OFFLINE DATA

By: Carolina Vega Artigues, Journalist – Faculty of Engineering UdeC / cvegaa@udec.cl 
Images: Courtesy of the Faculty of Engineering. 
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No signal? Disconnection is one of the key challenges of field operations. This phenomenon was observed by Max Echeverría, an alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Concepción (FI UdeC), who, in 2019, created a digital platform designed to work without an internet connection. 

Eskuad allows data to be collected onsite and synchronized automatically once connectivity is restored. This solution has directly impacted industries such as forestry, mining, ports, renewable energy, and environmental services, sectors where more than 2000 operators use the tool today, while 700 organizations are testing it.

The platform has enabled the digitization of critical processes in companies such as CMPC and Arauco, improving traceability, regulatory compliance (such as the standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, SFI), and efficiency in personnel, safety, and environmental management.

A knowledge-based entrepreneurship

Relevant milestones have marked the path of Eskuad. In 2021, it was selected by the prestigious Techstars acceleration program, being the only foreign startup in its cohort and the first in Chile to achieve this. In 2023, Eskuad made history by becoming the first Chilean startup to obtain financing from Google for Startups, in a pre-seed round that reached $1.65 million, with the support of Outlander VC. A year later, it was the only startup company invited to the SFI Conference in Atlanta, consolidating its position as a leader in innovation applied to sustainable forest management.

In 2025, Max Echeverría takes his vision to the global stage as the only Chilean representative in the New York Tech Week, the most important week of that city’s technological and innovation ecosystem. There, he will participate in the Latino Tech Week Pitch and at Techstars Sustainability, and will be part of the exclusive Happy Hour organized by Google, which will bring together executives from companies such as TikTok and large investment funds such as Andreessen Horowitz, AWS, and Sequoia.

The case of Eskuad and its founder, Max Echeverría, says Pablo Catalán Martínez, Dean of FI UdeC, is an inspiring example of how education at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Concepción can be the basis for innovations with global impact. “We are truly proud that an alumnus of our university is leading an internationally recognized startup and that, at the same time, reflects the commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility that we promote in our Faculty. Eskuad demonstrates that Penquista talent can transform industries and contribute to a more sustainable development, positioning Chile and the University of Concepción at the forefront of global technology,” he points out.

With operations in Chile, the United States, and Canada, the Penquista-based startup is transforming how work teams are managed in remote areas. 

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