When we received the news that we had been selected to participate in the Ignite program at the University of Cambridge through the LINK program, it left us completely speechless because it sounded so surreal. It felt too surreal, and personally, I don't think I fully grasped it until I arrived in Cambridge and saw it with my own eyes.
Cambridge is a very welcoming city. Walking through its streets felt like stepping into a Harry Potter movie: historic buildings (all the University of Cambridge dorms), gardens, and the river with the famous punting, which is one of the most famous tourist activities there.
Classes at University of Cambridge
The experience started on a Sunday at 3:00 PM. During that first day, we had check-in, networking activities, and an overview of all the sessions and dynamics we would experience throughout the week.
And yes, it was a very intense week. We had classes and activities practically all day long, but it was also an incredible opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world. I had classmates from India, China, Iraq, Spain, England, Canada, Luxembourg, and other countries—all eager to learn and with really interesting projects in very different areas, just like us.
Networking and cohort classmates
I saw many ideas, especially in healthcare, that could generate a massive impact on society. I loved that because behind several projects were beautiful purposes and real problems that their founders wanted to solve.
On the other hand, the quality of the mentors, professors, and guest speakers was extraordinary. I ended the week with a completely different energy: full of motivation, ambition, and greatness—in the best sense of the word. It was an environment that constantly pushed you to think big, strategically, and with deep dedication.
The whole experience was an invitation to question oneself, step out of the box and comfort zone, look beyond the obvious, and project into the future.
Sessions in Cambridge
Throughout the week, we had top-tier classes across various topics: value proposition, business models, marketing, finance, fundraising, pitching, intellectual property, tech trends, and the current global state of innovation, among many others.
I was literally a sponge trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible. There were many things I already knew, but the perspectives, methodologies, and ways of approaching problems were different and, in many cases, completely new to me.
Closing ceremony
However, one of the things that touched me the most was the human quality I experienced at the University of Cambridge.
Every person I spoke with gave me genuine advice. They were straightforward people who didn't try to sugarcoat the entrepreneurial journey, but who at the same time made room to listen, guide, and help you. Many of them were individuals with enormous trajectories and recognition, so that willingness was something I deeply valued.
To this day, I stay in touch with several mentors I met during the program. They do so out of a genuine desire to help, which also gave me a sense of responsibility: to contribute from Chile so that others can access this knowledge, share the advice I received, and pass it forward with equal generosity.
Special Thanks
I want to extend special thanks to Cambridge Judge Business School and the University of Cambridge for making this experience possible.
Also to Centro de Innovación UC, one of the main drivers and organizers of the LINK program from Chile, which also included a full week of meetings and activities in London. In particular, I would like to thank Guillermo von Kretschmann and Álvaro Escárate for all their coordination and support throughout this process.
From Cambridge, I want to deeply thank Ann Davidson, organizer of the Ignite program. From our first online meeting to the in-person experience, she paid attention to every detail, always with incredible dedication to help us, connect us with the right people, and make sure everything ran perfectly.
Meetings and mentors in Cambridge
I also want to thank my mentor, Alan Platt, who gave me invaluable advice and taught me practical methodologies that I still use today.
To Andrea, program facilitator, for guiding me whenever I had questions and helping coordinate a meeting with Khaldon, whom I also thank for answering all my questions with immense kindness and willingness.
Program mentors and guests
To Keith, who performed a comprehensive analysis of StreamData that honestly felt like a free audit. Additionally, he kindly gave us a tour of the city, which I truly appreciate.
To Sam Ofori, for his great energy and for transmitting all that ambition, vision, and motivation to build large-scale projects.
And I could go on forever haha, because there were so many people who helped me during that week. I also deeply appreciate the 1:1 meetings and conversations I had with Kaitlin Fritz, Jeong Suk, Mainda Kiwelu, and Pantea Loftian, among many others who made this experience so special.
In short, it was an unforgettable experience.
I left Cambridge with new knowledge, fresh perspectives, great connections, and above all, massive motivation to keep building StreamData, think big, and bring all that learning back to Chile.
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