The 10 most cutting-edge deep tech companies in Latin America are getting ahead of the future
Can you imagine your house absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere or plants producing animal proteins? With advanced technology or deep tech in Latin America it is now possible.
A report by the IDB, entitled Deep tech: the new wave, lists the most important advanced technology startups in the region. The top 10 companies in the ranking, among which there is no Colombian company, are making developments in biotechnology, robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced mobility and cutting-edge medical devices.
You may also read: Pension reform: MinTrabajo clarified the additional December allowance for all pensioners
1. Establishment Labs: the first deep tech company in Latin America
Establishment Labs is the largest deep tech company in Latin America. Based in Costa Rica, it produces and distributes minimally invasive breast implants under the Motiva Implants brand.
The company has more than 200 employees and operates in more than 70 countries. It holds more than 25 patent families and has another 200 applications in progress globally, according to the IDB report. For this and other reasons, it has a market value of US$1.8 billion.
2. NotCo: artificial intelligence to transform the food industry
The second deep tech company in Latin America is Chile’s NotCo, which uses artificial intelligence to find plant-based substitutes for animal products. From plant-based ingredients, it creates products that mimic the taste and texture of animal-based foods.
Currently 15% of Starbucks’ beverages in Chile are ordered with the replica milk made by NotCo, according to company information. The company employs more than 200 people and its market value exceeds US$1 billion, according to Forbes.
3. Bioceres: transforming agriculture with biotechnology
The Argentine startup, Bioceres, specializes in agricultural biotechnology for growing food. The company’s most popular product is its HB4 technology, which is genetically modified wheat and soybean seeds that are resistant to drought.
In addition to patented seeds, it manufactures bio-based agricultural inputs and offers sustainable alternatives for crop nutrition and protection. It has a market value of more than USD $500 million and employs more than 200 people, according to the IDB’s Deep tech: the new wave report.
4. Satellogic: Latin American satellites
This Argentine company builds high-resolution satellites at low cost. It currently has 34 satellites in orbit operating and is building “the first scalable Earth Observation platform with the capacity to map the entire planet at high frequency, high resolution and low cost”, says the IDB publication.
You may be interested in: With new tremor, Google’s earthquake alert showed its usefulness again: learn how to activate it
A market value of more than USD $200 million and more than 200 employees make Satellogic the fourth largest deep tech startup in Latin America. Several industries and governments are clients of this company.
5. Stämm: expanding access to biotechnology
In fifth place among deep tech companies in Latin America is Argentina’s Stämm. The purpose of this advanced technology company is to reduce the size of the machines needed for biomanufacturing, i.e., making products from living organisms.
Stämm’s corporate goal is to broaden access to biotechnology products, so the equipment it manufactures is easy to install and comes ready to use. The company’s market value exceeds US$100 million and it has a payroll of more than 150 employees, according to the IDB report.
6. Moolec: plants that produce animal proteins
This Argentine biotechnology company is the sixth largest deep tech company in Latin America. It has a market value of more than US$100 million and more than 50 employees, according to the IDB publication.
Moolec develops molecular agriculture to produce animal proteins from genetically modified plants.
7. Zippedi: robotics to facilitate sales
This Chilean deep tech startup uses robots to monitor inventories in real time and process the information with artificial intelligence.
For supermarket owners, it solves the problems of out-of-stock products on the shelves, incorrect prices and misplaced merchandise. For manufacturers, it provides customer behavior patterns.
Zippedi has more than 100 employees and is worth more than USD $25 million, according to the IDB report.
8. Michroma: healthy and sustainable food based on mushrooms
This Argentine deep tech company uses mushrooms to create healthier and more sustainable culinary ingredients than the common ones. The main example is artificial colorants, which are produced from petroleum. Well, Michroma has a mushroom-based replacement that is less harmful to the environment.
Similarly, the company develops substitutes for various bakery, confectionery, meat, dairy and beverage products, the IDB report explains. It has more than ten employees and is worth more than US$25 million.
9. Aptah: advanced technology to treat diseases
Aptah is a Brazilian biotech startup focused on cell and RNA therapy solutions. The current stage of this advanced technology company is focused on developing treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
The company’s market value exceeds USD $25 million and it has more than ten employees, according to the report Deep tech: the new wave.
10. Spora: fungi to replace animal and synthetic leather
The Top 10 deep tech companies in Latin America is closed by the Chilean company Spora. Its market value is more than USD $10 million and surprisingly it has less than ten employees.
This startup has developed “a leather based on mushroom mycelium that offers a sustainable alternative to animal and synthetic leather”, says the IDB publication.
