The scientific-technological company Invahack, born at UCSC, has been selected for the Startup Ciencia programme by ANID. The initiative aims to commercially validate a platform to prevent invasive species in maritime transport.
The Chilean startup Invahack, specialised in preventing marine biological invasions, has received a key boost for its commercial launch. The scientific-technological base company (EBCT), which emerged from the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), has been selected for the Startup Ciencia programme by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID). This award will allow progress towards the commercial validation of its technological platform, aimed at assessing and preventing the entry of invasive species associated with maritime transport and port activities.
Behind the project are marine biologist Linette Tralma and academic Dr. Carlos Zamora-Manzur, who have turned years of research into a concrete tool for protecting marine ecosystems. The initiative began at a university hackathon and, after receiving support from various innovation programmes at UCSC, is now established as Invahack SpA. The goal now is to demonstrate that the technology is not only useful for science but also has a real market in ports and shipping companies.
From science to market: Invahack's commercial leap
One of the main challenges in applying for Startup Ciencia was, according to Linette Tralma, to demonstrate that the proposal had potential applications beyond the scientific field.
“Our approach is biological and aimed at preventing invasions, but we had to show that our proposal had usability beyond our desire to conserve biodiversity. We needed to demonstrate that it could lead to a commercial product that would drive environmental protection,” Tralma stated.The funding will allow work for a year on developing and validating the business model, with the challenge of generating initial sales and bringing the technology closer to potential users. For this, the Port of San Antonio plays a fundamental role as an associated entity and strategic partner. Its participation has been key to validating the sector's interest in these types of monitoring and environmental prevention tools.
Dr. Carlos Zamora highlighted that the award marks the beginning of a new phase focused on technological transfer and customer engagement.
“What’s new is all the commercial aspect. We are no longer just Carlos and Linette; we now have a scientific-technological base company called Invahack. All development is designed so that this service can be provided to ports and shipping companies, initially in Chile and then projected to other markets,” he indicated.
Institutional support and international projection
The development of Invahack has been supported by various units at UCSC, especially the Innovation Directorate and the Science 2030 Southern Sub-Antarctic Consortium. The team appreciated the support from Dr. Gastón Muñoz, innovation manager at the Faculty of Sciences, and various members of the UCSC Innovation Directorate, who encouraged them to continue participating in competitions for funding. Linette Tralma has also participated in initiatives aimed at women leaders in innovation, such as the UCSC Women’s Competency Strengthening Programme.
The Startup Ciencia award consolidates collaborative work between research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. With this new phase, the team will seek to bring its technology closer to the port sector and contribute to the protection of marine biodiversity through evidence-based tools. The national projection is clear, and they do not rule out internationalisation. For ports and shipping companies interested in environmental management, Invahack presents itself as a science-based solution, with commercial validation underway and a top-level strategic partner like the Port of San Antonio. The coming year will be crucial to demonstrate that preventing marine invasions can also be a sustainable business.
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