Technology and artificial intelligence have become indispensable tools for the business world. Claudia Gómez and Esteban Ríos, second-year students in the Mechatronics University Technician program at The Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) South Campus, have decided to tap into this growing market. The entrepreneurs have joined their passions and skills to create their own company that provides businesses with cutting-edge AI technology. Their new company, Ahau-X, offers innovative solutions tailored to meet the demands of the artificial intelligence market.

Esteban Rivas and Claudia Gómez, co-founders of Ahau-X, receive mentoring from UVG EMS. Photo: ASPIRE

Gómez and Ríos have been thrilled with the success of their venture to date, supported in part by the entrepreneurial efforts, products, and support of the ASPIRE Project. As a new venture, they have benefitted from the advice of the UVG CREA Entrepreneurship Center professionals. In addition, Ahau-X has actively participated in development, training, and networking activities via the Hult Prize On Campus Competition 2024 and the University’s Entrepreneurial Mentoring Service (UVG EMS). The pair took full advantage of these opportunities, connecting with other entrepreneurs, projects, and networks in similar fields of innovation.

Most recently, the Pomona Impact Foundation recognized Ahau-X by selecting it to participate in the AgriFoods Systems Accelerator. In this program, the Foundation will provide advice and contacts to the new venture, working to obtain financing to launch the venture to market.

Ahau-X Goals

Ahau-X is a company that believes in the power of technology to solve community challenges. It is currently focusing on the farming sector in Guatemala and working towards optimizing the use of resources and processes while also promoting environmental sustainability. The company seeks to adapt technological solutions that align with Guatemalan culture, customs, and the environment.

Kaax: A software for process optimization

Ahau-X logo. Image: Ahau-X

Ahau-X offers a product called “Kaax,” a software specifically designed to optimize the replanting process in the farming sector. The software has been tested successfully on approximately 200 hectares of sugar cane fields, with results indicating a margin of error of less than four percent. The process involves capturing images by drones at heights ranging between 80 and 120 meters, assessing the fields 15 days after harvesting, and providing analyses within an average of 15 minutes per field. The software also generates georeferenced lines to map the areas that require replanting with utmost accuracy.

In addition, Ahau-X is expanding its capabilities by integrating geospatial technologies to perform advanced data analysis directly into its dashboards. This integration will allow for discovering relationships between different data sets and creating predictive models that can optimize time and processes. Ahau-X aims to demonstrate how technology, including artificial intelligence, can be integrated into all sectors of Guatemalan society. Through products such as Kaax, the company highlights the country’s ability to innovate and offer viable solutions.

Ahau-X Services

Ahau-X provides three essential services to its clients. The first is Digital Transformation Consulting, which focuses on helping other companies transition to the digital era through specialized consulting. They identify opportunities, design strategies, and provide solutions to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and promote competitiveness in an ever-changing digital environment.

Their second service is dedicated to innovation and creativity, which is considered fundamental for progress. They work closely with their clients to generate disruptive ideas, implement creative solutions, and catalyze innovation in all aspects of their clients’ operations, from products and services to business models.

The third service specializes in developing and integrating advanced technologies to adapt solutions to the specific needs of their clients.

The future of Ahau-X

The creators of Ahau-X aspire to be recognized for their innovative technological developments, which go beyond just creating software and specific solutions. They aim to make artificial intelligence products and services accessible to everyone while also generating employment opportunities in the region. They have observed a significant pool of local talent that works abroad for foreign companies. While this is not necessarily negative, they want to create similar opportunities within the region to retain Guatemalan talent.

Gómez and Ríos also seek to be a source of employment for those interested in working in research and technology, creating innovative solutions for various industries. Currently, they are primarily concentrating on the farming sector, as they believe that this industry needs more technological innovation and faces unique challenges that Ahau-X can address.

The ASPIRE Project is pleased to have supported Ahau-X’s entrepreneurial endeavors. The project looks forward to supporting them as they continue to harness the latest technology to help Guatemalan businesses.

Claudia Gomez, co-founder of Ahau-X, Photo: ASPIRE

About the ASPIRE Project

The Achieving Sustainable Partnerships for Innovation, research and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) Project is a five-year, $15 million project funded by USAID and implemented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), and the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT), with the goal of creating a world-class replicable model for how universities, in collaboration with the private sector, government, and local communities, can respond to local and regional development needs. The project implements a collaborative approach, based on MIT’s experience in the innovation ecosystem.