Mateo Vidal

The Ambassador's Residence brought alumni from our exchange programs together with leaders from Uruguay's technology and entrepreneurship sectors for an evening of networking. The United States is a key partner for Uruguay's technology ecosystem: a leading destination for its exports and a global reference in innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and exchange opportunities. “More than 80% of the technology services Uruguay exports go to the United States. This lays the groundwork for greater trade and cooperation between our countries in high-value emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence,” highlighted Chargé d'Affaires Chris Andino. We want to keep building connections that bring our countries closer and create new opportunities for talent, innovation, and growth.

Young Uruguayan startup nBlock has landed in Argentina with its AI platform for wholesalers and distributors. nBlock began taking shape in 2024 as a spin-off from Uruguayan technology company Pento. In less than two years, it has crossed borders and signed two major clients in Argentina. Its artificial intelligence platform helps wholesalers, importers, and distributors improve how they manage their businesses. In Uruguay it already serves 20 active clients: mid-sized companies with 20 to 200 employees in sectors such as consumer-goods distribution, auto parts, footwear, electrical supplies, and housewares. The idea emerged when Pento moved toward larger projects and had to turn down small and medium-sized ones. The team built AI applications for SMEs and, in 2025, focused the company first on retail and then on wholesale.

Celebrating 250 years of United States independence 🇺🇸 Many thanks to the U.S. Embassy Montevideo, Marcela Serra, and Ambassador Lou Rinaldi for the invitation.

Yesterday, Gastón Kehyaian and I spoke at AI Forum 2.0, organized by Alumni Uruguay and the U.S. Embassy Montevideo. We gave a talk on AI in business management, focusing on how to design a business to take advantage of AI from day one, or how to begin the transformation process at a more established company. We shared some of what we have learned inside nBlock and through the problems we have been solving for our clients. Thank you very much for the invitation!

Yesterday we held our first event with leaders from the wholesale sector. Nicolas Chiappara explored how AI has evolved in recent years, and Gastón Kehyaian discussed the real challenges these companies face and how software and AI can help them today. Finally, we shared nBlock's vision for the months ahead 🚀 Thanks to everyone who joined us.

Very grateful for the welcome at the Embassy of Uruguay in Washington, D.C. It was an honor to represent Uruguay in this program 🇺🇾🇺🇸

Finishing the Study of the United States Institute (SUSI) for Student Leaders on Entrepreneurship and Economic Development 🇺🇸 One post is not enough to explain how incredible and special this program has been. I leave not only academically stronger, with amazing contacts and friends, but also with a great desire to keep growing and building from Uruguay. Personally, it was one of the best experiences of my life; professionally, it was an enormous boost of motivation. Over the last few weeks, we explored New York City and visited Columbia University. We then flew to Tucson, Arizona, where we attended sessions at the University of Arizona and visited the Grand Canyon. Finally, we arrived in Washington, D.C., where we toured the city and met with the U.S. Department of State, Fulbright, and the Embassy of Uruguay. Thank you to every institution that welcomed us, the U.S. Department of State and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S. Embassy Montevideo for selecting me, and nBlock for its unconditional support throughout this experience. Above all, thank you to the people I met in the program, who truly made it exceptional. If you are a young person in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, or Chile: apply to the next SUSI. It is worth every second.

Wrapping up an incredible week at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 🚀 We toured the engineering facilities and the MIT Museum, attended classes, and joined a talk at J-PAL North America on randomized impact evaluations. Truly impressive. This week we continue with courses on leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic development at Amherst College and the Institute for Training and Development, taught by professors from several universities and by founders. The program is going wonderfully. This weekend we will explore Boston and visit Harvard and other universities. After one more week in Amherst, we will head to New York City and visit Columbia University. P.S. The snow is incredible ❄️ (and as if there were not enough, a major storm is coming tomorrow 🌨️)

Finishing the first week of the SUSI for Student Leaders in Entrepreneurship and Economic Development 🇺🇸 Between sessions at Amherst College and the Institute for Training and Development, this week we explored topics ranging from the U.S. Constitution and its economic aspects to workshops on product-market fit, business models, and pitching. It was an intense week, but I am very happy about the incredible people I have met: 20 participants from four countries, all with fascinating stories and projects. I am also delighted to get to know Amherst, Massachusetts, and the surrounding area. Next up: Boston, New York, Tucson, Arizona, and Washington, D.C. Thank you to the U.S. Embassy Montevideo for this opportunity. 🔜 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

⛵️ This weekend I had the opportunity to organize the ILCA Master Central and South American Championship together with ILCA Uruguay and Yacht Club Uruguayo, with more than 60 sailors from several countries. For context, ILCA is the world's largest Olympic sailing class, and the Master category brings together sailors over the age of 30. This was the biggest event our board has organized so far. Organizing it was an enormous challenge, but thanks to teamwork and the support of many people and institutions, we delivered an event that exceeded every expectation. Special thanks to Yacht Club Uruguayo, the National Sports Secretariat, the Uruguayan Sailing Federation, and every sponsor who made this project possible. It was an incredible experience and a huge motivation to keep growing. In March, in Porto Alegre, we will put Uruguay forward to host the 2027 ILCA Central and South American Championship, which brings together everyone from youth to Master sailors, including Olympic athletes. Its 2022 edition brought more than 120 sailors to our country. 🇺🇾

I am very happy to share that the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay selected me to take part in the 2026 SUSI (Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders) program! SUSI is an intensive academic program from the U.S. Department of State focused on entrepreneurship and economic development. Over five weeks, we will be based in Amherst, Massachusetts, attending seminars, workshops, and courses at universities across the United States, along with organizational visits, cultural activities, and academic trips to Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Arizona. Thank you to the U.S. Embassy Montevideo for the opportunity and to everyone who supported me throughout the process.

Last week, I had the privilege of co-mentoring Team 5 at the first Quantum Hackathon LATAM in Montevideo, Uruguay. The challenge was to develop quantum solutions that address environmental problems. My team focused on large-scale reforestation planning, framing it as a knapsack optimization problem. Their approach combined semidefinite optimization to establish upper bounds, then produced solutions through quantum rounding based on QAOA (Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm). What struck me most was what they accomplished in such a short time. They had to learn new concepts, build the mathematical framework, and implement a working solution. Full credit belongs to them for the quality of the work they delivered. I want to thank and congratulate the organizers, Universidad de Montevideo, OQI – Open Quantum Institute, the judges, and everyone who made this unforgettable event possible.