Energy Challenge Chile

Energy Challenge Chile: Chilean Startups for the Energy Transition

Between 2021 and 2023, the Energy Challenge Chile recognized national startups developing technological solutions for the energy transition and decarbonization. The competition—organized by the Chilean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Chile) and the Representation of the State of Bavaria for South America, in cooperation with GIZ and within the framework of the Energy Partnership Chile-Germany—connects local entrepreneurship with national and international industrial players and promotes the internationalization of their innovations.

In its most recent edition, Energy Challenge Chile 2023: Chilean Startups for the Energy Transition in Germany, the program functioned as a specialized accelerator to support Chilean energy sector startups interested in entering the German market. The winning companies were invited to Germany to:

• Explore business opportunities and meet potential partners—companies, research centers, and accelerators.
• Exchange experiences with the local energy startup ecosystem.
• Present their solutions at Bits & Pretzels, the International Founders Festival in Munich, one of Europe's most relevant entrepreneurship events.

With this structure, the Energy Challenge Chile not only recognizes national technological talent but also facilitates its international projection and strengthens collaboration between the innovation ecosystems of Chile and Germany.

2022 Edition – Winners

• Dhemax (2005, Santiago, Chile) specializes in IoT and electromobility. They develop systems to manage critical operations such as integrated charging and high-demand electric fleet management, including public transportation services.
• Ecometric (2010, Concepción, Chile) offers continuous environmental information for wind farms—noise, shadow flicker effect—using IoT and AI, facilitating renewable transition with lower impacts on nearby communities.
• Splight (2021, Santiago, Chile) applies big data analysis, AI, blockchain, and cloud computing to existing electrical infrastructure to leverage unused grid capacity, reduce operational costs, and advance the decarbonization of the energy sector.

2023 Edition – Winners

• GACW – Global Air Cylinder Wheels (2004, Arizona, USA) develops the Air Suspension Wheel (ASW) for off-road mining vehicles. The fully recyclable design reduces rolling resistance and avoids the generation of microplastics associated with rubber tires.
• Enerlink (2018, Santiago, Chile) integrates electric vehicle charging infrastructures with the distribution grid through a smart-charging platform that manages power, billing, and data analysis, also enabling demand response programs.
• Suncast (2017, Santiago, Chile) uses AI to predict generation from solar and wind plants and schedule predictive maintenance, improving dispatch accuracy by up to 20%.

International Experience of the 2023 Cohort As part of the prize, the three winning startups traveled to Germany in November 2023 to participate in Bits & Pretzels, an international entrepreneurship festival in Munich, and held prospecting meetings with Bavarian corporations, accelerators, and institutions.

"Both the trip to Germany and the participation in Bits & Pretzels were tremendously valuable experiences for Enerlink [...] we were able to showcase our company and technology in Europe and connect with potential investors and clients", says Sebastián Luque, co-founder and CEO of Enerlink.

The two editions of the Energy Challenge Chile demonstrate the potential of national entrepreneurship to provide solutions in electromobility, smart grid management, and renewable prediction. The international projection achieved by the 2023 cohort underscores the importance of soft-landing mechanisms and binational cooperation.