MOV, a Know Hub Chile portfolio startup, incorporates as a company and is now a member of the organization

The science- and technology-based venture, which allows people with visual impairments to get around without a cane and won Know Hub Ignition in 2020, is moving toward a more solid structure for its development with the support of Know Hub Chile.

The MOV team is made up of Universidad de Talca academic Silvana Herrera and Jorge Cartes, consultant and director of the U. de Talca School of Design. It is a science- and technology-based company whose system mimics the echolocation of bats and dolphins to help people with visual impairments orient themselves in space, giving them greater mobility by freeing their hands from the cane and helping them integrate into society.

Part of the Hub Chile portfolio and one of the winning teams of Know Hub Ignition 2020, this technology seeks to support the independence of blind or visually impaired people, who number more than 850,000 in the country.

The EBCT recently signed the incorporation of its company and joined Know Hub Chile as a member. Oscar Astudillo, technology transfer coordinator at Know Hub Chile, explains that this step gives MOV a more solid structure for future investment capital. “In addition, at Know Hub Chile we provide the tools and a series of activities to support the venture throughout that process”, he says.

By incorporating as a company, it now has legal standing and the structure to raise both private and public capital.

“This progress reflects the commitment made as part of the Know Hub Ignition competition rules and the commitment set out in the work plan with MOV”, says Astudillo. Thus, in all the technical and commercial activities the EBCT undertakes, Know Hub Chile will give it the support it needs “so that they ‘reach safe harbor’”, the technology transfer coordinator explains about this success story for the organization.

Know Hub Ignition

MOV took part in the second edition of the Know Hub Ignition program in 2020 and was one of the winning teams.

This initiative, led by Know Hub Chile and UC Riverside, aims to contribute to the formation and maturation of technology-based ventures by identifying teams with high entrepreneurial potential, supporting the design and improvement of a value proposition, the validation of technological solutions with customers and, ultimately, the creation and scaling of technology-based ventures.

“Thanks to Know Hub Ignition we realized that our technology has a very powerful social impact and can improve quality of life”, says Silvana Herrera, director of MOV, about the program.