An ABsolute Turning Point

Before he became a startup founder, Abbe Gerald Rivero was focused on the goals most third-year engineering students quietly carry: keep the grades up, stay active in leadership roles, and work toward licensure.

He describes himself simply as “Ab,” a BS Electronics Engineering student with a deep curiosity for technology and a habit of chasing opportunities wherever they appear. He joined skill-building programs, attended networking events, and kept looking for ways to grow. In many ways, he was already building a founder’s mindset long before he ever called himself one.

Spark point

Then came a problem that refused to stay small.

For Abbe, it started with a detail most consumers never think about: how meat quality is measured, and what gets compromised in the process.

Traditional pH testing often requires physically piercing the product. The inspection itself can damage the meat, raise contamination risk, and weaken food safety safeguards.

“The current process requires physically compromising the product. That inefficiency and risk were things I felt we had the technology to fix.”

Light-based answers

His team’s answer is a tool that does something deceptively simple. It measures meat pH without touching the meat at all.

The concept uses spectroscopy, which reads spectral signatures and links them to chemical conditions inside the product. Abbe’s startup aims to detect pH levels through light-based scanning, helping processors and inspectors assess quality while keeping the product intact.

Abbe explains the mission in a way that brings the technology back to its most human purpose.

For him, the technology matters because of the people it protects. “Ultimately, this is for all the consumers out there. Most people can’t see the chemical changes happening in their food.”

Spoilage signs can be subtle, and inspection lapses can be invisible. But the consequences can be serious, from unsafe products entering the market to food-borne illnesses that could have been prevented.

Beyond grades

Even before incubation, Abbe was already drawn to innovation-centered competitions. He joined hackathons and pitching events that trained him to think beyond grades and requirements.

“It shifted my mindset to that of a real-world problem solver,” he said. “Creating solutions for problems that people didn’t even realize could be fixed.”

That mindset eventually led him to apply to the ASOG Technology Business Incubator, where he found something he did not expect: a real startup ecosystem.

Inside ASOG TBI

He applied because he believed the incubator could bring his team’s concept closer to reality. ASOG TBI gave the idea structure through mentorship, guidance, and access to the right networks.

Abbe described incubation as a turning point for the team. “It is a dream for any founder to see their concepts come to reality. ASOG TBI provides the support, resources, and networks to make that happen.”

The experience introduced a future he had never considered before.

“Everything changed.”

Before the program, his plan was straightforward: graduate, become a licensed engineer, and work in the industry. Entering the incubator introduced him to a different kind of future, one he never expected to explore as a student.

“I honestly never expected to be part of a startup ecosystem,” he shared.

Climb and critique

The program also demanded a different kind of growth. Abbe describes himself now as a more holistic founder, shaped by constant feedback from mentors, experts, and fellow innovators.

He now views feedback differently. “It has taught me to value criticism and use it as a tool to refine our product further.”

For the year ahead, his definition of success is grounded and specific. The goal is to complete their prototype with mentor guidance and build a proof of concept strong enough to scale.

A new timeline

If the startup succeeds, Abbe believes its impact will be quiet but essential, strengthening public health in ways most people may never notice.

Beyond the technology, he hopes his journey can encourage other aspiring founders who are still unsure whether their ideas deserve a chance.

“I want to share my story as a ‘template’ for success; one that others can take, customize, and use to build their own path.”

For him, the biggest change has not been a single win or milestone, but the new direction that opened once he stepped into the ecosystem.

“Entering this program created a completely new timeline for my life.”