Start-Up Chile Bringing On Chilean Entrepreneurs

Out of the 154 chosen start ups that begin in November 2011 or January 2012, 27 hail from Chile.  The program forks over $40,000 and a one-year visa to the selected entrepreneurs. Start-Up Chile offers them connections and expertise to help them navigate doing business in Santiago.

Nick Martelanz and Gaston Dussaillant, both 23 from Santiago, created “Motion Displays.” They belong to the most recent Start-Up squad. Martelanz describes the application process as "quick and easy." The two friends sell a touch-screen technology that would make Tom Cruise’s character in “Minority Report” jealous.

The “Motion Displays” promotional video shows their product in action. On a device that looks like an I-Pad for giants, the pair shrink, expand, tilt and weave together building plans. They demonstrate how a client might use their software.

Motion Displays Reel from Nick Martelanz on Vimeo.

The following is a short Q and A with Martelanz:

Q: Would you describe your business?

A: Our business is focused on building innovative and integrated communication solutions based on large-scale multi-touch platforms for enterprises and businesses. These will have a huge role in how information reaches clients as well as providing a solution for business with these needs. It will turn mobile payments into a more user-friendly experience for merchants and clients. We don’t have a site yet, but we will soon.

Q: Where did you go to university? How did you hear about the program?

A: I went to Uniacc University in Santiago, Chile, and studied visual communication. I heard about Start-Up Chile by attending a workshop at the Catholic University of Chile, which was guided my people from Startup Chile. At that time, they wanted to keep promoting the program, because it was becoming very successful. The whole aim of the workshop was to generate a $1 billion company within the next 10 years, which was a prize for the company that could make a projection in the future in that sense. We won the workshop and won the contacts and the respect of the rest of the entrepreneurs. We applied for the round of Startup Chile and got in instantly.

Q: Have you talked with other international people in your group? Do you know if they have a sense about whether they might stay in Chile after the six months are up?

A: Actually, I’ve been involved with a lot of Start-Up Chile people. And we know people from the very first round of selection, and they love Chile, which is great for business. They stay in Chile for the contacts and the international business environment. Is great for them and great for the Chileans themselves.

Q: What do you make of the program? What, aside from the $40,000 tax break, appealed to you?

A: In general $40,000 USD is not that much money, but is attractive enough to become a startup and to generate some credibility among investors and other entrepreneurs. We are going to use the 40K to build new prototypes, create Software and hire people because we already have customers. We want to develop new technologies like making an R&D Department. We are first in the program to have a business, which is oriented in finding new ways of developing new technologies and innovation.
 
Start-Up Chile’s next picks will fly in from 33 different countries according to a press release.  The U.S. represents the largest number of participants. In total, they have 35% of the incoming group. Next largest is Chile. Chilean businesses, like foreign applicants, must bring ideas that can reach beyond the national borders in order to be selected.