Fourteen startups in health, water, sanitation and hygiene were selected from a pool of over 100 applicants from 16 countries to participate in Demand Solutions, an event organized by the Inter-American Development Bank that highlights entrepreneurship and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Demand Solutions event, to take place in Buenos Aires on November 15-16, will bring together some of the world’s most creative minds to share their solutions on how to tackle development challenges, specifically in the areas of health, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene, known by the acronym WASH.

A founder from each of the startups will travel to Argentina to participate in Demand Solutions and to compete in the associated Venture Night, where they will pitch their startups to the audience and a panel of judges. The founders will also take part in three days of activities with innovators, mentors, entrepreneurs, investors and the media.

The application and evaluation process was carried out through YouNoodle, a platform that specializes in competitions for startups. The startups were selected by a jury of specialists in the fields of entrepreneurship, health and WASH.

The selected startups and their representatives are:

 BIOBOT  Santiago Fux  Argentina  BLOODERS  César Esquivel  Mexico  BLOOMER TECH  Alicia Chong  Chile-Costa Rica  CANGAME  Eraldo Guerra  Brazil  COLAB – SEMDENGUE  Gustavo Maia  Brazil  COMMUNICARE  Kheston Walkins  Trinidad & Tobago  CPLANTAE  José Luis Ortiz  Mexico  ECOBOT  Lina Aramburo  Colombia  EL PIRATA VIGILANTE  Camilo Tobón  Colombia  HEALEK  Catalina N’Haux  Mexico  MAMOTEST  Guillermo Pepe  Argentina  REDIR  Mauro Torres  Venezuela  SMART WELLS  Daniel Perciante  Uruguay-Chile  WATER PACIFIC  Abel Quiroz  Colombia

 

The organizers of the event are the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), part of the IDB Group; the City of Buenos Aires’ Under secretariat of the Creative Economy and Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Modernization, Innovation and Technology; the Federal Secretariat for Small and Medium Business and Regional Development (SEPYME) of the Ministry of Industry; and the investment fund and accelerator NXTP Labs.

Other partners include Microsoft, FEMSA Foundation, the Entrepreneur Impact Program of Autodesk, and the IDB’s Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL).

The Eighth Edition of the BID-FEMSA Water Award will take place during Venture Night (Nov. 16), where prizes for three of the startups on water, sanitation and hygiene will be awarded.

Demand Solutions will also dedicate one day to highlighting the talent of women “STEMpreneurs” who are innovating in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, during the annual forum of WeXchange, a leading Latin American forum focused on connecting and empowering female entrepreneurs with high-growth businesses. The open call closes on October 1st.

Those interested in attending the Demand Solutions Argentina event may register on the event website.

About the IDB

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.