From recycling to securing raw materials: Startups demonstrate the transformation of the circular economy
28.01.2026The circular economy has always been about more than just preventing waste. The latest batch of startups accepted onto Circular Valley's Circular Economy Accelerator programme demonstrate how securing raw materials, ensuring data availability and enabling industrial scaling are becoming increasingly important. Seventeen international start-ups are developing solutions that will bring the circular economy to the heart of industry.
The circular economy is increasingly becoming an industrial issue: companies are looking for ways to secure raw materials, meet regulatory requirements, and make supply chains more resilient. This development is reflected in the new funding round of Circular Valley's Circular Economy Accelerator, in which international startups are working on solutions for materials, data, and industrial processes.
The selected startups are less concerned with products for end consumers and more with core industrial issues: How can materials be reliably traced? How can recycling plants operate more efficiently and safely? And how can critical raw materials such as metals, battery materials, or chemicals be kept in circulation?
The startups from Batch 10 and their country of origin
© Jan Turek/Circular Valley
17 startups from Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia
A total of 17 start-ups from Europe, North America, Africa and Asia are taking part in the tenth round of the Circular Economy Accelerator programme. They were selected from hundreds of international applications. Since 2021, the support programme has helped young companies further develop their solutions in collaboration with industry partners, investors and experts from the extensive Circular Valley network.
This year's startups include companies that provide digital product passports and verified material data for global supply chains, use AI to make recycling facilities more transparent and secure, and extract high-quality materials for use in chemicals, construction, and packaging from industrial and agricultural waste.
“Many startups have recognized the importance of raw material availability from local and regional closed material cycles for a resilient economy and are developing corresponding business models. We want to support this with our accelerator program", says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
Demo Day at the Circular Valley Convention 2025
© Jan Turek/Circular Valley
A highlight for startups is the Circular Valley Convention on March 11 and 12 in Düsseldorf
The young companies will come to the Rhine-Ruhr region in February and March and work there for several weeks with partners from the Circular Valley network. They will work on their pitches, learn how to successfully attract investors, and gain insights into industry practices.
A particular highlight will be the Circular Valley Convention, which is taking place on 11 and 12 March 2026 at the Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf. Co-hosts BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Henkel and Vorwerk, along with numerous other exhibitors, will demonstrate how the circular economy can contribute to economic resilience and the emergence of sustainable business models. Start-ups will also present their business models at Demo Day and engage in dialogue with key representatives from industry, science and politics, as well as a broad professional audience.
The exhibition area at Circular Valley Convention 2026 provides a platform for companies, research institutions, initiatives and startups to showcase a variety of circular solutions. Once again, this will make the convention a central meeting place for those who want to discuss and put the circular economy into practice.
An overview of all startups, their innovative ideas, and areas of focus
