Tec entrepreneurs among the most innovative in LATAM, according to MIT

“Their projects may be about to change the world,” which is the reason why MIT Technology Review named two Tec entrepreneurs among the 35 most innovative young people from Latin America.

Alan Aguirre, a Chemical Engineering Graduate, was included for his project on the use of sunlight in chemical industry processes, which could benefit the environment.

Also recognized was Francisco Valencia, a Mechatronic Engineering student, for developing 3D printed orthoses to help children with cerebral palsy.

Both are on the list as part of the Entrepreneurs category.

MIT Technology Review, the magazine of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), released the list on January 15. In addition to the entrepreneurs from the Tec de Monterrey, it includes six more Mexicans.

A total of 50 experts from throughout Latin America made up the assessment committee to evaluate the two thousand candidates.

FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Alan Aguirre is creating polymers through chemical reactions using sunlight instead of substances that consume high quantities of energy and create pollution.

This process can be used in the chemical industry to develop products such as medication or polymers for multiple applications.

It could even be used to create polymers capable of cleaning pollutants from the air and water.

The traditional process uses molecules that slowly degrade which, on occasion, are very expensive. Alan, on the other hand, was able to make them more durable using sunlight.

“Each day we waste an enormous amount of energy from the sun. My idea is to use this energy for chemical processes,” Alan points out.

He is currently in the process of developing prototypes in order to market and use them in industry.

His research started while he was undertaking his post doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and he is now continuing his work at Tec de Monterrey.

MOBILITY INDEPENDENCE FOR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Francisco Valencia was honored for his project called Prothesia, the company he also cofounded. 

The Mechatronic student at the Tec prints low-cost orthoses in 3D.

“The orthoses, which are aimed primarily at children with spastic cerebral palsy, help them to correct their posture so that they can start to take their first steps,” explained Francisco.

Despite being made to measure, they are more affordable than the traditional ones, which makes treating children easier.

Prothesia has helped 15 patients with 30 orthoses and a financing system whereby any person or organization can subsidize an orthosis in whole or part.

“We had access to 3D printers, we knew how to design, we had experience in other startups. So, we started to test and validate the idea, which, thank God, actually worked,” said Francisco to CONECTA.

LATAM INNOVATORS UNDER 35

This award is given to 35 young Latin Americans under the age of 35 who have a noteworthy project.

For the 2019 awards, 9 women and 26 men between the ages of 24 and 36 from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru and Mexico won prizes.

The 5 categories are: Entrepreneurs, which recognizes businesses built on innovative ideas; Inventors, which recognizes technologies that rethink the processes of things.

Humanitarians recognizes solving the problems of poverty, war or disability; Visionaries who find new uses for technology and Pioneers, which recognizes the promotion of scientific knowledge.

MORE MEXICANS ON THE LIST

The Mexicans included Carlos Monroy Sampieri, who was awarded for his project Biomitech, which uses algae to filter pollutants from the air.

This startup was the winner of the Heineken Green Challenge during the 2018 INC Monterrey entrepreneurship festival, organized by Tec de Monterrey.

The Mexican projects also included Marcela Torres with an education and employment project for migrants; Adán Ramírez whose panels for filtering oxygen could help colonize Mars in the future.

Mariel Pérez was recognized, along with her company Innus Technologies, for projects to help agriculture, as were Sara Landa, creator of Simbiotica Labs, and Irving Rivera, founder of Solena.

Past award winners at the global level include Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, and Sergey Brin, founder of Google.

AWARDS AND NETWORKING PLATFORM

This year’s award ceremony will be held on January 30 at Parques BBVA in Mexico City, at an event open to the public.

One of the main reasons behind this award is to provide the winners with exposure and connect them with companies, organizations and people who can help them transform their ideas into reality.

YOU’LL ALSO WANT TO READ: