Reddi Colombia present at the Capital Summit 2025 of the Cali Chamber of Commerce

Reddi Colombia had the honor of participating as a VIP guest at Capital Summit 2025, an event organized by the Cali Chamber of Commerce that is consolidating itself as one of the most important scenarios for the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latin America.

During the event, more than 250 ecosystem stakeholders and 60 international funds gathered in Cali to forge high-impact connections, securing investment commitments of USD 8.5 million and fostering collaboration to drive the growth of startups and technology-based companies in the region. At this event, Reddi Colombia strengthened its role as a key facilitator in knowledge transfer and open innovation. Participation allowed for the creation of new strategic alliances, the expansion of its network of partners, and closer ties with investors, entrepreneurs, and institutions working to accelerate technological transformation in the country.

The Capital Summit 2025 stood out not only for its investment results, but also for being a meeting point where ideas become opportunities and connections pave the way for a more competitive future for Latin America.

At Reddi Colombia, we reaffirm our commitment to continue connecting research, innovation, and business with global scenarios that foster technological development and value creation for the region.

Source: https://bit.ly/47Etvkl

Transformative results: Fusióni3 Cauca consolidates innovation as an engine of regional development

With the participation of universities, businesses, and strategic partners, the Fusióni3 Cauca project successfully established an innovation ecosystem focused on territorial development . Through effective collaboration between academia and the productive sector, technological solutions were developed that now strengthen the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the department of Cauca.

One of the project’s greatest achievements was the genuine connection it fostered between research groups and the local business community. The 30 participating companies established links with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), leading to the development of 45 joint research, development, and innovation projects. Ten of these projects received funding through the maturation fund, enabling them to develop functional prototypes, reach advanced levels of technological maturity , and validate their solutions in real-world or simulated environments , demonstrating their direct applicability in the production sector .

From the academic sphere, our four participating higher education institutions (HEIs)—Universidad del Cauca, Universidad Nacional Abierta y Distancia, Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor del Cauca, and Corporación Universitaria Comfacauca— adopted strategies for engaging with the business sector, generating a new dynamic of collaboration. More than 500 students, faculty, and researchers were made aware of the importance of connecting science, technology, and society as the foundation for development. Furthermore, these HEIs developed technology portfolios with a total of 18 available solutions, designed to address specific challenges faced by regional businesses.

The economic impact is also significant. Seventy percent of university-business partnerships developed new products and improved processes; 30% of the partnerships improved their existing products or created new processes . This has led 78% of the participating companies to project increased sales thanks to the commercialization of these innovations. These initiatives have strengthened the business fabric in six municipalities of Cauca, with visible effects in sectors such as agribusiness, information technology, commerce, tourism, industry, and construction.

One of the project’s major milestones was the development of the Fusióni360 open innovation platform, conceived as a digital space for business challenges and academic capabilities to converge. Through this tool, 71 challenges were identified and linked with 86 innovative solutions . Currently, the platform has 444 registered users , 102 uploaded solutions , 74 formulated challenges , 5 comments, 325 active connections, 66 submitted proposals, 26 formulated projects , and 0 pending relationships, positioning it as a strategic resource for collaborative innovation in the department.

In the closing phase, in partnership with the Eastern Energy Company (CEO), two solutions were funded with a contribution of $100 million to address their innovation challenges. In addition, six specialized services were provided that strengthened innovation processes in the 30 beneficiary MSMEs , enabling them to make more informed strategic decisions and project growth.

Beyond the numbers, Fusióni3 Cauca leaves behind established capabilities in the region. Each project formulated, each prototype developed, and each link built between academia and industry represents a seed of change. It is a commitment to consolidating an environment where innovation is not an isolated event, but an integral part of the DNA of regional development. Thanks to these achievements, companies in Cauca now have more sophisticated solutions, improved production processes, access to new markets , and are moving toward more sustainable business models.

Furthermore, this innovative ecosystem opens the door to attracting external resources, developing new technology-based projects , and activating a collaborative network that brings together universities, companies, and strategic partners. This network will undoubtedly continue to grow beyond the project’s completion. Fusióni3 Cauca demonstrates that when innovation responds to the realities of the region, it becomes a true engine of economic, social, and productive transformation.

In Cali, the DeepTech Report 2024 was launched and the new Sciencepreneurs who are transforming the country were recognized.

The YAWÁ Science, Art and Technology Center was the setting for the launch of the DeepTech Report 2024 and the awarding of scholarships for the Sciencepreneurs Business & Built program, a day that brought together 117 actors from the ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, investors, universities, research centers, corporations and public entities.

This event marks a new milestone in positioning Cali and Valle del Cauca as regional leaders in scientific and technological innovation.

During the event, strategic networking opportunities were created to foster collaborations between the productive and scientific sectors. The event included the panel discussion “The Challenges of Entrepreneurship in Science,” moderated by Juan Manuel Chaves, manager of Reddi Colombia, with the participation of prominent founders of startups such as:

Natalia Campillo, BioDx – Cali
Isabel Pulido, Biocold – Bogotá
María Clara Arrieta, Astrolab Bio – Medellín
Luz Marina Flórez, Nateco – Cali

These women leaders shared the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned from leading ventures that originate in laboratories and seek to scale based on scientific evidence.

A report to build the future

MenteX CEO Claudia Aparicio presented the key findings of the DeepTech Colombia 2024 Report, an updated overview of a growing ecosystem that already boasts more than 50 startups in Latin America (according to the DeepTech 2024 report), many of them based in or impacting Colombia. The report highlights the potential of the country, and Cali in particular, to establish itself as a DeepTech hub thanks to its biodiversity, scientific capabilities, and business network.

New scholarships for scientific entrepreneurs

One of the highlights was the awarding of scholarships from the Sciencepreneurs program, led by Mauricio Muñoz (Mayor’s Office of Cali), Vivian Argueta (Cali Chamber of Commerce) and Juan Diego Vargas (MenteX).

The startups selected for the 2025 phase were:

– Nateco – Autonomous University of the West

– BioAgro Technology

– Recover

– Ajicap – Icesi University

– Nanotech

These initiatives represent the future of sectors such as bioeconomy, agriculture, health, and sustainability. From medical diagnostic technologies to nanotechnology-based agricultural solutions, the new Sciencepreneurs demonstrate that applied science can solve the most pressing challenges of our environment.

DeepTech: an opportunity for Cali and the region

Driven by the Mayor’s Office of Cali, the Cali Chamber of Commerce, the Governor’s Office of Valle del Cauca and Reddi Colombia, this event consolidated a clear message: science can indeed become a business, and Cali is fertile ground to achieve it.

The DeepTech ecosystem in the region continues to strengthen, connecting talent with opportunities, laboratories with companies, and knowledge with impact. The goal is ambitious: to position Cali as a science and innovation hub in Latin America, and to advance toward an economic model based on technology, collaboration, and sustainable development.

Want to know more? Download the DeepTech Report 2024 and discover the opportunities to be part of this new wave of innovation.

DeepTech Colombia and Reddi Alliance

The DeepTech Colombia Alliance and Reddi, with the support of the Mayor’s Office of Cali, the Cali Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Valle del Cauca, is mapping DeepTech ventures in Cali and Valle del Cauca:

Initiatives born from knowledge, applied research, and technological development to address the world’s greatest challenges. Join us, participate, and complete the survey.

By doing so you will be able to access:

DeepTech startup community

Exclusive invitation to the launch of the DeepTech Report 2024

Opportunity to apply for a Sciencepreneurs 2025 scholarship.

The DNP visits Fusióni3 Valle to monitor the project’s progress

The Fusióni3 Valle project received a visit from members of the team of the National Planning Department (DNP), the entity responsible for evaluating and monitoring projects financed by the General Royalties System (SGR).

During the meeting, the National Planning Department (DNP) reviewed the technical and financial progress, as well as the fulfillment of the approved objectives and indicators. Furthermore, this forum facilitated a dialogue with the Fusióni3 Valle team, leading to the delivery of key recommendations to further strengthen the project’s implementation and innovation in the region.

“The DNP visit allowed us to directly present our progress and results to date. This close interaction facilitates the feedback process, since, as a science, technology, and innovation project, its impacts need to be understood beyond the numbers. Sharing the experience is fundamental to ensuring implementation aligned with the objectives,” said Mónica Dueñas, director of the Fusióni3 Valle project.

One of the highlights was the recognition of collaborative spaces and the good articulation between the universities and beneficiary companies, as well as the active role of the technical and administrative teams in guiding and achieving the project’s goals.

Additionally, the DNP highlighted the importance of periodically reviewing the implementation schedule against what was planned, and ensuring the efficient use of public resources.

Fusióni3 Valle continues to consolidate an open innovation model that drives the development of the department, based on knowledge and collaboration.

Interested in learning about our projects? Click here to discover everything we’re building with science and technology.

Two innovative solutions will transform the energy sector in Cauca

Within the framework of the Fusióni3 Cauca project , Reddi Colombia and the Western Energy Company (CEO) launched the Innovation Challenges Call, an initiative that seeks to connect the capabilities of companies and universities to solve real challenges in the electricity sector in the department.

Following a rigorous technical evaluation process, two winning solutions are selected , one for each challenge posed, which stand out for their technological approach, viability and high potential impact on CEO operations.

Challenge 1: How to manage technical complaints, claims, and requests (PQRS) more efficiently with current resources?

This challenge focuses on improving the handling of technical requests, complaints, claims and suggestions (PQRS), optimizing existing resources without compromising quality or response times.

The selected solution proposes an automated system based on artificial intelligence, capable of classifying, prioritizing, and assigning requests according to the type of maintenance required and the user’s location. It is being developed by Solo por Servicios , the SIGCIENTY research group (UNAD) , and the partner Innovación Digital Corporativa SAS.

Challenge 2: How to reduce the amount of annual pruning and sustainably utilize the waste?

Vegetation near power lines is a major cause of service interruptions. This initiative aims to reduce the frequency of annual pruning, lower costs, optimize resources, and promote the sustainable use of plant waste.

The winning solution consists of a collaborative georeferencing platform, which allows for real-time mapping of critical areas, tracking of cases, inventory registration, and strengthening of the capabilities of technical staff.

This project is being developed by Grupo Inizio SAS , together with the research groups GIFIN and Rutas del Colegio Mayor del Cauca, with the support of Tecnoparque Nodo Popayán.

This call reaffirms the objectives of Fusióni3 Cauca, by promoting joint work between universities and companies to respond to real challenges in the productive sector.

In this vein, Reddi Colombia and the Western Energy Company consolidate their commitment to territorial innovation, promoting collaborative spaces that generate impact through knowledge and technology, at the service of the sustainable development of Cauca.