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Circularity.fm
Circularity.fm episodes
- Leveraging New Technologies to Decarbonise the Economy with Mark Windeknecht from World Fund | Venture CapitalReducing Carbon Emissions through Circular Innovations
Decarbonising the economy is a political goal and a commercial opportunity. How can circular startups benefit as well?
In this episode, Mark Windeknecht, Principal at World Fund, discusses the connection between decarbonisation and the circular economy. By examining the battery recycling startup Cylib, the food startup Planet A Foods and the consumer tech startup Faircado, Mark provides insights into the drawdown potential of different business models. As a considerable share of circular startups are asset-heavy, Mark touches upon the challenges and opportunities of financing the growth of these circular business models.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
People
Mark Windeknecht, Principal, World Fundhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ing-mark-windeknecht-285412148/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/Chapters
00:00 Intro05:35 Carbon Drawdown Potential as a Main Investment Criteria during the Due Diligence10:36 The Case of Cylib: Superior Battery Recycling at Scale13:30 The Case of Planet A Foods: Avoiding Deforestation by using Left-Over Food18:27 The Case of Faircado: More Sustainable Shopping20:04 Funding CapEx-Heavy startups: Assets, Equity, Venture Debt and Licensing25:57 Regulation and Technology are the drivers: AI, IOT, Robotics, Physical AI, Quantum and more28:15 Founders, have a Strong Business Case without Green Premiums30:12 Regulation is starting to change marketsAbout
World Fund helps to decarbonise the global economy.As a climate tech VC, World Fund is driven by tackling the climate crisis and only invests in technologies with scalable businesses and significant emissions savings potential. World Fund supports startups from early to growth stage, focusing on Energy, Food and Agriculture, Manufacturing, Buildings, and Mobility.
Further Links
Carbon Drawdown Potentialhttps://www.worldfund.vc/knowledge/how-to-measure-the-climate-performance-potential-of-startupsPortfolio Companies:
https://www.cylib.de/https://faircado.com/https://www.ecoworks.tech/https://planet-a-foods.com/One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/leveraging-new-technologies-to-decarbonise-the-economy-with-mark-windeknecht-from-world-fund-venture-capital/Transcript
See the episode page for the transcript: https://circularity.fm/leveraging-new-technologies-to-decarbonise-the-economy-with-mark-windeknecht-from-world-fund-venture-capital/35 min - Plastic waste as a business opportunity in Asia & Latin America with Ellen Martin from Circulate Capital | Venture CapitalRecycling and Materials Innovation around the world
Ocean plastics are a danger to the environment and humans. Cleaning it up and avoiding it from happening is a business opportunity, though.
In this episode, Ellen Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Circulate Capital, presents how the circular startups in their portfolio tackle the plastics crisis while running profitable businesses. With venture capital investments in Asia and Latin America, Ellen highlights commonalities and differences of markets in these continents. She illustrates the dependency of circular business models on local circumstances.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
People
Ellen Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Circulate Capitalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenmartinsf/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/Chapters
00:00 Intro01:23 Getting to Know Ellen Martin02:56 Start with corporate investors05:34 The investment focus on plastic circularity07:56 Assessment of Circular and Social Impact as part of the Due Diligence13:37 Integrating circular impact and commercial success18:21 Balancing local feedstock supply and international scale19:54 Reasons for starting in Asia23:29 The relevance of vertically integrated models24:44 The challenges of technology transfer to emerging markets26:09 Scaling potential of different business models29:00 Having an impact and building a business simultaneously29:39 Undervalued companies, the role of regulation and local for local ecosystemsAbout
Circulate Capital is a leading circular economy investment management firm in high-growth markets.Circulate Capital partners with global brands and institutional investors to invest into solutions that catalyze systems change across the globe. The financing transforms circular plastic supply chains at scale, delivering competitive financial returns and positive impact.
Further Links
https://www.circulatecapital.com/Calculator:
https://www.thecirculateinitiative.org/plastic-lifecycle-assessment-calculator-for-the-environment-and-society/Portfolio companies:
https://www.tridi-oasis.com/https://www.lucro.in/https://www.preventedoceanplastic.com/https://www.earthodic.com/One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/plastic-waste-as-a-business-opportunity-in-asia-latin-america-with-ellen-martin-from-circulate-capital/33 min - Investing in Circular Business Models in North America & Europe with Maya Hassa from Circular Innovation Fund - VCSupporting Startups with Smart Money and Collaboration with Corporate Clients
What is the better place to launch a circular statup, the US or Europe?
In this episode, Maya Hassa, Principal at Circular Innovation Fund, discusses regional differences in circular business models and stresses the possibilities a fund can offer startups when working with corporate limited partners.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
People
Maya Hassa, Principal at Circular Innovation FundLhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-hassa/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/Chapters
00:00 Intro01:34 Introduction to Maya's Background01:57 Understanding Circularity at Circular Innovation Fund02:27 Investment Goals and Metrics04:24 Corporate and Financial Investors06:31 Broad Investment Scope and Strategies12:54 Regional Differences in Circular Economy18:08 Challenges and Opportunities in Circular Economy24:27 Future Trends and Final ThoughtsAbout
The Circular Innovation Fund (“CIF”) is a global growth-stage venture capital fund led by Cycle Capital and Demeter, leading cleantech capital managers, focused exclusively on circular innovation, striving to positively contribute to climate change mitigation and the circular use of resources.Further Links
https://circularinnovationfund.com/One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/investing-in-circular-business-models-in-north-america-europe-by-maya-hassa-circular-innovation-fund/"29 min - Veganz's Journey in Becoming a Cutting-edge FoodTech Company by Anja Brachmüller, Veganz | CIRCULAZE SummitInventing a new Vertical Farming Business
What happens when the local farmers refuse to work with you? You build your own vertical farming factory.
In this episode, Anja Brachmüller, COO at Veganz, shares the company's remarkable 13-year evolution from a single supermarket to an innovative food tech powerhouse with three factories across Europe. Discover how a small cashew cheese operation transformed Veganz's business model, and learn about their groundbreaking vertical farming technology that grows protein-rich peas using just 5% of the water required for traditional agriculture - potentially solving food security challenges worldwide.
This episode is part of the series about the CIRCULAZE Summit from November 2024.
People
Anja Brachmüller, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board, Veganz Group AGhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-brachm%C3%BCller-928441140/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/About
Veganz Group AG is a Berlin-based publicly traded company specializing in plant-based food products, offering over 165 items like vegan cheese, meat alternatives, and sweets across 26 countries. Founded in 2011, it operates as a multi-category provider with products available in over 15,000 retail locations, emphasizing sustainability and innovation. The company focuses on in-house production expansion and aims to be Europe’s largest producer of plant-based cheese alternativesFurther Links
https://veganz.com/https://vegconomist.de/agrarwirtschaft/veganz-und-die-koerber-technologies-orbifarm/
One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/veganzs-journey-in-becoming-a-cutting-edge-foodtech-company-by-anja-brachmuller-veganz/11 min - The challenging “New Work World” in the circular economy by Andreas Jenne, REHAU | CIRCULAZE SummitCooperation for circular plastics
Everyone says that the circular economy needs cooperation. But how is that supposed to work? Do it like Andreas.
In the KARE project, sixteen organisations are working to establish a regional competence centre for labour research into the circular economy of plastics. Companies of different sizes and degrees of maturity have to come together, as do competitors. In his talk at the CIRCULAZE Summit, Andreas Jenne, Head of Sustainability at REHAU Technologies, reports how the partners are coming together. It is only possible at eye level, with personal dialogue, simple KPIs and pragmatic R-strategies.
This episode is part of the series about the CIRCULAZE Summit from November 2024.
People
Andreas Jenne, Head of Sustainability, REHAU Industrieshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-jenne-4a76643a/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/About
REHAU is a global, family-owned polymer solutions company founded in 1948, specializing in innovative systems for construction, automotive, and industrial sectors, with over 20,000 employees across 190+ locations. Its core offerings include energy-efficient building solutions, automotive components, and industrial polymer applications, driven by sustainability and material innovation.Further Links
https://www.rehau.com/de-de/karehttps://www.zukunft-der-wertschoepfung.de/projekte/kompetenzen-aufbauen-fr-die-kreislaufwirtschaft-von-kunststoffen-kare/
https://circulaze.com/summit/
One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/the-challenging-new-work-world-in-the-circular-economy-by-andreas-jenne-rehau/14 min - Transitioning From the Linear to Circular Value Chain for Solar PVs by Pamela Ong, E.ON | CIRCULAZE SummitA systemic approach including product design, collaboration and regulation
The expansion of Solar energy is progressing rapidly. But how do we keep this new equipment in circulation?
Pamela Ong presents a systematic analysis of the solar panel supply chain. It covers product design and stakeholder collaboration as well as supply chain incentives and regulation. Pamela's talk is based on a new report from Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, E.ON Group Innovation and Institute for Manufacturing Engage, that explores the challenges and circular solutions associated with the expected increase in end-of-life solar PV waste over the coming years.
This episode is part of the series about the CIRCULAZE Summit from November 2024.
People
Pamela Ong, Senior Innovation Manager, E.ON Group Innovationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-ong-29081513/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/About
E.ON is one of Europe's largest energy companies with the business areas of energy networks, energy infrastructure solutions and energy sales. With the 1.6 million kilometre-long energy distribution grid and around 47 million customers, E.ON is playing a leading role in shaping a green, digital, and decentralised energy worldFurther Links
https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/news-and-resources/publications/circular-solar-opportunities-increased-circularity-solar-pv-industryOne-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/transitioning-from-the-linear-to-circular-value-chain-for-solar-pvs-pamela-ong-eon/9 min - Urban Mining of the Patrick-Henry-Village: Heidelberg's Vision for a Circular Economy in Construction, M. Heinrich, EPEAWhat it needs to reuse components and materials of old buildings
The construction industry consumes the most new resources. At the same time, they have access to an enormous reservoir of materials: old buildings. But how can these urban mines be tapped?
In his presentation, Matthias Heinrich uses the example of the Patrick Henry Village in Heidelberg to explain what is needed to reuse old buildings. You can find his presentation with illustrations on the episode's website.
This episode is part of the series about the CIRCULAZE Summit from November 2024.
People
Matthias A. Heinrich, Team Lead, EPEAhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-a-heinrich/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/Presentation Slides
Please find the presented slides here https://circularity.fm/urban-mining-of-the-patrick-henry-village-heidelbergs-vision-for-a-circular-economy-in-construction-by-matthias-heinrich-epea/About
As a partner for safe, environmentally friendly and circular industrial products, buildings and urban neighbourhoods, EPEA develops solutions for the circular economy. To this end, EPEA applies the Cradle to Cradle® design concept, which the company helped to develop: Sustainable living spaces require circular buildings and products made from materials and chemicals that are harmless to both people and the environment.Further Links
https://www.epea.com/enhttps://www.heidelberg.de/Konversion/Startseite+Konversion/Patrick+Henry+Village.html (in German)
One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/urban-mining-of-the-patrick-henry-village-heidelbergs-vision-for-a-circular-economy-in-construction-by-matthias-heinrich-epea/11 min - The Human Factor in Circular Fashion by Serena Bonomi, On | Circular FashionFrom Products and Design to Emotions and Systems
The circular gap is immense, even in the fashion industry. Why is it not possible to do business more circularly?
Serena Bonomi cites several reasons: from emotionality to incentives to the question of the economic system. Hear for yourself how a pioneer in circular fashion outlines problems and solutions.
This episode is part of the series about the CIRCULAZE Summit from November 2024.
People
Serena Bonomi, Circular Strategy & Innovation Consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/serenabonomi/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/About
Serena worked as an independent Circular Strategy & Design Consultant, with previous jobs at Zalando and VF Corporation (Napapijri), she was appointed Head of Circularity at On in February 2025.One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/the-human-factor-in-circular-fashion-by-serena-bonomi-circular-strategy-innovation-consultant/"13 min - Family Business transform towards circular value creation by Carl-Luis Rieger, WEPA | CIRCULAZE Summit | Venture CapitalCombining Circular Strategy, Business Development and Venture Capital
Many family businesses are smart. That is why they look into circular business opportunities. But how can circularity be integrated into their corporate strategy?
In this episode, Carl-Luis Rieger, unfolds the circular strategy of WEPA, a family business and European leader in producing hygienic paper. Looking into business development close to the core business, reducing and repurposing production waste and investing in startups close to the value chain.
This episode is part of the CIRCULAZE Summit series from November 2024.
People
Carl-Luis Rieger, Managing Director at WEPA Ventureshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-luisrieger/Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/About
The WEPA Group is a future-oriented family business operating throughout Europe which offers sustainable and innovative hygiene solutions that provide a safe feeling of hygiene and contribute daily to the well-being of millions of people. WEPA is one of the three largest European manufacturers and are experts in the production of tissue paper from recycled fibers.Further Links
https://www.wepa.euhttps://circulaze.com/One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/family-business-transform-towards-circular-value-creation-by-carl-luis-rieger-wepa-circulaze-summit/"12 min - Collaboration Now! Circular Economy as strategic business lever by Nina Fechler, Evonik | CIRCULAZE SUMMITLearnigns from a Director Global Circular Economy
Championing circularity in a big company can be tough. But what if you could learn from someone who's already navigated the challenges? Let's uncover their key takeaways!
In this episode, Nina Fechler, Director Global Circular Economy Program at Evonik, shares her three major learnings from the last years. They involve attitude towards the business, collaboration, and the right timing.
This episode is part of the CIRCULAZE Summit series from November 2024.
People
Nina Fechler, Director Global Circular Economy Program, Evonikhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ninafechler/Patrick Hypscher, Co-Founder of Green PO, Expert in Sustainable Business Models
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/About Evonik
Evonik is one of the world’s leading speciality chemicals companies. While Evonik doesn't produce electric cars, aircraft, medications or 3D printers, Evonik is part and parcel of these and many other end products. That’s because Evonik contributes the small things that make a big difference. Evonik makes electric car batteries perform better, aircraft greener, medications more effective and 3D printers more efficient.Further Links
https://www.evonik.com/One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/collaboration-now-circular-economy-as-strategic-business-lever-by-nina-fechler-evonik/"13 min
About Circularity.fm
From the publisher's feed
Circularity.fm is the podcast about understanding, building and managing circular business models.
Most episode showcase one specific organisation that runs a circular business model or a business model in the circular economy. This can be a startup, an established SME or a business field of a corporate. Hence, interviews are both about founding and funding a circular business as well as transforming an existing linear business to a circular one, be it in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa or Australia. The podcast focuses on experiences made in this build-up and transformation phase.