What Aster does

Aster is a private mining-technology accelerator headquartered in Antofagasta, Chile, founded in 2021 through a public-private partnership among the Gobierno Regional de Antofagasta, the Comité Corfo Antofagasta, and Escondida | BHP (the world's largest copper producer). It operates from Av. Angamos 01606, Las Ruinas de Huanchaca, in the principal copper mining district globally, and runs two core programs: the Aster Aceleradora, a 4-month structured acceleration program for mining-tech startups delivering a USD $20,000 seed ticket, technical-commercial mentorship from Escondida | BHP experts with 15+ years of mining experience, and access to a 70+ founder community; and Open Aster, a new open-innovation channel co-developed with Escondida | BHP that routes operational mining challenges to startups and suppliers via a four-stage selection pipeline culminating in real-site pilots. Aster's monetization combines seed equity-like participation in portfolio startups, follow-on capital coordination with the Coppernico Fund (up to USD $50,000 post-Demo Day), and program facilitation supported by founding-partner sponsorship; it does not generate direct SaaS or product revenue itself. Over four years, Aster has accelerated 56 startups, deployed USD $1.65M in seed capital, generated USD $19M in cumulative portfolio sales across 92 active contracts at 25+ mining operations, and supports 19 active pilots.

Aster's technology footprint is concentrated in its portfolio rather than in an internal product: portfolio companies collectively deliver AI/ML, satellite imagery, edge AI and robotics, IoT/sensor networks, quantum-physics simulation, and digital-twin modeling for mining use cases spanning autonomous aerial surveillance (Videri AI CVIS), robotic inspection (Tumi Robotics), predictive maintenance (X-Analytic, LIND), water and tailings management (Agrospace TrankET, Acquora, Remote Waters), fleet and diesel optimization (Cosmos Save Energy suite, Altiplano), electronic-card diagnostics (Electromin), conveyor and dust systems (Botiia IINMAS/DOCDUST/SUITE A3), and safety (Neos AI CanarIA). GTM is hybrid: a sales-led, application-based intake for the acceleration program, an enterprise field-sales channel for Open Aster where Escondida | BHP opens specific operational challenges, and a community-led layer built through PERUMIN, Exponor, and partner activations with Magical, Corfo, and Universidad Católica del Norte. No Aster-level revenue, equity ownership breakdown, parent-company structure beyond the stated strategic relationship with Escondida | BHP, or external funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

Aster

Legal name

Aster

Website

https://asteraceleradora.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aster is a Chilean mining-technology accelerator founded in 2021, headquartered in Antofagasta. Through its 4-month accelerator and the Open Aster open-innovation program with Escondida | BHP, it connects mining-tech startups with operational mining challenges, having accelerated 56 startups across 25+ mining operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Acceleration Services (Mining Innovation)

NAICS

Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE), Onboarding Program Design, Enablement & Train-the-Trainer (EDABAOAL)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration services
• Mining technology innovation
• Open innovation programs
• Seed capital financing
• Corporate venture partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Antofagasta

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Acceleration Program Fees: Aster runs an acceleration program where selected startups receive USD $20,000 in financing (seed capital investment) in exchange for program participation. The program is 4 months long, delivered online with in-person activities, and includes mentorship and commercial linkage.
2. Open Innovation Program Facilitation: Aster facilitates the Open Aster program connecting Escondida | BHP operational challenges with startups and suppliers. Aster receives support from Escondida | BHP to run the program, including mentorship participation and pilot accompaniment.
3. Portfolio Company Success Fees: Aster generates revenue through portfolio company outcomes. Scale metrics show USD $19M in cumulative portfolio sales, USD $1.65M in seed capital invested, and 92 active contracts across the portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Aster runs specialized programs that connect early-stage mining-tech startups and suppliers with real operational challenges at major mining companies, principally Escondida | BHP. Its core offering is a 4-month acceleration program that provides selected startups with USD $20,000 in seed financing, technical-commercial mentorship, and direct commercial linkage to mining operations, complemented by Open Aster, an open-innovation program that matches Escondida | BHP operational challenges with startup and supplier solutions for live pilots.

Product overview

Aster operates two core programs: the Aster Aceleradora (4-month acceleration program providing USD $20,000 seed capital, mentorship from Escondida | BHP experts, and strategic connections to mining companies) and Open Aster (open innovation initiative alongside Escondida | BHP enabling startups to pilot solutions in real mining contexts). The portfolio includes 14+ distinct technology products across mining applications: aerial surveillance (Videri AI CVIS), robotic inspection (Tumi Robotics), water management (Acquora, Agrospace TrankET, Remote Waters), equipment optimization (X-Analytic, Electromin), conveyor systems (Botiia IINMAS/DOCDUST/SUITE A3), fleet and fuel management (Cosmos Save Energy suite including GreenMining, Virtual Fuel Sensor, Altiplano, UCO), safety (Neos AI CanarIA), structural monitoring (LIND), and construction progress tracking (Obralink Control/Tracking). These solutions target mining operations, maintenance, sustainability, and safety across major copper producers including Escondida, Collahuasi, and BHP operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aster Aceleradora Program A 4-month acceleration program for mining-tech startups that provides selected founders with USD $20,000 in seed financing, technical-commercial mentorship from Escondida | BHP experts with 15+ years of mining experience, structured validation milestones, and direct linkage to mining customers, culminating in the Aster Demo day where winners are eligible for up to USD $50,000 in follow-on funding from the Coppernico Fund.
• Open Aster Open innovation program developed alongside Escondida | BHP that connects operational mining challenges with startups and local, national, and international suppliers through a structured 4-stage process (application, pre-selection, pilot proposal preparation with Aster accompaniment, and presentation to an Escondida | BHP evaluation committee), enabling pilots of selected solutions in a real industrial mining environment. Participation is 100% free for applicants.
• Aster Community Network of 70+ founders across the accelerated and broader mining-tech ecosystem, anchored by coworking and event programming at Aster's Antofagasta headquarters (Las Ruinas de Huanchaca) and by the annual Aster Demo showcase that connects founders with mining-company buyers and investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• USD $19M in cumulative portfolio sales
• +14 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability31 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Gobierno Regional de AntofagastacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Government Regional of Antofagasta is a founding partner of Aster, established in 2021 through a public-private collaboration that also includes the Corfo Antofagasta Committee and Escondida | BHP. The regional government provides institutional backing and regional development alignment.
• Comité Corfo AntofagastacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Corfo Antofagasta Committee is a founding partner of Aster, providing public funding and innovation ecosystem alignment through Chile's main economic development agency Corfo. Contributes to program legitimacy and potential co-funding mechanisms.
• Escondida | BHPflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Escondida | BHP is the anchor strategic partner and the world's largest copper producer. Provides mentorship from senior technical staff (15+ years experience), hosts Open Aster pilots at its operations, co-develops operational challenges for the Open Aster program, and participates in Aster Demo evaluation. The partnership drives the entire Open Aster innovation program.
• Magical StartupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMagical is the acceleration methodology partner, providing the methodology used in Aster's programs. Magical has 10 years of national acceleration track record. Aster's processes are based on Magical's proven acceleration methodology.
• Universidad Católica del NortesupportingOthersUniversidad Católica del Norte is listed as a partner, contributing academic research capabilities and regional talent to the Aster ecosystem.
• GozantesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGozante is a partner providing additional resources and support to Aster's ecosystem.
• ClimateKIC (European Union)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimateKIC, based in the European Union, validates VER (Verified Emission Reductions) certificates issued by Cosmos Save Energy's GreenMining platform. This gives international credibility to Aster portfolio companies' carbon reduction claims.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Endeavor Insight / Endeavor Chile: Chile-based high-impact entrepreneurship support organization backing scale-up founders. Comparable as a Chilean ecosystem builder with strong corporate and government ties, though focused on later-stage founders rather than Aster's pre-seed/seed mining-tech startups.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network with industry-specific programs including resources and energy. Comparable in structured 3–4 month acceleration cohorts with mentorship and demo day, but operates at much larger scale and without Aster's mining-district geographic concentration.
• Antler: Global early-stage accelerator with presence in Latin America and industry verticals including climate and deep tech. Comparable in cohort-based structure and mentorship-driven model but lacks Aster's mining-specific corporate anchor.
• MassChallenge: Global non-profit accelerator with industry-specific verticals including mining and metals. Comparable in equity-free, partnership-driven model that connects startups with corporate customers, providing a benchmark for Aster's enterprise-coupling strategy.
• Wayra (Telefónica): Telefónica's corporate venture and accelerator arm active across Latin America. Comparable as a large, corporate-backed LATAM accelerator but with a telecom focus rather than mining-tech vertical specialization.

Regional players

• Parallel18: Puerto Rico-based accelerator targeting Latin American startups with public funding backing and equity-free model. Comparable as a public-sector LATAM accelerator with similar 4–6 month program structure, though focused broadly rather than on mining.

Direct peers

• Start-Up Chile: Corfo's flagship government-backed accelerator, sharing the same Chilean public funding source as Aster. Comparable in its public-private structure but broader (not mining-focused), serving as the closest Chile-based peer in accelerator model.
• BHP Xplor: BHP's own corporate accelerator program for early-stage resources ventures. As BHP is Aster's flagship anchor partner, BHP Xplor represents both a potential collaborator and a direct comparator for mining-tech acceleration targeting BHP's operational challenges.
• Magical Startups: Chilean acceleration methodology partner of Aster, founded by Iván Vera (also an Aster director). Magical provides the acceleration framework Aster uses and runs its own programs, making it the closest operational peer within Chile.

Emerging players

• Creative Destruction Lab: Objective-driven accelerator for science and technology-based startups with resources and climate streams. Comparable in deep-tech, mentor-driven acceleration for high-impact ventures, but operates from academic and global hubs rather than within mining districts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AsterAceleradora
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aster-aceleradora
• Instagraminstagram.com/aster.aceleradora

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments42 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aster