Dana Estrada/Reform Agency
Sunday, January 01, 2023 | 09:20
Mexico City.- Uriel Zahid Hernández was 16 years old when he started out as an entrepreneur in Mexico City.
It was 2016 when the young man designed a prototype car exhaust filter, which was capable of capturing carbon dioxide through a mesh made of PET and cotton.
The project had been prepared as part of the entrepreneurship and innovation program of Conalep 1, Tlalpan campus, which aims to get students involved in the development of innovative and affordable products.
With the support of Fundación E, Uriel was able to take his prototype to New York to exhibit it to investors, and even, in 2017, he received the National Entrepreneur Award in the Student Entrepreneur category.
“Six years ago I was able to make this invention, which already has a patent, because as a child I used to see the sky and I kept wondering why it wasn’t blue, because it was always gray. When I was older, I knew what pollution was and how it originates, from there I wanted to find a solution,” he said.
“When I arrived at Conalep, they supported me in developing it, with the help of other people who handle chemical issues. And so I registered with Fundación E, where I won first place and, in December 2016, I went to New York.”
Currently, Uriel is studying at the National Pedagogical University, as he seeks to become a teacher and guide students so that they take advantage of their talents.
They support new talents
Samuel González, director of Fundación E, explained that this program is dedicated to promoting an entrepreneurial culture in girls and boys, as well as in young people.
“We launch a call every year to detect new talent, just this October 26 until December, annually we receive around 800 projects to participate in this support, and we select the best (…) in the pandemic we do not stop this project, and the accompaniment we take online.
“People who live in vulnerable communities need support to improve their living conditions; hand in hand with companies, we develop social responsibility programs that motivate them to continue studying and have the ability to implement economic activities that benefit them and his family,” he explained.
