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How to Get VC funding for Circular and Impact-driven Startups with Charlotte Lafont from Ring Capital
What startups need to know about impact KPIs, product–market fit, and scaling
"What does it take for circular and impact-driven startups to raise funding from VCs?
In this episode, Charlotte Lafont, Principal at Ring Capital, explains how funds can integrate impact into every stage of the investment process, from evaluating impact intentionality to setting KPIs that are audited and tied to carried interest. Charlotte highlights what circular founders need to demonstrate to attract funding: strong product–market fit, alignment with existing value chains, and the ability to scale beyond niche markets.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
People
Charlotte Lafont, Principal at Ring Capital
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-lafont-5a9b4b4a/
Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:37 About Ring Capital
04:27 Ring Capital's investor base and fund structure
07:18 The role of impact in Ring Capital's investment thesis
09:09 Defining impact: Intentionality, Additionality, and Measurability
13:06 Integrating impact into the due diligence process
15:38 Using impact scorecards to guide investment decisions
18:10 Impact Business Case usage and industry-specific examples
22:17 Auditing impact performance and linking KPIs to carried interest
23:47 Investment focus: sub-groups for materials
25:09 Sector drivers for packaging, construction and food
27:54 Deep dive into the waste management sector
30:14 Importance of integrating innovation and technology into existing value chains
32:32 Tips for circular founders applying for funding
33:58 Trends in circular businesses in the next three years
35:48 What kind of listeners should reach out to Ring Capital?
About
Ring Capital is a Paris-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in fast-growing tech and impact companies, with a focus on addressing major social and environmental challenges. Managing over €400 million in assets, Ring Capital supports startups and scale-ups across Europe and Africa through investments, hands-on growth support, and specialized impact funds.
Its ecosystem includes dedicated programs for growth tech, impact ventures, and philanthropic initiatives, all aimed at fostering innovation and positive societal change.
Further Links
About Ring Capital:
https://www.ringcp.com/
https://www.ringcp.com/portfolio/
https://www.ringcp.com/ecosystem
https://ringcapital.substack.com/p/the-eu-needs-to-make-impact-investing
United for Impact Initiative:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedforimpact/
Latest investment in the waste industry:
https://www.lixo.tech/
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/how-to-get-vc-funding-for-circular-and-impact-driven-startups-with-charlotte-lafont-from-ring-capital/
View all episodes
By Patrick Hypscher
5
11 ratings
What startups need to know about impact KPIs, product–market fit, and scaling
"What does it take for circular and impact-driven startups to raise funding from VCs?
In this episode, Charlotte Lafont, Principal at Ring Capital, explains how funds can integrate impact into every stage of the investment process, from evaluating impact intentionality to setting KPIs that are audited and tied to carried interest. Charlotte highlights what circular founders need to demonstrate to attract funding: strong product–market fit, alignment with existing value chains, and the ability to scale beyond niche markets.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
People
Charlotte Lafont, Principal at Ring Capital
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-lafont-5a9b4b4a/
Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:37 About Ring Capital
04:27 Ring Capital's investor base and fund structure
07:18 The role of impact in Ring Capital's investment thesis
09:09 Defining impact: Intentionality, Additionality, and Measurability
13:06 Integrating impact into the due diligence process
15:38 Using impact scorecards to guide investment decisions
18:10 Impact Business Case usage and industry-specific examples
22:17 Auditing impact performance and linking KPIs to carried interest
23:47 Investment focus: sub-groups for materials
25:09 Sector drivers for packaging, construction and food
27:54 Deep dive into the waste management sector
30:14 Importance of integrating innovation and technology into existing value chains
32:32 Tips for circular founders applying for funding
33:58 Trends in circular businesses in the next three years
35:48 What kind of listeners should reach out to Ring Capital?
About
Ring Capital is a Paris-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in fast-growing tech and impact companies, with a focus on addressing major social and environmental challenges. Managing over €400 million in assets, Ring Capital supports startups and scale-ups across Europe and Africa through investments, hands-on growth support, and specialized impact funds.
Its ecosystem includes dedicated programs for growth tech, impact ventures, and philanthropic initiatives, all aimed at fostering innovation and positive societal change.
Further Links
About Ring Capital:
https://www.ringcp.com/
https://www.ringcp.com/portfolio/
https://www.ringcp.com/ecosystem
https://ringcapital.substack.com/p/the-eu-needs-to-make-impact-investing
United for Impact Initiative:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedforimpact/
Latest investment in the waste industry:
https://www.lixo.tech/
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/how-to-get-vc-funding-for-circular-and-impact-driven-startups-with-charlotte-lafont-from-ring-capital/