Robotic arms that automate the delivery of goods or electric motorcycles that recharge in two minutes are some of the developments of Start-ups Latin American companies that the company Newlab highlights as “very impressive” and with potential to access the market USA.
This is what the executive director of Newlab, Cam Lawrencewho highlights that the innovation platform of American origin with headquarters in New York, Detroit and Montevideo has its sights set on startup projects Latin America.
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“We are starting to see very impressive startups in Latin America that we believe we can help to commercialize their technologies in USA“said the businessman, during his visit to the headquarters of Newlab in Uruguaywhich it considers a key ally to capitalize on the region’s innovation talent.
According to the American, the platform, which he says has the goal of providing start-ups with infrastructure, funds, and – with the support of private companies and governments – opportunities for pilot projects to test their developments, is betting that Uruguaywhere it has had offices since 2021, becomes its regional logistics hub or port.
“We see a huge opportunity for Uruguay to become our logistics port in Latin America and help us to partner with other private companies in the region, taking advantage of the country’s economic stability, with a government that truly understands the importance of (combating) climate change and innovation,” he notes.
The general director for Latin America of the accelerator, Fernando de la Fuentewho points out that, as a result of investments in the sector, Uruguay has been standing out in innovation for 20 years but clarifies that for Newlab“Innovation is global”, so projects have no borders.
“Today we run pilots in Uruguayin Mexicoin Brazil and in Colombia with start-ups that are from Uruguay and that have a chance to internationalize, but also with start-ups, for example, USA who see an opportunity in the region to come and settle there,” he said.
In the framework of the celebration in the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) of a showcase event for pilots developed by startups that Newlab drives, Lawrence highlights work with the multinational online shopping company Free market.
“They are very focused on transforming their fleet of vehicles for delivery of goods from combustion to electric, so we have been focused on identifying Start-ups that can help them with this transition, with drones or other types of electric vehicles that allow them to reach a fully electric fleet,” reveals De la Fuente.
While the American emphasizes the importance of developments to reduce emissions, De la Fuente gives other examples of developments that Newlab supports, like the company’s Quantik with its battery swap pilot for electric delivery motorcycles.
“Instead of having to plug it in and charge it for three hours, there is a charging station where there is a battery, the user arrives, takes the battery out of his motorcycle, puts it in the station and takes one, all in two minutes,” he points out.
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He also said that the company’s robotic arm was on display at the exhibition. GENBA Robotics which can palletize autonomously, avoiding accidents: “it takes the boxes and puts them from one pallet to another without manual intervention. There are many benefits in terms of safety and many benefits in terms of efficiency.”
While acknowledging that these technologies have “very long development cycles,” which makes their arrival on the market more complex, From the Source highlights that society with Governments and industry to avoid barriers, encourages developers to “have a diversity of ideas that was previously unthinkable.”