Global Warming, Health and Healthy Eating are some of the problems that Chileans are seeking to solve. We made a call through our social networks, and identified a series of national ventures that are looking to solve today's big problems.
In the last 10 years, the Chilean world of entrepreneurship has grown to the point of turning our country into a benchmark in the region. It is not for nothing that the Global Innovation Index 2020 places us as the most innovative country in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the leadership that Chile has shown in this area.
In this sense, the field of action and development that motivates these companies today is varied, where a significant majority focus on problems that affect our daily lives. Below, we invite you to learn about 5 startups of national origin that today seek to solve problems related to the environment, health and food.
Circular Pet:
The pet food manufacturing process produces a volume of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 13.6 million combustion vehicles. This is revealed by a study by the University of California, which inspired the creators of Circular Pet, a venture promoted by the FabLab of the University of Chile, which manufactures pellets for pets similar to those that exist on the market, but made from black soldier fly larvae meal produced in Chile.
These pellets offer all the benefits of traditional pet food, but eliminating the environmental impact and taking advantage of what many consider "the protein of the future."
Palpate:
Breast cancer is a disease that kills a thousand women in Chile every year, often due to a late diagnosis. After a close person was diagnosed with this disease, designer Josefa Cortés decided to create Palpa, a product that promotes self-examination, raising awareness and teaching how to identify cancer in time.
The device consists of a silicone breast that is filled with liquid soap and that inside has a fixed, hard "tumor" of certain measurements that simulate a malignant lump, which, when pressed, allows the soap to come out.
The project was awarded a Corfo fund and second place in the Cancer Latam challenge. It was also a finalist in Brain Chile UC and selected for the Startups Emerge Americas fair in Miami 2021, among other recognitions.
Glacier Coolers:
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) points out that the climate change we are experiencing today is unprecedented in hundreds of thousands of years. The report concludes that the low rainfall, high temperatures and drought that Chile is currently experiencing are direct consequences of human action, and states that, if urgent measures are not taken, it could irreversibly impact the supply of fresh water in the northern and central areas of the country.
Against this backdrop, Glacier Coolers emerged, an initiative that since 2016 has sought to protect, through thermal insulation materials, Chile's glaciers, which today represent about 80% of South America's glaciers. Through the installation of protection systems made from white geotextiles, the Suyai project prevents solar radiation and suspended dust from affecting the glacier, preventing the melting of up to 67% of the protected area.
Mhaite:
According to an analysis published by academics from the University of Calgary and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute in Canada, cases of depression and anxiety among adolescents have doubled during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Although in recent years the importance of taking care of mental health has become evident, taboos or lack of knowledge often make problems much worse before seeking care. This is how Mhaite was born, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform that helps to know the severity of the psychological or mental symptoms that a person experiences.
Through a free chat, the platform can carry out an assessment that allows you to offer a first indication of the type of care recommended, distinguishing between psychiatry, psychology or mental health counseling.
Be Roots:
In Chile, about a third of the population has some type of dietary restriction, either due to allergies, intolerances, lifestyle or religious reasons. Vegans, celiacs or those who consume halal products are an example of those who choose each meal carefully.
This situation, combined with the rise of spaces dedicated to this new consumer, prepared the arrival of Be Roots, a 100% female enterprise that since 2016 seeks to be a solution for people with food allergies, celiacs or for those who want to lead a healthier lifestyle. Through their online platform they offer pantry food, snacks, vitamins, supplements, among others, also providing advice through their blog and social networks.
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