Mining is not the first industry that comes to mind when you think about SaaS innovation. It’s capital-heavy, operationally complex, and still “very traditional.”
That’s why GEO2MILL is a standout Founders Club story: in a matter of months, they went from a paid pilot to a $6k/month recurring contract, launched additional pilots, and earned a spot in an equity-free, government-backed acceleration program.
Below is their story, and what other founders can learn from it.
From geology to the plant: one platform to optimize the full mining value chain
GEO2MILL is building an AI-powered SaaS analytics platform that integrates geology, mine, and plant data to manage the operation as a whole, not as separate “islands.”
Their starting point is simple: mines generate massive amounts of data, but too little of it becomes actionable operational decisions. GEO2MILL’s mission is to turn existing data into recommendations that improve productivity and reduce operational costs, end-to-end.
The team also has a strong founder–problem fit: Paulina Vergara (geoscientist) and Yuri Andrés Olivares (mining engineer) speak the customer’s language, and that matters in a conservative industry.
Key milestones (so far)
- Feb 2025: GEO2MILL founded.
- Jul 2025: First paying customer: $100/month pilot starts.
- Dec 2025: Founders Club Cohort 16 completed.
- Jan 2026: Selected for Startup Chile / CORFO, $18k equity-free.
- Feb 2026: Second paying pilot launches with FyN Metals: $600.
- Mar 2026 (starting): $6,000/month service contract begins (2-year scope).
Getting the first customer in a closed industry: relationships + credibility + execution
Mining is not a market where cold outreach reliably lands your first deal. GEO2MILL started with what many early-stage founders underestimate: their network.
Paulina described it with a well-known startup phrase: “friends, family, and the fools.”
In their case, it meant reaching out to a mine owner they had known since 2018, met through university fieldwork.
But the warm intro wasn’t enough on its own. In conservative industries, customers also buy trust in the people behind the product. Paulina shared why credibility mattered early:
“I’m still in the academic world because I am a scientist… [he was like] ‘Okay, I can trust these guys”
The result: a first “yes,” a paid pilot, and the foundation for a bigger commercial relationship.
The traction story: why a discounted paid pilot unlocked real recurring revenue
Early traction in B2B often starts with a simple (and uncomfortable) decision: charge for the pilot.
GEO2MILL’s first pilot was USD 100/month, clearly not the real value of optimizing mining operations, but enough to ensure commitment, signal professionalism, and prove that someone is willing to pay.
Paulina explained how they approached it:
- “We were thinking about 2,000 per month.”
- “We did it with the 95% discount… and then we got this service for 6,000.”
This is the kind of sales reality we love to see founders embrace: start with a structured pilot, learn fast, demonstrate impact, then expand scope into a meaningful recurring contract.
The Founders Club effect: from “what we built” to “why it matters” (and how to sell it)
GEO2MILL didn’t join Founders Club to learn mining, they joined to accelerate the part that often makes or breaks B2B traction: strategy and communication.
When asked what mattered most, during the meeting with the new Founders Club 18 cohort (in the image), Paulina answered:
“You gave us a very strong basis on how to be strategic… [and] how to communicate what we’re doing and how to move forward.”
Yuri highlighted a very practical change in their customer conversations:
“At the start, we gave them a list of features: the what. Now, we focus on understanding their specific needs and motivations: the why.”
That shift, outcomes over features, becomes decisive when you sell into enterprise and industrial environments.
What’s next: ecosystem leverage, equity-free funding, and more pilots
After the Founders Club, GEO2MILL kept building momentum. They were selected for Startup Chile / CORFO, an equity-free program that combines funding with ecosystem access, especially useful when you’re entering a market that, in Paulina’s words, is “very old-fashioned” and hard to access without the right support.
Paulina’s recommendation to other founders was clear: “Yes, absolutely”, keep scouting equity-free and government programs, because they can accelerate access and credibility.
Three takeaways for founders building in “hard” industries
- Charge for pilots (even discounted). As Paulina learned, a meaningful discount can still create commitment and unlock the next contract.
- Founder–problem fit is a growth lever. In conservative markets, credibility shortens trust cycles.
- Don’t fall in love with your first solution. Paulina’s advice: “Be ready and focus on the problem instead of the solution.”
Want to build your own traction story in 3 months?
The Founders Club is a 3-month online program designed to help you find co-founders, refine your idea, build an MVP, land early customers, and get investment-ready.
Applications for Founders Club 19 are open until April 19.
Discover more and apply here: https://startupwiseguys.com/all-programs/the-founders-club/
