Meet the Finalist Startups of the Childtech Challenge 2023, the Largest Global Social Innovation Competition in Latam
5 min read Impactus Ventures
Impactus Ventures, United Way Mexico and United Way Colombia, organizers of the Childtech Challenge 2023, announced the finalist startups. It is the largest global social innovation competition in Latin America for companies that are creating impact on childhood and youth by solving social problems such as the education gap and the deficit in socio-emotional development.
The call for applications received more than 140 applications from companies in 15 countries across Europe, Oceania, Latin America and North America, including Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Australia. After a long evaluation process, the Childtech Challenge finalists were chosen. The jury was made up of leaders of nonprofit organizations with a long track record working for children and youth in Latin America.
Here is who is in the grand final:
Finalists of the challenge: Promoting STEM teaching, learning and prototyping with a focus on rural settings in Colombia.
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- Crack the Code
A Peruvian startup that offers programming and technology courses for children, based on game tools and on solving problems on their own. It applied to the Childtech Challenge with an educational and technology platform that trains educators in robotics skills through a virtual simulator, programming and artificial intelligence. Crack the Code was founded by María Vélez.
- Efecto Educativo
This Chilean company develops educational technology solutions and teaching materials for teachers and students in math, language, skills and science. It built a platform called CoreSkills, with an educational model based on Problem-Based Learning (PBL) projects and a STEM approach that fosters 21st-century skills. With this platform and technology kits, students can explore, assemble, research and program, ending in small-scale projects that have a positive impact on their surroundings. It was founded by Sebastián Miranda Hiriart.
- Zalvadora
The company has a Learning Management System (LMS) that lets people take educational courses through WhatsApp. This is possible thanks to Zeta, an interactive chat that breaks courses into small digital learning capsules (microlearning). It also has Zalvadora AI, a training tool that accompanies students in their learning by examining their interactions, questions and assessments. It was founded by Horacio Reyes and Nicolás León.
Finalists of the challenge: Strengthening socio-emotional skills in refugee and mobile families in Mexico.
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- Hipocampus
Lourdes Garza and Germán Zubía founded Hipocampus, a company that provides education and care for early childhood children in its own learning centers in Mexico. Its educational method adapts to each child’s learning pace and to their physical, emotional and cognitive conditions. It offers a solution that provides digital support through WhatsApp, with an artificial-intelligence chatbot and learning communities that use microlearning.
- Storybook
The Storybook platform, aimed at children’s primary caregivers, helps improve young children’s sleep routine and strengthen the emotional bond with their parents through stories, music and infant massage. The company was founded by Daniela Vega and Francisco Cornejo, both from Ecuador. It has more than 3 million users in 150 countries.
Finalists of the challenge: Developing socio-emotional skills in early childhood center professionals in Colombia.
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- Neuromindset
This Spanish company developed a digital cognitive training platform for schools and families. The tool helps teachers and children strengthen their socio-emotional skills. It offers science-based programs and digital tools that help improve attention and self-regulation, and boost people’s emotional wellbeing. The solution was developed by Lina Cómbita and Joan Paul Pozuelos, founders of Neuromindset.
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It offers mental health tools and technology solutions to measure people’s overall wellbeing. It has a 360 wellbeing platform, powered by data and artificial intelligence with personalized support. Through artificial intelligence models it makes assessment, support, guidance and psychological referral processes easier. It also has a chatbot that offers support and psychoeducation. The founders are Javier Mansilla, Mónica Ugarte, Victor Hugo Prieto and Francisco Seguel.
These companies will compete in the grand final of the Childtech Challenge, which will take place at a Demo Day where one winner will be chosen for each challenge. The winners will have the chance to implement their technology solution in vulnerable communities in Mexico and Colombia with the support and guidance of two nonprofit organizations: Vía Educación and Corporación Educativa Minuto de Dios. They will also receive 20 thousand dollars tied to an implementation contract.
It is worth noting that the Childtech Challenge will keep looking for technology solutions for two additional challenges besides those already mentioned. The first challenge is “Building a sustainable future through recycling and environmental education,” and the second is “Promoting autonomy and independence skills in children and young people with intellectual disabilities.” A new call for applications will open very soon for startups, social enterprises and nonprofit organizations that want to apply. You can read more details about each challenge here.
The Childtech Challenge is organized by Impactus Ventures, United Way Mexico and United Way Colombia, with the support of allies Fundación FEMSA, Comunidar, Genesis Foundation, Fundación Mustakis, Fundación de Acero, Fundación Frisa, Fundación Riisa, HEB en la comunidad, Fundación Xignux and Impacto Colectivo.
