Javier Etcheberry: From Klap Sale to New AI Health App

Itaú Chile has finalized the acquisition of Klap, a Chilean financial technology firm, in a deal valued at $40 million, according to reports.

The sale, completed Tuesday, marks the culmination of a venture begun in 2007 by Javier Etcheberry through Multicaja – and later rebranded as Klap in 2021 – to challenge Transbank’s dominance in the Chilean payments market. The deal was negotiated by Etcheberry’s partners, José Luis del Rio and Sonda, while Etcheberry was serving as director of the Internal Revenue Service.

Etcheberry, 78, is now focusing on a new entrepreneurial endeavor: SaludAI, a health-focused application currently under development with a team of six engineers. He has been working on the project from an office leased in Vitacura since November.

SaludAI is designed to consolidate all medical records – including test results, diagnoses, appointment schedules, and treatment plans – into a single platform. According to Etcheberry, the application utilizes artificial intelligence to interpret uploaded documents and unify the data.

“The AI also allows for cross-referencing of historical data, which can serve as a valuable complement to physicians’ opinions and diagnoses,” Etcheberry explained.

A working prototype of SaludAI is expected within approximately 60 days for testing with a small group of users, Etcheberry said. He anticipates seeking a strategic partner once the application is fully operational, projected to be within a year. “We believe it will be a good application with AI to help people manage their health, live longer, live better, and spend less on it,” he stated.