Cepaquevino wins the fourth round of Startup Weekend Santiago

Editor’s note: The following is a press release translated from Spanish to English from EmprendeUC.

The wine application “Cepaquevino” competed among a group of 12 startups, and after a weekend of intense work, with more than 100 participants from 10 different countries, it came in first place. “Kriket” and “Yupy” took second and third place, respectively.

After 54 hours of arduous work, “Cepaquevino” won the first place prize of this fourth round of Startup Weekend Santiago, organized by members of EmprendeUC and StartUp Chile, chosen by a jury from among 12 technology-based projects.

Paulina Sosa, global facilitator of Startup Weekend Santiago, noted: “The ideas, innovations, and teams were all very good, and what most caught my attention was that many managed to have a prototype by Sunday afternoon, not all do. Also, they have achieved much validation with clients, which is very positive.” Continue reading

Imagine Business Lab begins its first round of 2014 startup applications

Initiative gives support to ICT entrepreneurs to make Chile an innovation hub

SANTIAGO, CHILE – April 2014: Imagine Business Lab, an accelerator for information and communications technology (ICT) businesses, is opening its first application round for projects that contribute to and optimize the industry of ICT.

“We are looking to promote innovative businesses with high-growth potential that can contribute to the ICT industry and the Chilean market,” comments Pablo Traub, CEO of Imagine Business Lab. “We have created the ideal ecosystem to kick-start the enterprises and guide them in this challenge, thanks to the support of mentors, companies, and ICT specialists.”

The selected entrepreneurs will be granted up to $60,000,000 CLP ($100,000 USD), access to a meeting place for them and other entrepreneurs, numerous Microsoft startup support programs such as “BizSpark,” involvement in investment-generating activities, as well as training and capacity-building projects.

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Start-Up Chile and Start-Up Brazil combined demo day

Monday, September 28, 2013 kicks-off a friendly match between two South American rival countries, Chile and Brazil, but their global stage won’t be a soccer field, it will be a stage for startups to present to a group of global investors. The respective countries have joined together to bring forth their best startups to showcase some of the best in Latin America’s growing startup and tech ecosystem.

We at AndesBeat recognize many of the Chilean startups presenting and have covered quite of few of them here during their very early stages of launching.

I’m so excited to represent Start-Up Chile and be part of the top 10 best projects of Latam to really show and compete for the entrepreneurial cause.
– Nick Martelanz Founder & CEO at Motion Displays and member of SUP Chile Generation 2

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Thank you CHILE!! AndesBeat is going to La Idea semi-finals, New York city!

AndesBeat has been selected to present at La Idea’s semi-finals on November 14-15th in New York city, NY, USA. With heartfelt and tremendous appreciation Carlos Leiva Burotto aka Co-Founder Boy aka mi Chileno favorito and I would like to thank you Chile and the AndesBeat loyal readers and fans for being the inspiration for our work at AndesBeat. We launched on November 30, 2011 with big expectations and the intention to change the way people see and do business in Latin America.

On November 14-15th we will not present an ‘idea’ but our vision validated by your impact, your struggles and your achievements. We will be presenting to key influencers from the public and private sector related to all aspects of entrepreneurship and policy development in Latin America.

Remember when I wrote the (then) controversial post ‘Hecho en Chile’ and clearly told you my expectations of you as a community and a country in making big things happen in and for Chile? Today we see this vision becoming a reality every day in every way and we are deeply moved by the risks you are taking individually and together. Thank you Chile and AndesBeat readers for believing!!!

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Start-Up Chile’s Generation 8 application process opens today!

Editors’ Note: This press release comes courtesy of Start-Up Chile. The Chilean program re-initiates its search for bootstrappers who will receive equity-free seed capital of USD$40,000 and a 1-year work visa to launch their startup in Chile.

SANTIAGO, Chile, June 10th— Start-Up Chile announces the opening of its 8th round of applications seeking to select, fund, and host up to 100 startup companies in Chile, giving them access to a global network for those determined to make their projects global. Since the program´s opening on 2010, more than 670 startups coming from 50 different countries have participated in Start-Up Chile.

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Just 5 days remain to apply for Chile’s Digital Venture Capital Forum

Applications for Chile’s Digital Venture Capital Forum will be closing in just 5 days.  The application process ends on May 19, 2013 and is open to all investor ready companies seeking Series A funding for their projects, inside and outside of Chile. US $50 million is available from a host of investors.

(Logo at left belongs to startup ‘PaOnde’, which is Chilean slang for “where to”. Use the PaOnde app to find the best places to go out and give live feedback (through a Waze-like interface) on the current environment of where you are). Big success and luck at the competition guys!

Chile’s Digital Venture Capital Forum is being presented as a part of Chile Digital which is the largest conference dedicated to technology, e-commerce, internet, and digital marketing in Latin America.

“Chile Digital is a global event to connect visionary investors with high
growth companies.”

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U.S. $50 million Series A funding available at Chile’s Venture Capital Forum

Chile Digital Venture Capital Forum is still accepting applications from companies that are READY to raise their first or second round of Series A funding.

Companies who submit an application to the Venture Capital Forum prior to the April 19, 2013 deadline will also receive, 4 complimentary admission passes to the Latin American Chile Digital Expo with access to over 30 lectures in e-commerce, digital marketing and entrepreneurship. Continue reading

Four Chilean startups selected for UDD Venture’s Open StartUp

“Simplify your life” could be the mantra for the winners of the Open Start Up competition of UDD Ventures. More than 200 projects applied, and in the end an evaluation committee chose four winners from the last 9 pre-selected teams.

Analyzing the winning companies, you clearly see the trends of today’s Startup scene: Simplify processes within the companies and improve communication and transparency. Social networks and mobile apps can be found in all kinds of areas, some of them more, some of them less useful (but we won’t mention any names ;-)) Continue reading

Santiago Hackathon invites developers to create Windows app in 24 hours

Save the date: On April 13th and 14th, the best developers, designers, entrepreneurs and students based in Chile will compete to win the Santiago Hackathon.

With 150 competitors, the Santiago Hackathon is one of the biggest tech events hosted in Santiago this year. The participants will have 24 hours to create incredible products and have the chance to work with Chilean and foreign entrepreneurs from all over the world alike.

It will be about 24 hours of working and the challenge isn’t easy; the ‘hustlers’ will work all night long, heads will be spinning and in the end everybody will be dead tired, but hopefully happy with their final product.

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AndesBeat ‘remote’ picks for Start-Up Chile Demo Day

Yesterday Pinterest acquired Livestar (a company that launched at TC Disrupt SF 2012, where AndesBeat organized the first ever Chilean Pavilion at the conference); Google released Keep (as a way to get into Evernote space, seems so), expanded its Google+ Platform Team, improved it’s Sports-Related Search Results and made Digg.com links disappear from Google’s search results. Plus yesterday also was the International Color and Happiness Day! What a day, huh?

But you know what? At the end of the day, that news wasn’t relevant at all in Chile’s start up world, because everyone’s attention was on Start-Up Chile Demo Day VIP and what could happen inside of Av. Providencia #229, Santiago, where 21 companies had the chance to flirt with investors for a few minutes to bring some funds and hit their next milestones.

If you weren’t invited to the event, no worries because I wasn’t invited either! Continue reading