Innovators Under 35: The Young Talent Driving Latin America's Future

As every year, at Opinno and MIT Technology Review in Spanish we are very happy to announce the winners of the eleventh edition of the Innovators Under 35 LATAM (IU35 LATAM) awards, in which we recognize the 35 brightest young people in the region for their contributions to science, technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

From biotechnology to artificial intelligence applied to health, education, or financial inclusion, the solutions we recognize this year reflect the potential of a generation that is transforming realities. Innovators and entrepreneurs from eleven countries —Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru— demonstrate that Latin American creativity can become a driver of development and hope.

The eleventh edition of the IU35 LATAM awards celebrates projects that combine technology and purpose. In a challenging global context, these young people show that innovating from Latin America means creating real solutions for social problems, where science becomes an opportunity, technology a bridge, and knowledge a tool for collective transformation. Their work reimagines education, health, energy, the environment, and the digital economy, driving a more inclusive and sustainable future.

This year, the program was sponsored by Repsol, Grupo UNACEM, PwC Peru, and Fundación Romero – Campus Romero, in addition to the alliance with ESAN Graduate School of Business and the Hilton Lima Miraflores Hotel.

Innovation as a common language

We present the list of the 35 most innovative young people in Latin America in 2025 segmented by categories:

Inventors: They create technologies that allow us to reimagine how things are done.

• Andrés Martínez (Colombia) — ART/Wear. Smart glove that stabilizes neurological tremors in Parkinson's or essential tremor, offering a non-invasive and accessible alternative.
• Andrés Meiners (Mexico) — Namalab. Biodegradable superabsorbent for diapers and agriculture, replacing fossil SAPs without changing production lines and reducing microplastics.
• Carlos Garciamendez (Mexico) — Criocore. Cryogenic bioprinting: manufactures and cryopreserves 3D tissues ready for use, shortening drug development cycles and costs.
• Emiliano Barbero (Argentina) — b-Kapz. Microencapsulation of microorganisms for stable bio-inputs, compatible with agrochemicals and with the potential to reduce fertilizers.
• Guadalupe Murga (Argentina) — Sylvarum. Electro-stimulation to recover germination in low-quality seeds, reducing pathogens and dormancy without chemicals.
• Luiz Guerra (Brazil) — Polus Brasil. IoT + AI to optimize commercial/industrial cold rooms, with predictive maintenance and energy savings.

Entrepreneurs: They turn a spark, a small idea, a dream into profitable businesses that, in addition, improve people's quality of life or solve complex problems.

• Alejandro Zamora (Costa Rica) — Neural Coders. AI Evolution Plan: methodology and platform to organize data, assess maturity, and implement AI responsibly.
• Ariel Revollo (Bolivia) — MOBI LATAM. Electric motorcycle subscription with maintenance and access to delivery jobs for students.
• Bruno Calcagno (Argentina) — Manax. All-in-one software for service SMEs: quotes, tasks, time geo-control, billing, and AI to automate workflows.
• Gerardo Peña (Mexico) — Made. AI-powered operating system that connects verified brands and factories in LATAM / USA, with real-time quotes and traceability.
• Gonzalo Waisman (Argentina) — Hashi. Video platform with AI avatars that produces hyperrealistic pieces from text, with consent and security controls.
• Kelvin Perea (Mexico) — kAI. AI assistant within WhatsApp that converts audios and texts into tasks, documents, and automatic process tracking.
• Martha Medina (Paraguay) — FACTO. Digital factoring marketplace to advance invoices: immediate liquidity for MSMEs and secure investments for buyers.
• Pedro Gutiérrez (Costa Rica) — Avify. Conversational commerce: integrates inventories, payments, and shipments in WhatsApp and messaging for SMEs in emerging markets.
• Roberto Peñacastro (Mexico) — Leadsales. Conversational CRM for WhatsApp and social networks: automatic assignment, segmented campaigns, and results measurement.

Visionaries: Long-term vision and intact passion define innovators who always go further: they anticipate the future while building the present.

• Andrea Gómez (Colombia) — Selva. Paper-based self-diagnosis with biosensors to detect vaginal infections with clinical accuracy and home use.
• Carlos Andrade (Peru) — Manzana Verde. Healthy food subscriptions with logistics without own kitchens, localized menus, and E2E model.
• Carolina Águila (Chile) — NanoInGreen. New generation bio-ingredients via fermentation: bioavailable minerals and natural clean label preservatives.
• Carolina González (Colombia) — Herbivore. Plant-based functional foods with minimalist formulas and biodegradable packaging, assisted by AI.
• Ixchel Robles (Mexico) — Hermes. Bioactive scaffold with biosensors to monitor chronic wounds and promote tissue regeneration.
• Joaquín González (Chile) — Cero Trade. Platform with blockchain traceability to buy, custody, and redeem renewable energy certificates.
• Luis Carlos Parra (Colombia) — Klik Energy. Predictive algorithms to optimize industrial energy consumption and monetize demand flexibility.
• Nataly Parga (Colombia) — Squair. Universal AI integrator to optimize industrial compressors and refrigeration cycles, with predictive maintenance.

Humanitarians: They always think beyond themselves and understand that their ideas and projects must contribute to the common good and leave this world a little better than they found it.

• Adriana González (Nicaragua) — tizo. Inclusive e‑commerce ecosystem: 'tizo Points' in neighborhood stores sell digital catalogs without the need for their own internet.
• Ana Aquino (Guatemala) — BecaLab. AI and gamification to guide vocations and connect with scholarships; includes bot, swipe and PLUS accompanying service.
• Maureen Montanía (Paraguay) — Aikumby Centro. Identifies and supports students with high abilities and dual exceptionality with methodologies adapted to the context.
• Mercedes Bidart (Argentina) — Quipu. Alternative credit profiles with AI based on non-traditional data for financial inclusion of micro-businesses.
• Rodrigo Rodríguez (Bolivia) — Tu Cuate. App that allows reselling services and products with immediate income, digital training, and without in-person procedures.
• Tania Rosas (Colombia) — O‑Lab. Gamified AI-based simulators for competency-based learning; one-to-one model with social impact.

Pioneers: They are the first to arrive and propose new solutions to complex problems. They understand technology as an opportunity to solve a problem.

• Abigail Gerónimo (Bolivia) — Molle Code. IoT sensors, AI, and blockchain to measure carbon capture, issue green bonds, and conserve native species.
• Carmen Paredes (Paraguay) — Ruruka. Valorization of industrial sludge in ceramic bricks, with impact traceability for ESG reports.
• Daniel Troncoso (Chile) — ByBug. Modified black soldier fly larvae to produce recombinant proteins for veterinary use, oral, and accessible.
• Franco Rodríguez Viau (Argentina) — Satellites on Fire. Early fire detection with AI that anticipates alerts and simulates propagation for on-field response.
• Leydi Cruz (Bolivia) — AGRIMET. Hyperlocal sensors and models with ML/DL for frost alerts and agronomic recommendations via app and WhatsApp.
• Valentina Agudelo (Colombia) — Julieta. Non-invasive portable device for breast cancer screening, radiation-free and with AI for prioritization.

Awards Ceremony

The awards ceremony was held in Lima, Peru, on October 15, 2025, at the Convention Center of ESAN Graduate School of Business. During the event, we also recognized the most outstanding winners in each category:

Ixchel Robles, as VISIONARY OF THE YEAR
Andrés Martínez, as INVENTOR OF THE YEAR
Mercedes Bidart, as HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
Bruno Calcagno, as ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Carmen Paredes, as PIONEER OF THE YEAR

If you wish to relive the best moments of the streaming broadcast, you can do so in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/live/LwlbQSwlVLo?si=azCFb4D3s6B-mOwX&t=2900