Leandro began his career at Usach in 2011, when he enrolled in the Telecommunications Technology program. From the beginning, he showed a strong interest in technology and entrepreneurship, which led him to become actively involved in university projects and to be part of the Student Center of his career. “I spent a lot of time in the networking lab, which motivated my link between technology and entrepreneurship,” he recalls. These experiences not only broadened his perspective but also allowed him to identify his passion for creating value through technology.
During his years at the university, Leandro participated in several projects aimed at linking technology with education. These include the Esperanza Digital (Digital Hope) project, focused on youth in vulnerable situations, and solar energy teaching workshops for high school students. “Since I was an undergraduate, it was always clear to me that I wanted to be linked to the creation of value and business through technology,” he says.
After finishing his degree in Telecommunications, Leandro decided to continue specializing at Usach, this time in Electrical Engineering. It was at this stage that he became interested in photovoltaic systems and began to investigate the problems they presented, which led him to consider the possibility of starting a business in the field of solar energy. “The motivation came from observing tangible problems in different areas, such as access to telecommunications in rural areas and problems in the electricity sector. This led me to think of concrete solutions,” he explains.
Leandro's interest in solar energy was strengthened during the completion of his thesis, where he identified the challenges faced by photovoltaic panels, such as fouling that affects their efficiency. “Chile has historically developed its electrical energy through fossil fuels, but photovoltaic panels represent a solution to produce clean energy and provide access to electricity, which motivated me to contribute to this project,” he says.
It was then that he decided to apply to the Fondo de Valorización de la Investigación Universitaria (VIU) of Conicyt, now ANID (Chilean Agency for Research and Development), a competition that allowed him to advance his research and develop an initial prototype. It was the first step in this journey through the world of entrepreneurship. But the breaking point would come very soon, when he learned about the Despega Usach Contest, an initiative that had been supporting ideas and entrepreneurship projects of undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Santiago for a couple of years.
Making the idea a reality
Upon learning about the Despega Usach competition, Leandro decided to give it a try, despite his initial doubts about his chances of success. “At first, I thought it was impossible to win because there were so many applicants and I didn't have that much knowledge, but I decided to give it a try,” he says. The university's support, through workshops and mentoring, was key to Leandro's ability to turn his idea into a reality.
His effort and determination paid off, and in 2017 he was one of the winners of the contest. Thanks to this, he founded Cero Polvo SPA, a company focused on installing and maintaining photovoltaic systems, which works with large-scale plants and offers innovative solutions for the maintenance of solar panels, using robotic technologies. In addition, his company also provides services in rural areas without access to energy, thus contributing to the reduction of the energy gap in the country.
“Chile has defined an energy policy with a view to 2050, seeking to become carbon neutral and reduce the use of fossil fuels. Photovoltaic energy is key in this process, and although there are currently 20 million panels installed, this is only the beginning, says Leandro, who sees great potential for growth in this sector, especially in the residential sector.
Currently, Cero Polvo is a team made up of three people responsible for the financial, operational and marketing areas. They also have a team of six technicians who work in the field. Their focus is no longer limited to large plants; they are now also involved in residential and industrial photovoltaic system projects. In the industrial field, they specialize in the PMGD (Small Means of Distributed Generation) plant segment, with capacities ranging from three to nine megawatts, and are active in the area between the fourth and eighth regions. Today, the company has achieved more than three hundred million pesos in annual sales.
To entrepreneurs who are starting out and wish to apply to programs such as Despega Usach, Leandro advises: “Overcome your fear and dare to apply. Even if you don't win, you will receive support and mentoring that will help you advance in your projects. It is an opportunity to learn and grow, and who knows, it could be the start of something big.