After months of training, validation, and collaboration with stakeholders from the public and private sectors, the Despega Usach 2025 Demo Day and awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, March 25, during which the winning projects of the University of Santiago de Chile’s innovation and entrepreneurship program were announced.
The morning session (Demo Day) took place at Startup Lab.01 and brought together the finalist teams, who presented their proposals to a jury composed of representatives from the innovation ecosystem, in a process that evaluated both the technical soundness and the growth potential of each initiative.
In the afternoon, the awards ceremony was held at the Usach Planetarium, bringing together the acting rector of the University of Santiago, Dr. Juan Escrig Murúa; the Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation, Dr. Pablo Donoso García; along with university officials and representatives from the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
In this context, Dr. Escrig noted that “Despega Usach represents the kind of university we are: one that is not content with merely teaching what already exists, but rather encourages us to think about what still needs to be created, and one that understands that innovation is not just about developing technology, but also about addressing society’s real challenges, its urgent needs, its inequalities, and its opportunities.”
In this edition, 10 projects were recognized in the categories of Scientific and Technological Innovation, Social Innovation and Territorial Development, and Innovation in Creative and Cultural Industries. The initiatives address challenges in areas such as health, sustainability, education, culture, agricultural technology, and data management through tools including artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, biotechnology, and digital platforms.
One of the standout statistics from this edition was female participation, which reached 42% of the teams, with 68 female project directors. A few years ago, this figure was barely around 20%, confirming an upward trend in women’s leadership within the program.
Experience 2025
The 2025 edition of Despega Usach attracted more than 350 students, who submitted over 160 projects from all of the university’s schools, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of innovation on campus.
Of the total initiatives, 45% were in scientific and technological innovation, 45% in social innovation and territorial development, and 10% in creative and cultural industries.
In the initial training phase, the program was conducted primarily online, with a focus on one-on-one mentoring. In total, 17 workshops were held, along with more than 30 hours of specialized training and 180 personalized consultations.
This process allowed the teams to develop their proposals and test them with real users, institutions, and potential partners, refining their technical, commercial, and social viability before reaching the finals.
The Awards
Amanda Barrientos, director of one of the winning projects, BioGüenko, noted: “All the work we’ve done—all our late nights and fieldwork—means a great deal to my team and me. This is like saying we’re on the right track, so we’re very happy and excited about what’s to come. Now we’re going to install our first prototype in a vulnerable household in Chiloé, where they don’t have access to drinking water.”
For her part, Isidora Díaz, director of Tensiómetro Dinámico, commented: “I believe we deserve this award because our project is extremely innovative; it’s something that doesn’t exist on the market, and that will be able to address a problem that no one sees. We’d like to start in field hospitals, but our ultimate goal is to reach the mining sector.”
The winning teams will receive funding of up to $2,500,000, in addition to a 10-month pre-incubation program at Innovo Usach, which includes specialized mentoring, technical and legal support, prototyping, English language training, and an international internship in a relevant innovation ecosystem.
Winning Projects
Category: Scientific and Technological Innovation
BICAS
A biotechnology service that uses microalgae to recover residual lithium from brine, contributing to more sustainable mining.
Director: Naiara Gómez — Faculty of Business and Economics.
3DETECT
A portable electrochemical sensor that can identify illicit substances in the field in just a few minutes, with greater accuracy than traditional rapid testing methods.
Director: Verónica Heredia – Faculty of Chemistry and Biology.
COLDCHAINTRACKER
An IoT sensor system that monitors the cold chain for food and vaccines, recording critical transportation and storage data to prevent losses.
Director: Cristóbal Calixto – Faculty of Engineering.
Mobile Patch
A robotic system that scans the nets at fish farms to detect breaks in real time and prevent salmon from escaping.
Director: Francisco Campos – Faculty of Engineering.
Dynamic Tension Meter
A smart device that automates the tensioning of structures using precision sensors, reducing errors and rework in complex installations.
Director: Isidora Diaz – Faculty of Science.
Category: Social Innovation and Territorial Development
BioGüenko
A modular system that converts rainwater into potable water for household use, designed for communities in southern Chile that rely on water trucks.
Director: Amanda Barrientos – Faculty of Engineering.
MiniFund
A fintech app that automatically converts small portions of everyday purchases into digital savings.
Director: Diego Salinas – Faculty of Business and Economics.
SIRE
An artificial intelligence-based early warning system that integrates academic and socio-emotional information to prevent school conflicts.
Director: Barbara Baracatt – Faculty of Humanities.
Vionexus
A platform that connects universities, companies, and communities to facilitate community engagement projects and regional collaboration.
Director: Matias Vejar – Faculty of Engineering.
Category: Innovation in Creative and Cultural Industries
Radio-Grafía: Our History for History
A documentary radio drama project that brings Chilean scientific and biographical stories to life through audio narratives for digital audiences.
Director: Yaninna Quiroz – Faculty of Humanities.