BEAWaRe is a pioneering environmental services platform that focuses on digital waste tracking to assist industries in minimizing waste and transitioning into the Circular Economy. The company's software facilitates the traceability of industrial waste, transforming it into a valuable resource. It also includes features for tariff calculation, offering discounts to citizens who produce less waste. By enhancing waste collection efficiency, BEAWaRe provides municipalities, companies, and citizens with critical data for optimizing waste management services. This strategic data analysis not only promotes sustainability but also aims to significantly reduce waste collection costs.
CICLA 3D provides 3D printing filaments based on composite and recycled materials of a high definition in 3D printing. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Concepción, Chile.
Nyungu Afrika is a circular economy using agricultural waste, pineapple leaves, and corn husk fibers. They offer services for agricultural waste like pineapple and corn husk fibers.
Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Kadeya is a closed-loop water vending business founded by Manuela Zoninsein. The company offers a service that features digitally connected reusable water bottles and compact bottling equipment. By leveraging technology, Kadeya provides recyclable, non-porous water bottles filled with locally sourced water from convenient vending stations. This approach aims to help office managers lower costs and overhead while minimizing operational challenges and health risks associated with traditional water delivery methods.
Simplifyber is changing the way clothes are created, transforming the world's $1.5 trillion Apparel Industry and 250-year old factory system into sustainable, additive manufacturing. By assembling clothes with chemistry rather than with sewing machines, the Simplifyber process eliminates much of the waste, carbon emissions, and water pollution that have led to fashion’s devastating environmental and social impact in recent years. Efficient, plant-based and closed-loop, Simplifyber is revolutionizing the way the world manufactures clothing with its proprietary technology and cutting-edge techniques.
The Rheaply Platform is a cloud-based resource exchange technology application for connecting people and organizations with resources to those who need them, improving reuse outcomes and catalyzing the circular economy. As the only market solution that combines an asset management system with an online marketplace, Rheaply’s platform enables organizations to exchange materials and resources more effectively, eliminating unnecessary waste and spend. To learn more about Rheaply, visit rheaply.com or follow @RheaplyInc.
Derived from the words ECO, meaning not harmful to the environment and STATUS QUO, meaning an existing state or condition, EQUO stands for the ideal of creating a world of products with minimal impact to the environment.
SaveSpace offers a storage solution designed to optimize urban living by reducing the need for in-city storage. The company provides an online platform that allows users to manage their belongings efficiently, including options to store, move, sell, rent, donate, or dispose of items sustainably with just one click. By facilitating the pickup and return of stored items, SaveSpace enables customers to maintain a clutter-free home while only paying for the storage they require. This approach not only helps individuals save money and space but also contributes to the efficient use of urban environments by relocating storage needs to ex-urban areas.
Ecolectro is bringing scalable, low-cost, clean green hydrogen energy to the very near future. Our electrolyzers integrate patented polymers into durable, high performance stacks. Our scientists and engineers design and build units with our exceptional membranes and electrodes, delivering high production rates and efficiency of pure hydrogen without the need for platinum, iridium and titanium. We continue to push the limits of electrolysis technology with an emphasis on research and willingness to challenge assumptions.
Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Silvis Materials specializes in the development of 100% bio-based, sustainable binders and adhesives aimed at transforming packaging, building materials, and consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on reducing carbon emissions and plastic waste through its biodegradable products, which enable enhanced recycling processes. By collaborating with industrial building supply firms, packaging companies, and consumer goods manufacturers, Silvis seeks to minimize the reliance on formaldehyde and petroleum-based binders, matching the price points of traditional petroleum-based emulsions. Their innovative bio-renewable and biodegradable technology not only addresses landfill pollution and chemical waste in waterways but also assists corporations in meeting global emissions regulations while advancing their sustainability objectives.
Xworks AI is a software company focused on creating a smart social marketplace specifically for the waste and recovery industry, along with related sectors. By leveraging technology, Xworks aims to innovate processes that divert significant amounts of waste from landfills and illegal dumping, while enhancing recycling efforts and promoting sustainability within a circular economy. The company provides a waste and recycling data platform that facilitates scrap trading by utilizing compliance data and matching supply with demand. This approach allows stakeholders in waste management to achieve greater transparency and integration in their exchanges, ultimately fostering a more efficient and sustainable waste management ecosystem.
Ecocrumb, a Techstars portfolio company, helps businesses to track and manage their environmental and social impacts. the all-in-one software platform helps companies to collect and visualize sustainability data, set priorities, and take actions that matter. The dashboard view shows company performance on indicators such as emissions, energy use, diversity, community investment, etc. Easy-to-use data analytics and reporting tools help businesses to communicate their positive sustainability story to a variety of stakeholders. Ecocrumb is like having a sustainability team in a box — saving them time and resources — and helping them to implement sustainable practices more quickly and easily.
Simplifyber is changing the way clothes are created, transforming the world's $1.5 trillion Apparel Industry and 250-year old factory system into sustainable, additive manufacturing. By assembling clothes with chemistry rather than with sewing machines, the Simplifyber process eliminates much of the waste, carbon emissions, and water pollution that have led to fashion’s devastating environmental and social impact in recent years. Efficient, plant-based and closed-loop, Simplifyber is revolutionizing the way the world manufactures clothing with its proprietary technology and cutting-edge techniques.
Innovakote extracts wasted powder coating into fresh powder through its proprietary recycling process, eliminating waste and reducing the carbon footprint of the industry’s supply chain. It was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Kent City, Michigan.
Khepra is a company based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on transforming plastics and agricultural waste into renewable fuels using innovative technology. The company employs a proprietary process that combines ultrasonic technology, frictive heating, cavitation, and acoustic pressure to efficiently break down waste streams. This method utilizes excess renewable electricity generated from solar and wind sources, particularly during times of low energy generation or curtailment. By converting waste into drop-in fuels and renewable chemicals without extraction, Khepra aims to support industries in their transition towards cleaner energy solutions and promote sustainability.
Cancrie specializes in producing sustainable advanced materials for energy storage devices by converting waste into high-quality battery components. This innovative approach offers a drop-in solution that enhances the efficiency of energy storage systems, including batteries and capacitors. The company’s patented materials require fewer chemicals compared to traditional options, making them not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. By focusing on renewable resources and achieving net-zero emissions, Cancrie enables businesses to improve their energy storage capabilities while minimizing their ecological footprint.
EnviCore is a growing R&D company offering innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. EnviCore's developed technologies have the potential to introduce a step-change in the holistic approach of the mining tailings treatment. Providing a low cost and environmentally friendly alternative, coupled with the superior performance and efficiency, which can change the adverse narrative associated with mining waste and its environmental impact and help mining operators achieve new resource developments more responsibly.
Hya Bioplastics is a startup that creates biodegradable packaging from re-engineered plant fibers. Using its proprietary decentralized manufacturing technology, it makes cost-competitive biodegradable food packaging and develops a patent-pending process that re-engineers plant fibers to produce bioplastics.
Dispatch Goods is a climate tech startup that is disrupting the waste industry by developing the missing reuse platform for restaurants & food delivery. The company’s proprietary approach generates immediate cost savings for enterprise customers and reduces their carbon footprint. Co-founded and led by Lindsey Hoell and Maia Tekle, Dispatch Goods is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Treet launched their own completely branded peer-to-peer resale platform to assist fashion firms in becoming more circular and in controlling the secondary market for the products they make. In order to buy and sell used goods from one another, customers of Treet Marketplaces use a secondary website that accepts payments in the form of cash or brand credit. While brands split the profits, Treet takes care of all the logistics and support. Treet was established in 2021 by Jake Disraeli and Sonia Yang in San Francisco, California.
Smartbin.io alerts users when the bin is full and tracks how much waste or recycling is generated each day. It allows users to create classes tailored to their assets and receive weekly reports on estimated waste generation by volume.
At Valyuu, we’re shaping the future of commerce by empowering brands to embrace circularity and sustainability. From seamless trade-in programs to full-stack recommerce solutions, we’re helping businesses meet growing consumer demands for environmentally friendly practices. Join us on our mission to create a circular-first world where products are given new life and businesses unlock new revenue streams, all while reducing their environmental footprint. Together, we’re building a more sustainable future! Backed by Techstars, Slingshot Ventures, Rubio Impact Ventures and Golden Egg Check Capital.
HILOS is a radically new way to make footwear, blending 3D printing and algorithmic design for a new level of creativity and comfort while delivering a zero-waste future. Its end-to-end innovation platform enables brands to design and launch footwear digitally crafted by HILOS without inventory or end-of-life waste. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Portland, Oregon, United States.
F3nice is an Italian Innovative Start-Up that provides cross-cutting competencies for Additive Manufacturing in terms of material science, process engineering, product development, and design of single/complex components, within a Circular Economy framework, with a focus on Business Sustainability.
Ecolectro is bringing scalable, low-cost, clean green hydrogen energy to the very near future. Our electrolyzers integrate patented polymers into durable, high performance stacks. Our scientists and engineers design and build units with our exceptional membranes and electrodes, delivering high production rates and efficiency of pure hydrogen without the need for platinum, iridium and titanium. We continue to push the limits of electrolysis technology with an emphasis on research and willingness to challenge assumptions.
Falcon Technologies is an economic solution for reusing & recycling produced and flow back water at the wellsite.
Hyperion Global Energy is focused on advancing carbon capture and recycling technology on an industrial scale. The company has developed innovative thermal reactors that aim to divert waste carbon dioxide emissions from heavy industry and convert them into valuable mineral commodities. Utilizing patented technology, Hyperion is capable of generating significant amounts of power in a compact design. This approach not only addresses the energy crisis but also contributes to mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, helping clients deliver affordable, clean, and safe energy solutions.
Treet launched their own completely branded peer-to-peer resale platform to assist fashion firms in becoming more circular and in controlling the secondary market for the products they make. In order to buy and sell used goods from one another, customers of Treet Marketplaces use a secondary website that accepts payments in the form of cash or brand credit. While brands split the profits, Treet takes care of all the logistics and support. Treet was established in 2021 by Jake Disraeli and Sonia Yang in San Francisco, California.
Mushroom Material is a sustainable and home compostable mushroom based packaging material that has the same protective properties as polystyrene/ styrofoam but naturally degrades within months. It is customisable to any shape, size, density, hardness and surface finish of the product. It has a limitless sustainable supply and is also fire resistant and waterproof. We can match the mechanical properties of polystyrene and replace any existing parts with a sustainable Mushroom equivalent.
Mobile Fluid Recovery is a company that specializes in waste separation technology aimed at transforming industrial waste into reusable resources. Founded in 2012 and based in Seguin, Texas, the company employs patented methods to effectively separate liquids from solids in various industrial waste streams, including solvent wipes, oil absorbents, and industrial sludges. By providing on-site recycling services, Mobile Fluid Recovery minimizes the need for waste transportation, which reduces risks and lowers carbon emissions. Customers benefit from significant cost savings of 30-50% compared to traditional disposal methods, with many instances where waste material is converted into a profitable resource.
Pretred repurposes waste tires and plastics into innovative and efficient industrial use barriers and blocks. It makes green products having superior benefits and replaces one of the most destructive materials on earth i.e. concrete, enabling governments, construction companies, and private entities to use more sustainable products available at subsidized costs. The company was founded in 2020 and is based in Lakewood, Colorado.
Magnimer Compounds develops Polyhydroxyalkanoate ( PHA) system to finally bring PHA to market. Magnimer Compound has a microbially-derived Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) system that provides a sustainable, durable, biodegradable polymer to supplant petroleum plastics in consumer applications.
Arqlite specializes in transforming complex plastic waste into innovative, eco-friendly materials for the construction industry. Utilizing a proprietary process, the company effectively recycles all types of plastics, including those typically deemed non-recyclable, which make up a significant portion of plastic waste. The result is a lightweight artificial gravel that serves multiple applications in construction, precast concrete, and landscaping. This product is not only a greener alternative but also functions as a superior insulator and is three times lighter than traditional materials, offering both environmental benefits and cost savings. Additionally, Arqlite has developed a homogenized composite pellet suitable for injection molding and extrusion, further promoting a circular economy and enabling businesses to provide sustainable solutions while reducing reliance on landfills.
Phoenix Tailings, is building technology to enable the recycling and re-mining of Bauxite Residue (“Red Mud”) - a hazardous by-product in the aluminum industry - to extract strategic materials which are critical to the Defense, Automotive, Electronics and Biotech industries. The company was founded with the mission to revolutionize the mining industry by enabling new sources of strategic materials, sustainably and economically.
The Rheaply Platform is a cloud-based resource exchange technology application for connecting people and organizations with resources to those who need them, improving reuse outcomes and catalyzing the circular economy. As the only market solution that combines an asset management system with an online marketplace, Rheaply’s platform enables organizations to exchange materials and resources more effectively, eliminating unnecessary waste and spend. To learn more about Rheaply, visit rheaply.com or follow @RheaplyInc.
GeoFluxus is an academic spin-off company that specializes on research projects. GeoFluxus develops an open-source platform for mapping public waste data as the essential trigger for a Circular Economy. The company uses technological solutions to take care of data sensitivity and legislative agreements. GeoFluxus aims to upscale the platform to include broader geographical and material range, improve user friendliness, interoperability, and analytical capabilities.
We developed a microbial cocktail that degrades, metabolises and mineralizes fossil based plastics. Our process is applicable to all sorts of single-use plastics (PET, PP, LDPE, HDPE, PS, CPE, EVA -all tested) and can operate under suboptimal conditions. we have tested these plastics separately and mixed in together as well. The listed plastics are post-consumer waste plastics: colored, clear, sterilized and plastics with food debris on them. This method not only solves the plastic issue but also generates valuable end-products: bioplastics and biogas. With these, our aim is to create a circular, thus more sustainable economy. The process itself can be described as follows: we take a blend of hydrocarbon based plastics, put them in a batch with the bacteria, our minimal essential media and water. Afterwards in about two days we can macroscopically confirm the beginning of the degradation process. Complete degradation of the polymers will take about two months.
Zeno Power is a company that creates advanced power systems that use radioisotopes. The company intends to increase the production of small-scale nuclear batteries capable of powering spacecraft and undersea technologies for years. Zeno, founded in 2018 by three Vanderbilt University students, intends to be the first to enter the commercial market with a novel new combination of affordability and lightweight.
Alkemy Environmental is a cleantech company that offers recycling services to its clients. The company recycles industrial waste streams into concrete aggregate. Its product portfolio consists of expandable lightweight aggregate, ultra lightweight aggregate, and high strength lightweight aggregate. Furthermore, it offers waste management services to its clients. Alkemy Environmental was founded in 2008 by Sofia Bethani and Peter Kombouras and is based in Massachusetts.
Twelve is a carbon transformation company converting captured carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals, fuels, and other essential products. Their technology eliminates emissions by turning CO2 into essential products that are made from fossil fuels. They specialize in the fields of CO2 electrocatalysis and electrochemical reactor design.
Mobius specializes in transforming industrial organic waste streams into environmentally friendly chemicals and materials. The company focuses on utilizing waste generated by the agriculture, forestry, paper, and biofuel industries to develop sustainable solutions. Its flagship product is a proprietary biodegradable polymer derived from lignin, a natural byproduct produced in large quantities by the paper and biofuel sectors. This biopolymer is designed to replace conventional plastics, offering biodegradable plastic pellets suitable for various applications, including horticulture, agriculture, and food service packaging. By promoting the concept of eliminating waste, Mobius aims to create a more sustainable future through innovative material solutions.
Zeno Power is a company that creates advanced power systems that use radioisotopes. The company intends to increase the production of small-scale nuclear batteries capable of powering spacecraft and undersea technologies for years. Zeno, founded in 2018 by three Vanderbilt University students, intends to be the first to enter the commercial market with a novel new combination of affordability and lightweight.
Cruz Foam develops structural foams intended to help end the global issue of plastic pollution from oceans. It produces bio-benign foam and eco-friendly EPS-alternative solutions that powers key industry leaders to be the catalyst for a cleaner environment. The company's products are produced from naturally sourced biopolymers that create a scalable, compostable alternative using the existing supply chain and at a similar cost. Current industry partners include consumer electronics, appliances, shipping, and consumer packaged goods. Cruz Foam was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California.
Employing and incorporating the model of Circular Economy to achieve our vision. We are on a mission to judicially and responsibly use limited available resources. Creating a positive impact in the environment is the core purpose of our organization. The ability to make a change and being a significant contributor of that change drives them.
KITRO is a Swiss company founded in 2016 that specializes in IT solutions for food waste management within the food and beverage industry. By leveraging AI-driven technology, KITRO offers a software-as-a-service platform that automates the measurement and analysis of food waste in commercial kitchens, including restaurants and canteens. This solution enables clients to track, monitor, and reduce their food waste significantly, with reported savings of 2-8% on annual food costs and a minimum reduction of 20% in avoidable food waste. The company provides an online dashboard that delivers insights and analysis, allowing customers to optimize operational practices and improve sustainability in their food handling processes.
Goodr is a sustainable food surplus management platform that leverages technology to reduce food waste and combat hunger. They provide an end-to-end solution for businesses seeking to earn money from their edible food waste by donating it to local nonprofit organizations. Their platform provides the logistics, analytics, and security for businesses to earn deductions under the PATH act in compliance with the Internal Revenue Services. Goodr’s blockchain-enabled platform also provides an IRS audit-friendly donation record, real-time food waste analytics, and community impact reports. Their model aims to provide a triple-win situation: improve the business’ bottom line through tax deductions, reduce greenhouse emissions from landfills, and use edible food waste to reduce hunger.
The Rheaply Platform is a cloud-based resource exchange technology application for connecting people and organizations with resources to those who need them, improving reuse outcomes and catalyzing the circular economy. As the only market solution that combines an asset management system with an online marketplace, Rheaply’s platform enables organizations to exchange materials and resources more effectively, eliminating unnecessary waste and spend. To learn more about Rheaply, visit rheaply.com or follow @RheaplyInc.
Renewal Mill is an ingredients company based in Oakland, California, founded in 2016, that focuses on reducing food waste by upcycling byproducts from food manufacturing. The company specializes in transforming okara, a byproduct of soymilk production, into high-quality ingredients such as gluten-free flour, which is rich in protein and fiber. Renewal Mill also produces consumer packaged goods, including a vegan okara chocolate chip cookie. Its products are available for purchase online and are distributed in convenience stores and tech company offices throughout the Bay Area, with plans for nationwide distribution. By utilizing its proprietary technology and establishing partnerships with food manufacturers, Renewal Mill aims to create a circular economy in the food industry that enhances nutrition and combats health issues like heart disease and obesity.
Goodr is a sustainable food surplus management platform that leverages technology to reduce food waste and combat hunger. They provide an end-to-end solution for businesses seeking to earn money from their edible food waste by donating it to local nonprofit organizations. Their platform provides the logistics, analytics, and security for businesses to earn deductions under the PATH act in compliance with the Internal Revenue Services. Goodr’s blockchain-enabled platform also provides an IRS audit-friendly donation record, real-time food waste analytics, and community impact reports. Their model aims to provide a triple-win situation: improve the business’ bottom line through tax deductions, reduce greenhouse emissions from landfills, and use edible food waste to reduce hunger.
KITRO is a Swiss company founded in 2016 that specializes in IT solutions for food waste management within the food and beverage industry. By leveraging AI-driven technology, KITRO offers a software-as-a-service platform that automates the measurement and analysis of food waste in commercial kitchens, including restaurants and canteens. This solution enables clients to track, monitor, and reduce their food waste significantly, with reported savings of 2-8% on annual food costs and a minimum reduction of 20% in avoidable food waste. The company provides an online dashboard that delivers insights and analysis, allowing customers to optimize operational practices and improve sustainability in their food handling processes.
Vartega Inc. specializes in recycling carbon fiber, a material known for its strength and lightweight properties, primarily serving the aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and sporting goods sectors. Founded in 2014 and based in Golden, Colorado, Vartega has developed a patented recycling process that produces low-cost carbon fiber suitable for various applications, including thermoplastic pellets, nonwoven fabrics, yarns, and three-dimensional printing filament. The company’s technology effectively diverts carbon fiber scrap and waste from landfills, contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing fuel economy in vehicles. Vartega's carbon fiber is available in multiple forms, including semi-continuous, chopped, and milled, making it adaptable for mass-market use.
Rocket Innovations connects natural writing surfaces to the cloud using your smartphone. Our flagship Rocketbook notebook combines the freedom of pen and paper with the utility of cloud services. It also erases itself in a microwave. The Rocketbook has become one of the most widely funded Indiegogo campaigns ever.