How to Build More Resilient Supply Chains?
What will it take to recover more critical materials when demand is growing and recovery systems aren’t keeping up?
With the growing deployment of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and data centers, demand for metals and minerals is rising fast. But current systems for recovering and reusing these materials are limited, inefficient, or missing entirely.
In this episode, Aly Bryan, Senior Member of the investment team at Closed Loop Partners’ Venture Group, explains why critical materials have become a central topic in the circular economy. She introduces the concepts of small-loop and large-loop circularity, discusses the role of modular recovery infrastructure, and shares why relying on large, centralized processing facilities may no longer be the most effective approach. Aly also explores how circular startups can work within existing supply chains and why reverse logistics is essential to making recovery work at scale.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
Aly Bryan, Senior Member of the investment team at Closed Loop Partners
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alybryan/
Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/
0:00 Intro
02:24 Aly's Interest in CE and Start at Closed Loop
05:42 Closed Loop Ventures' Activites
06:40 What Makes a Strong Early-Stage Fit for Closed Loop Ventures
08:03 Can It Scale in the US? Closed Loop’s Global Investment Lens
08:54 Scope of Circularity: Materials Focus, Supply Chain Infrastructure, and End-of-Life Valorization
10:17 Not the Right Fit: What Closed Loop Doesn’t Invest In
12:03 “We Want to Be the First Call”: Closed Loop’s Approach to Founder Support
13:18 Critical Minerals: Importance for the CE and Current Relevance
16:22 Supply Chain Disruptions and the Future of Critical Materials
18:34 Assessing the Market: Small Loop and Large Loop Circularity
22:39 Alternative Materials Innovation
23:59 Ratio of Software vs Hardware Innovation
26:14 Platform Solutions for Reverse Logistics
28:50 Closed Loop Partners' Portfolio Companies
30:28 Demand for Recycled Materials - Solar Cycle Example
32:57 Closed Loop’s Investment Focus: Modular Recovery
34:44 What Is Understood by Modular Processing Solutions
36:41 Aly's Advice for Circular Founders
38:30 What Are the Trends for the Next Three Years?
39:49 Who Should Get in Contact with Closed Loop Partners?
Closed Loop Partners is a pioneering firm dedicated to building the circular economy through three integrated businesses: Closed Loop Capital Management, which manages venture capital, private equity, and private credit investments focused on circular solutions; the Center for the Circular Economy, an innovation hub tackling complex material challenges and driving systems change; and Closed Loop Builders, an operating group that incubates and scales circular economy infrastructure across the U.S., including one of the largest private recycling companies.
Their venture capital arm, Closed Loop Ventures Group, invests early-stage capital in companies reimagining product design, manufacturing, consumption, and recovery to eliminate waste and transform supply chains.
Mentioned companies:
• Molg – https://www.molg.ai/
• Valis Insights – https://valisinsights.com/
• Solar Cycle – https://www.solarcycle.us/
Pitcher portal: https://www.closedlooppartners.com/about-us/contact-us/
More on Closed Loop: https://www.closedlooppartners.com/capital-management/venture-capital/ventures/
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