Realizing how important it is to have access to research talent in terms of AndesBeat vision to ignite a new generation of startup thought leaders in Latin America, this weekend, Carlos Leiva Burotto (AndesBeat co-founder) and I will be actively participating in two major and critical events this weekend that showcase and support Chile’s rising innovators, designers, engineers and scientists and ultimately next generation of startup thought leaders.
Together these rising young engineers, scientists, researchers and designers are part of our collective network of teen and truly young innovators which is currently more than 1,200+ young people throughout Chile.
First, we will be speaking at the Kimlu Scientific Camp (for teens) on January 8, 2012, in an effort to get youth into the mindset of connecting their research work to Chile’s and ultimately Latin America’s startup ecosystem. The annual Kimlu Scientific Camp is hosted by Ciencia Joven, one of Chile’s leading science academies for young people.
And second, Corazon de Chileno, Chile’s multi award winning national youth robotics team, are proud to announce the beginning of their 5th season at the FRC (First Robotics Competition) Kickoff at Co-Work Space on January 7, 2012 at 12:00 – 14:00 (the event is open to the public and ALL are encouraged to attend)! Big love to Antonio at Co-Work space for always generously offering his co-working space to the startup and innovation community!
Who is Corazón de Chileno?
Corazón de Chileno® is the only Chilean team in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), a global tournament where teams made by high school students have to design and build very complex robots. As qualifiers for the international competition, coming up in March and April 2012, young people will have 6 weeks to design AND build a fully functional robot based on a pre set of criteria as determined by the FIRST Robotics League USA.
The FRC KickOff is a NASA Official channel special webcast. There, the FIRST Robotics Staff will shows the 2012’s competition for the more than 3000 teams around the world, who will need to design and build robots for that new test.
Sharing the AndesBeat Love
Carlos and I will be supporting the youth robotics team in the short term with building their robot and serving in their mentoring and international advisory network. And in the long term, we will be supporting them with scaling their robotics program they are working to launch in schools to teach engineering, design and programming to their peers living at the base of the economic pyramid and thus helping to build the next, next generation of AndesBeat startup thought leaders.
In November 2011, they raised their first round of funding for $9,000 USD through Techolab to rapid prototype their program. DISRUPTIVE MODE ON!
Fundraising for International Competition
This weekend, they are also launching their fundraising campaign to raise $60k USD (or hopefully more) to send their team to USA in April 2012 for the international competition.
They are Chile’s only team representing the international network of teams which is currently 58,000 youth strong across the globe.
In 2011, one of their member teams, ‘Dragonbots’, ages 10-13, was the only team from Latin America that advanced to the finals of Google X Prize Moonbots 2.0 Junior competition. Team member and 5 year veteran Andres Seguel, 13, is featured in photo.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDhwIuMU2G8[/youtube]
Connect with Corazon de Chileno
