Gastón Díaz: the promising young talent of the region's startup ecosystem

Gastón Díaz startups is a phrase that could soon become familiar in the Latin American entrepreneurial ecosystem. At just 17 years old, this Argentine student has been named one of the 10 finalists for the prestigious Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2025, a recognition that received nearly 11,000 applications from 148 countries. Remarkably, he is the only representative from Latin America among the selected finalists.

Currently in his final year of secondary school at Instituto Santa Faz in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Díaz describes himself as a relentless learner. He shared that every day he sets out to acquire new knowledge, calling his academic routine that of a “learning machine.” This commitment to personal growth reflects not only in his academic performance but also in his drive to innovate and create solutions with global potential.

Cresify: A Startup with Microsoft’s Support

Beyond school, Gastón Díaz has already taken steps into the entrepreneurial world. He is the creator of Cresify, a digital marketing platform designed to optimize sales processes. His work has earned recognition and backing from Microsoft for Startups, a milestone that highlights his ability to build technology with real-world applications at such a young age.

When speaking about his ambitions, Díaz expressed his dream of becoming a high-impact entrepreneur, inspired by figures like Marcos Galperin, the founder of Mercado Libre.

Academic Aspirations and Global Vision

Looking ahead, Díaz is preparing applications to prestigious universities such as Stanford University, drawn by its proximity to the Silicon Valley ecosystem. At the same time, he keeps open the possibility of pursuing studies at local institutions in Argentina.

He credits his parents and teachers for shaping his academic foundation, emphasizing that his mother encouraged him to practice mathematics and nurture critical thinking.

A Critical Voice on Education

Díaz also reflects deeply on education systems. He believes that schools should be empowered to design their own personalized curricula, rather than following rigid state-imposed structures. In his view, knowledge today must be flexible and multi-sourced, adapting to the fast-changing needs of society.

He balances his academic pursuits with sports and dedicates time to reading biographies of entrepreneurs and scientists, as well as works on economic liberalism. To strengthen his language skills, he reads extensively in English.

A Future Startup Founder in the Making

Looking five years ahead, Gastón Díaz envisions himself as the founder of a new technology startup after completing his university studies. His story not only positions him as a rising talent in Argentina but also as a beacon for the next generation of entrepreneurs in Latin America.

By making it to the finals of the Global Student Prize 2025 and launching Cresify with Microsoft’s support, Díaz embodies the ambition, vision and resilience that will shape the future of Latin American startups in the global digital economy.