition connects entrepreneurs with the global innovation ecosystem, making it easier to scale their solutions and access investment.”
With the close of its fifth edition, Know Hub Ignition reaffirms its position as a pioneering program in Chile and Latin America, driving science and technology transfer and launching a new generation of startups capable of turning knowledge into high-impact solutions for society and the planet.
