23.06.2022
Six circular startups have been selected for the Circular Factory program of BlueCity and Tekkoo: Bakkersgrondstof, Biophilica, BlueBlocks, Fairm, MaGie Creations and Nature's Principles. In the coming year, these startups will start preparing for their own circular factory.
In May, interested startups could apply for Circular Factory. Out of more than 25 applications, six Circular Factory participants were selected by an expert panel, in no particular order:
In the upcoming summer months, the startups will work on clarifying their challenges and questions, in order to get their circular factory off the ground. During the Pitch & Plug Event atBlueCity on Tuesday 20th September, they will present this to a network of possible financiers, facilitators, partners and experts. At this event, a tailor-made ecosystem will be created around Bakkersgrondstof, Biophilica, BlueBlocks, Fairm, MaGie Creations and Nature’s Principles. The following seven months will be devoted to preparing the development of the circular factory, with peer-to-peer sessions, expert sessions and writing the business plan for the factory. In May 2023, the (current) startups will present their plans, and we will raise a glass to the successful scaling up and opening of six new circular factories.
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7.11.2022
Invest-NL is one of the supporters of the Circular Factory program. In this interview, Maud Hartstra and Guy de Sévaux discuss the importance of scaling up circular startups. “All kinds of developments are underway, which means that many more circular start-ups will be founded in the coming years. Circular Factory is designed for circular startups in the manufacturing industry that want to scale their production by building their first factory; and help them to make this factory circular. In addition to these startups, we also see on a larger scale a new focus of moving production closer to home. More and more manufacturing companies previously located in Asia and Eastern Europe are returning to Western Europe. With the Circular Factory program we want to point out to the entire value chain that making things circular and sustainable requires a different approach and mindset, but also changes in business models and new ways of financing. As far as Invest-NL is concerned, Circular Factory is coming at the right time.”
Read more27.09.2022
On Tuesday 20 September, experts flocked to BlueCity to attend the first Pitch & Plug Event, part of the Circular Factory program by BlueCity and Tekkoo. The six participating startups pitched to the gathered crowd. This time not a shiny success story meant to sell their product, but a raw and real story about the key-issues that are currently holding them back from scaling up. Their vulnerability was rewarded with tailor-made advice. During this networking event, connections were made, feedback was given and plans were rewritten.
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