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MinerAlert
MinerAlert
Meet the Finalists
Founder(s): Sabas Rojas
What: Synapse is an AI-powered messaging app that lets users create digital versions of themselves by uploading their WhatsApp, Messenger, or other chat histories. The AI learns their texting style, slang, personality, and even what they know, responding as they would based on past discussions. Users can chat with AI versions of others as long as they have signed up and uploaded their chat history—no approvals needed. Synapse makes messaging smarter, seamless, and always available.
Why: Waiting for responses slows communication. Conversations get lost due to time zones, availability, or even loss of a person. Existing AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, lack personal texting styles and personality, making interactions robotic. Synapse offers AI-driven, personalized conversations that sound like the user and reflect what they know. It will support workplace scenarios where an AI version could handle messages—like on Microsoft Teams—while the user is busy and later provide a summary. By maintaining conversations, Synapse removes delays, making communication effortless and preserving digital presence over time.
Who: Tech-savvy users & AI enthusiasts seeking next-gen messaging. Busy professionals needing AI-assisted message handling & summaries. Long-distance relationships & digital nomads facing time zone challenges. Memory preservation users, continuing conversations with AI versions of loved ones. Gen Z & Millennials, already comfortable with AI-driven interactions.
Founder(s): Victor Molina
What: Block Ledger is a Web3-powered platform that helps manufacturers track products through the supply chain, from raw materials to finished goods. Using blockchain technology, it creates a secure, immutable ledger, ensuring real-time visibility of materials and handlers. Smart contracts automate cross-border payments, instantly paying suppliers when conditions are met. It also features decentralized accounting tools, allowing businesses to track transactions on a tamper-proof ledger without third-party reconciliation.
Why: Global supply chains suffer from lack of transparency, payment delays, and inefficiencies due to centralized systems and manual processes. Many businesses rely on paper records and slow financial networks, increasing costs, fraud risks, and delays. Block ledger solves these issues with trustless blockchain tracking and automated payments using stablecoins or cryptocurrency, reducing reliance on costly intermediaries. It also helps with regulatory compliance, as on-chain records make audits easier.
Who: The main users of block ledger would be small and mid-sized manufacturers in cross-border trade facing payment delays and compliance issues. They need a cost-effective alternative to enterprise ERP systems. Other users include logistics providers, wholesalers, and suppliers needing trustless tracking. Regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, food, and sustainable goods benefit from on-chain verification.
Founder(s): Geronimo Tapia
What: I am designing a comprehensive metabolic hormone panel and tissue collection method that significantly expands upon modern blood testing diagnostics. This entails a dynamic sampling strategy (fasting, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min post-meal) to capture fluctuations in key hormones that are known to be involved in the regulation of eating behaviors. By using a customized panel to track fluctuations specifically in appetite-regulating biomarkers, we can more confidently identify the signaling disruptions driving eating-related disorders, helping to ensure treatments target the right metabolic pathways.
Why: With the current boom of weight loss treatments, there’s a good chance you might have also heard of some of the side effects associated with these drugs. By expanding diagnostic capabilities to capture key hormone fluctuations over time, we can move beyond the one-size-fits-all approaches that often lead to ineffective outcomes or unwanted side effects. Current metabolic tests provide only a static snapshot of hormone levels, missing critical information regarding the responsiveness to these hormones over time.
Target Market: Our primary market includes clinicians and researchers specializing in metabolic disorders, obesity medicine, endocrinology, and nutrition. This includes hospitals, specialty clinics, and research institutions seeking more precise diagnostic tools for personalized treatment strategies.
Founder(s): Daniel Andres Estrada
What:
MeasureMate is a software that helps normal people as well as organizations get construction estimates in a matter of minutes. The app would be used to obtain measurements with your phone camera, it would take your description of what you want to do, allow you to choose colors and materials, create a 3D render based on your measurements of the space and using your chosen materials, and create an estimate based on the factors mentioned above. Lastly, it will take into consideration where in the US you live being that labor costs fluctuate depending on where you live. AI would be heavily integrated into the software.
Why:
Consumer Use: There is a lot of skepticism being construction and contractors especially in the residential space. This would allow the every day consumer to feel safe and prepared when meeting with contractors for construction projects because they can now have an idea of what this project should look like and what it should cost. Business Use: In this day and age speed is key. With MeasureMate construction estimators, both in the residential and commercial sectors, will be able to help more people by getting their estimates/proposals out quicker. Not only does this save time for the client but it also saves time and money for the construction company, therefore increasing profitability.
Who:
Target Market: Generation X and Millennials and companies in the construction sector.
Founder(s): Sebastian Delgado
What: Doski Machining is a machine shop located in Ciudad Juarez, Chih, specializing in high-quality, precision manufacturing services. Currently, Doski Machining offers resin 3D printing for rapid prototyping, having one machine shop as a key client. The business aims to expand into a full-scale CNC machining operation, providing custom parts and components to different industries. Why: The border region between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, is a hub for manufacturing and maquiladora operations, with high demand for locally produced, precision-engineered parts. By establishing a full-service machine shop in this location, Doski Machining can offer reduced lead times, competitive pricing, and exceptional quality. The mission is to fill the gap in the regional supply chain by delivering reliable, precision parts while maintaining the highest standards of quality and service. Who: Our target market are companies who fall in the following industries; Medical (the current machine shop), Plastics & Injection Molding, and Tool & Die Making. The ideal customer has the following characteristics; is a large-scale manufacturer with recurring needs for machined components, has an engineering team needing rapid prototyping at a low-volume production and has a procurement teams seeking reliable suppliers for high-precision and mission-critical parts.
Founder(s): Chris Wise
What: The Atomic Underground is an independent publishing company I run on my own, dedicated to fostering passion and community through literature and the arts. I publish fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, and prose—any work that is engaging, thought-provoking, and marketable. Beyond publishing, I organize events, workshops, and readings to connect writers with audiences.
Why: I believe art validates life, challenges perspectives, and unites people. Unlike big publishers that prioritize profit, I support authentic voices and create opportunities for writers to engage with readers. My focus is on resonant, impactful storytelling, not generic or overly political content.
Who: I work with writers, poets, and playwrights eager to connect with readers, artists and musicians looking to collaborate, and educators and event organizers passionate about the literary arts. I also welcome business partners and volunteers who want to help create vibrant cultural experiences.
Why I’ll Succeed:
Passion-Driven Publishing – More than selling books, I’m building a movement. Interactive Community – I bring writers and audiences together. Commitment to Quality – I publish meaningful, marketable work. Bold, Unique Voices – I champion original stories that deserve to be heard. Support Beyond Publishing – I help authors grow, engage, and succeed.
Founder(s): Aricel Leonardi
SortiBin is a smart trash bin that organizes trash using AI and sensors. These trash bins have a larger capacity than normal trash cans because it compresses trash as it is organized. Why: many public areas where there are both trash and recycling bins have mixed trash which affects the recycling process. Some places give up and mix both trash without care to sort. Our bins allow different types of recycling including paper and cans without having the consumer do the thinking. Our current target are large public event areas like arenas and stadiums where consumers present accumulate a large amount of trash. With these large event areas, our company can offer services where we collect and buy the recycling from these events. The consumer gets a certain amount of money back allowing them to produce profit. We take this collected material and resell it to a larger recycling company where we would also receive profit. Not only does Sortbin give both the customer and manufactorer profit, but it allows an increase in eco-friendly technology in these public places.
Founder(s): Faith Chanhuhwa
What African Bites is a food truck bringing authentic and flavorful African food snacks to El Paso. We specialize in freshly made, high-quality snacks like meat pies, samosas, shawarmas, african salads and fruit juices catering to diverse taste preferences. Customers can order in person and online only for event catering.
El Paso has a growing demand for diverse and unique food experiences, yet African cuisine remains underrepresented. African Bites fills this gap by offering affordable, convenient, and authentic African dishes, catering to students, professionals, and food enthusiasts looking for something new. We also prioritize healthy options like whole-wheat wraps, baked alternatives, and fresh fruit drinks to appeal to health-conscious customers.
Who: Our primary customers include: UTEP students & faculty looking for flavorful, and affordable meals. El Paso locals seeking new and exciting international cuisine. Busy professionals who want fresh, on-the-go meals. Vegetarians & health-conscious eaters who prefer nutritious and wholesome options.
Founder(s): Madison Jacques
What: 'Ease' is an intravenously-dosed mesenchymal stromal/stem cell therapy (MSCT) targeted for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to limit disease progression and increase quality of life, suggested by physicians to decrease joint pain without suppressing the patient's immune system.
Why: Approximately 17.6 million people have RA, with a projected 31.7 million patients by 2050. These patients struggle with pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints that decreases quality of life while increasing yearly health expenditures. To slow this chronic disease, Ease aims to reduce pain and progression using innovative anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MSCT.
Who: Target Market: RA Patients (End User) Our end user is in the 50-60yo age range, with a predominantly female population. AND Physician (Recommender) Our recommender will be someone that regularly works with RA patients and those who struggle with arthritic pain.
Founder(s): Ángel Villalpando
What: Ollin Leather Co. is a handmade baseball glove company, concentrating in Exotic leather baseball gloves, such as alligator, snake skin, ostrich, and cowhide leathers. Why: Exotic leathers offer a unique and luxurious appeal. I have adored leather since a very young age. My father inherited my grandfathers gloves manufacturing business in Aguascalientes Mexico. My grand father thought of it more as a side hustle while working at Tony Lama boots, a local manufacturer of Exotic leather boots where he became a collector of Exotic boots and that trait was passed down to me. The way I feel about exotic leather is shared by many people. Who: My target market would be more exclusive and niche market. The people who share the connection with Exotic leather are known as collectors, many are found in Facebook groups or the Lucchese community. Professional athletes who are know for their creativity and luxurious style.
Founder(s): Jocelyn Acosta
Rocky's Pet Bakery is a bakery that focuses on baked goods/treats for pets including dogs, cats, and cage pets. Giving a variety of healthy, handmade baked treats fun for consumption and/or for training purposes.
Giving a flare to El Paso local business world and meeting the needs of pet owners in finding an affordable yet healthy bundle of treats for their furry friends, we plan on donating to animal shelters via brick and mortar phase to help give back to our animal community.
Targeting generation z, millennials, and elderly as the recent boom in pet ownership after the pandemic has shown the targeted audiences, especially generation z, to be part of the increase.
