Circular Valley seeks the next Circular Economy Innovators
26.06.2026Application phase now open: Innovative companies can apply until July 19, 2026. Circular Valley is looking for solutions ranging from plastics recycling and textiles to AI-powered circular economy innovations.
Batch 10 visited the Rhine-Ruhr-Region in spring
© Jan Turek/Circular Valley
As raw materials become scarcer, regulatory requirements increase, and companies seek more resilient supply chains, the circular economy is evolving from an environmental initiative into a key competitive factor for industry. This is also the focus of the eleventh edition of the Circular Economy Accelerator by Circular Valley – the world’s only in-person accelerator program dedicated exclusively to the circular economy. Startups from around the globe can now apply to join the program, which has helped more than 178 startups raise a combined total of over € 350 million since its launch in 2021. Applications are open until July 19, 2026.
The accelerator is seeking early-stage companies whose innovative technologies, business models, and digital solutions help keep resources in circulation, recover critical raw materials, and make industrial processes more sustainable and economically viable.
For the upcoming cohort, the Circular Economy Accelerator jury has defined seven focus areas:
- Plastics: Circular economy solutions for plastics used in durable products and packaging, including higher recycled-content rates and improved material quality, up to and including food-grade applications.
- Reverse Logistics: Economically viable take-back and logistics solutions for returning products and materials into the value chain.
- Textiles: Innovative approaches to keeping textiles and fiber materials in open or closed loops – from product design and collection systems to recycling technologies.
- Circular Design: Product designs for durable goods that enable reuse, repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing.
- Raw Materials: New methods for recovering critical and strategic raw materials from end-of-life products, batteries, electronics, and industrial residues.
- Value Chain Orchestration: Circular supply chains and processes, for example for the reuse of chemicals or industrial components.
In addition, startups can apply through the Wildcard category with other innovative circular economy solutions, including applications in the field of artificial intelligence.
“The themes of this cohort demonstrate how the circular economy is evolving: it is no longer just about waste prevention, but about securing raw materials, strengthening industrial resilience, and developing scalable business models,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. “This is precisely why we need the innovative power of young companies. Through our accelerator, we connect international startups with industry, academia, and investors to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions for industrial transformation.”
Startups will come to the Rhine-Ruhr region this autumn
Applications are open until July 19, 2026. Selected applicants will subsequently be invited to interviews. A jury composed of members of the Circular Valley network will then determine which startups will participate in the eleventh accelerator cohort.
The selected companies will come to Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region in autumn, where they will benefit from the expertise and connections of the Circular Valley network. Together with experts from industry, academia, and business, they will further develop their business models, gain insights into industrial practice, and prepare for discussions with potential partners and investors.
A key highlight of the program is the Demo Day, which will take place as part of the Circular Valley Forum on November 13, 2026. There, startups will present their solutions to representatives from industry, academia, government, and the investment community, while building valuable connections to support their future growth.
Alumni have raised more than € 350 million in funding
With its eleventh cohort, the Circular Economy Accelerator will surpass the milestone of 200 participating startups. More than 200 startups from around the world will have taken part in the world’s only in-person accelerator program dedicated to the circular economy.
Since the program’s launch in 2021, its alumni have collectively raised more than € 350 million in startup funding – clear evidence that the solutions developed through the program are attracting strong interest from both the market and investors.
Numerous collaborations between startups, industry partners, and research institutions have emerged from the accelerator and continue to help bring circular economy solutions into practice.
