The Medellín Venture Client program turns corporate needs into opportunities.
Five technology-based companies have been selected to participate in Medellín Venture Client, Ruta N’s new program connecting technology solution providers with major companies in the city. The startups Teclogi, Fraktal Software, ABKA Colombia, LogiMiles and Quartam will work with Brinsa, Distrikia, Grupo BIOS, Incolmotos Yamaha and Renault Sofasa to develop solutions to challenges related to logistics, traceability, data analytics and process optimization.
"As part of this pilot, we will work with Renault Sofasa to implement an artificial intelligence-powered computer vision solution for vehicle inspection using our Tuhub platform, in a highly demanding industrial environment. This experience will allow us to develop a highly relevant success story and position Quartam within the country’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in productivity solutions for manufacturing and logistics," said Hernán David Pérez, CEO of Quartam.
Medellín Venture Client seeks to strengthen open innovation by turning companies’ challenges into opportunities, enabling technology-based companies to develop and validate their solutions in real-world settings. In this first edition, corporate partners identified and prioritized strategic needs, contributed their business expertise and allocated approximately COP 230 million to fund the validation of the selected technologies and measure their ability to generate value. The experimentation phase will take place in August, with each challenge lasting up to 16 weeks.
"At Ruta N, we believe that connecting entrepreneurial talent with companies’ needs is one of the most effective ways to accelerate innovation. Through initiatives such as Venture Client, we continue building an ecosystem where innovation means collaborating, building trust and turning ideas into solutions that strengthen business competitiveness, drive economic development and position Medellín as a global innovation benchmark," said Carolina Londoño, Executive Director of Ruta N.
The call received 104 applications from 63 solution providers, including startups from Medellín and proposals from Chile and China. During the selection process, 44 companies were interviewed by the technical teams at Ruta N and Estratek, the program’s operator, while 19 advanced to the presentation stage before the corporate partners. Participants also received specialized training to strengthen their technical and financial proposals before presenting their solutions.
Through Medellín Venture Client, Ruta N is strengthening an ecosystem in which established companies drive the adoption of new technologies, while technology-based companies find opportunities to validate, scale and bring their solutions to market. In this way, the District continues to consolidate an innovation model that transforms business challenges into opportunities to generate economic and social development through science, technology and innovation.
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