News

The winning initiatives will benefit fishing, tourism and agricultural communities in Chile’s Norte Grande region, improving the quality of life with innovative solutions.

Pitch Day at the historic Melbourne & Clark Wharf in Antofagasta was led by SQM Vice President of Corporate Services José Miguel Berguño, CORFO Antofagasta Director Melissa Gajardo and INNSPIRAL Founder Iván Vera.  Electroriders from Valparaíso, CleanLight from Santiago and EcoShower from Calama won their respective categories.

“We are disruptive young people eager to overthrow myths and democratize electromobility.  I thank those who believe in these new technologies that contribute to a better future for Chile.  Thank you very much for trusting in our electro boat project, which will benefit fishermen in northern Chile while reducing emissions, maintenance and transportation costs,” remarked Antofagasta-native Ariel Echeverria, CEO of Electroriders and Electromobility category winner, at the awards ceremony.

SQM VP José Miguel Berguño added, “For the company, these are opportunities to generate a social, economic and environmental impact from another perspective.  We are world leaders in our lines of business.  However, we also need to promote local to identify solutions contributing to people’s quality of life, e.g., water conservation, emissions reduction and natural resource protection.  Here today, we combine entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability.”

Gustavo Pallauta, founder of EcoShower and its HydroSaver product, was also delighted to receive the US$40,000 winner’s check for the Water Resource Access and Protection category.  “With great pride, we created an easy-to-install system to optimize water pre-shower.  Winning this contest offers a tremendous opportunity to impact towns near Calama, where we will implement over 100 HydroSaver kits in hotels and private homes.  I can’t tell you how happy I am.  It was a very close competition, and to come out on top with an innovative solution to a global problem makes me very proud,” said Pallauta.

The contest was backed by CORFO Antofagasta, represented by Regional Director Melissa Gajardo, who sat on the Pitch Day jury.  “This type of instance spotlights entrepreneurs and innovators from the region and the country.  They are excellent and enable us to generate this synergy of growth and maturation of technologies,” she said.

Iván Vera, jury member and founder of INNSPIRAL,  drew attention to the ideas presented by the nine finalists, adding, “Innovation is a discipline that is learned by doing.  Antofagasta is learning fast in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship.  Innovative, technological development and cultural, social and environmental impact occurs best in collaboration with academia and the public and private sectors.”

The third winner of the day, CleanLight, was represented by its Research and Development Manager José Godoy.  He presented the innovative pack and play residential energy system, which aims to benefit 29 families in Bajo Soga, in the municipality of Huara. “With CleanLight, we provide families better access to education, communication and improved social scalability.  The path must be massification of wellbeing and development of technology,” added Godoy.

Starting today, the winning startups begin the piloting process.  They will implement their projects in each community, significantly contributing to the quality of life of families in the Norte Grande.

SQM Lithium Ventures

The winners in each category automatically go to the last round of the second version of SQM Lithium Ventures Corporate Acceleration Program, which awards financial support of US$25,000, a complete acceleration program for the companies, mentors from SQM and the Endeavor Global Network, and the opportunity to access subsequent financing through the SQM Lithium Ventures fund.