Uruguayan Startup Nanogrow Crowned Most Disruptive Company at South Summit Brazil

Nanogrow Biotech was recognized as the most disruptive startup at South Summit Brazil, one of the leading technology events in Latin America. This acknowledgment has clarified its regional proposal and reinforced the potential of Uruguay’s innovation ecosystem.

For the third consecutive year, a national delegation supported by Uruguay XXI participated in this event held in Porto Alegre. This event brings together investors, companies, and startups from around the world. In this edition, 15 Uruguayan companies presented themselves to a global audience of mentors, large companies, and other key players in the entrepreneurial world.

Tecspal and Nanogrow made it to the final round of the Startup Competition, a highly competitive process that received thousands of applications from around the world. Both companies were selected among the top 10 in their respective categories, standing out for the impact and originality of their proposals.

Selected from more than 2,000 companies in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the United States, Nanogrow passed several stages and was finally chosen as the winner in the Most Disruptive category. Uruguay XXI’s export promotion specialist, Agustín Mimbacas, received this award on behalf of the company.

“Receiving this recognition is a resounding success in terms of Uruguay’s positioning as a hub for innovation and for exporting startups to the world. We had two finalists among the last ten in one of the region’s leading technology and innovation events,” said Mimbacas in an interview with the Uruguayan newspaper El Observador.

Nicolás Galmarini, CEO of Nanogrow, highlighted the importance of the event as a platform for visibility and networking. “This is a significant milestone for us. We are looking for feedback and connections to continue building our developments, especially by gaining a firmer foothold in the Brazilian market,” he told Uruguay XXI.

Nanogrow is a science-based startup that develops biological therapies for the human and veterinary pharmaceutical industry, with a strong commitment to technological innovation and intellectual property. “From science to business: that’s what we want to convey. Our approach is unique in Latin America, and we seek localized therapies with fewer side effects,” Galmarini said.

Founded in 2021 by Nicolás Galmarini and Lucía Vanrell, Nanogrow develops innovative treatments based on nanoantibodies capable of binding with high precision to viruses, bacteria, or harmful cells to build particular therapies with fewer side effects. The startup seeks to treat diseases such as psoriasis, melanoma, and atopic dermatitis and aims to position itself firmly in the Brazilian and regional markets.

Tecspal among the finalists

Alongside Nanogrow, the Uruguayan company Tecspal also reached the final stage of the Startup Competition. Founded by Juan Manuel Cat, Juan Pablo Bordaberry, and Santiago Alcuri, Tecspal offers a comprehensive solution for managing remote equipment hardware through its platform and a human service operating in more than 120 countries. “We help companies that hire remote talent to purchase, deliver, support, and reuse computers without complications. We are not a marketplace: we are a strategic partner for growth,” explained Cat.

“From Uruguay, you can build solutions with global impact,” he said, adding that reaching the final confirmed that they are on the right track. ‘We work to solve a real problem faced by many companies around the world, and this opportunity allowed us to show what we are capable of doing from here,’ he added.

Both Cat and Galmarini highlighted the value of the Uruguayan ecosystem and the importance of these spaces for international visibility. “Uruguay has much talent and a supportive community,“ said Cat. Galmarini agreed: ‘There is excellent scientific material and a great desire to build something from here.”

South Summit Brazil was a unique opportunity for national companies to connect with potential partners, investors, and customers and gain new ideas and learnings. ’We will return with key contacts and much energy to continue growing,” concluded Cat.

Other Uruguayan companies, in addition to Tecspal and Nanogrow, participated in the event, which showcased the diversity and strength of the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in areas such as technology, health, biotechnology, and digital services.

The international recognition of these startups confirms that Uruguay exports talent and innovation with global potential.