Circular Accelerator

Supporting businesses and projects focused on reuse, repair, recycling, composting, and the use of recycled content in new products.

Thank you to all who applied to Cohort 3. Look for the Cohort 3 team selection announcement in December 2024!

The Circular Accelerator Program consists of competitive challenges designed to identify and support promising circular businesses and projects. Applicants are selected for a six-month program to advance their ventures.

Learn about previous teams: Team List →

Visit our YouTube channel to watch previous team pitches: NextCycle Washington Channel →

Types of Projects

Upstream Projects: Businesses and projects that prevent waste or improve and expand reuse and repair within Washington.

NextCycle Washington recognizes that upstream solutions have the greatest potential to create beneficial climate and other environmental outcomes that contribute to building a strong circular economy. However, business models focused on these solutions are nascent and require support and acceleration. By targeting these businesses and projects, NextCycle Washington is committed to catalyzing the growth of the reuse and repair market.

Examples

Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI)

This project focused on upcycling used wildfire hoses into useable products, creating jobs for immigrant and refugee women while keeping the hoses out of the waste system.

Downstream Projects: Projects that improve, innovate, or expand material and organic recycling, recovery and end uses.

Research shows that in Washington there are nearly 4 million tons of recoverable recyclables and organics that currently are disposed of. Targeting these materials and reaching zero waste goals through recycling and composting could lead to 75,000 jobs and over $32 billion in economic output. This also translates to over 5 million tons of reduced CO2, which is equivalent of taking over 1 million cars off the road each year.

Examples

Ravel

Ravel is focusing on the efficient endless recovery and reuse of blended end-of-life textiles to create like-new materials for the apparel industry.

Community Gearbox

Community Gearbox is a social, inventory management app that lets users and organizations share, co-own, and mobilize resources amongst people they know and trust.

Restaurant 2 Garden

Restaurant 2 Garden transforms food waste from your favorite local restaurants into nutritious fertilizer to grow culturally-appropriate food and continue the circle of life.

OKAPI Reusables

OKAPI is a reusable cup network that provides cafes an easy way to offer reusable cups to-go. Customers use the OKAPI mobile app to borrow and return cups.

Glass Packaging Institute & Ground2Ground

The Glass Packaging Institute and Ground2Ground are teaming up to develop an aggregation hub for source-separated glass containers from commercial markets such as wineries, brew houses and restaurants.

The Circular Accelerator Program provides…

Business and Technical Planning Support

Pitch Development

Funding Pathway Identification and Matchmaking

What's Included

Developing growth plan fundamentals through a multi-day intensive Accelerator Academy
One-on-one consulting with experienced mentors and subject matter experts to improve and refine business models and project plans
Attending facilitated networking opportunities to foster collaborations and partnerships
Engaging with community voices to ensure equitable outcomes and generate grassroots support
Identifying funding pathways
Introducing participants to potential investors
Refining pitch deck to help secure project funding
Recognition and publicity

Who Should Apply

Businesses, entrepreneurs, universities, non-profits, community-based organizations or tribal governments that have investable project ideas with the potential to contribute towards zero waste goals, greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and equitable outcomes while stimulating the circular economy.
Cross sector partnerships and existing end markets from out-of-state are eligible to apply.
Applicants from communities that have been overburdened, under-resourced, or under-represented are encouraged to apply.
Late-stage startup, early growth, and mature stage projects will be considered. See eligibility for more information.

Eligibility

Projects must either utilize materials that are otherwise disposed of, provide a higher better use of materials, or focus on waste prevention.
Project leads do not need to be headquartered in Washington at the time of application, but to be accepted, the project or business idea must be implemented and based in Washington.
Projects must show the potential to be financially sustainable.
Projects must consider social equity and community impacts, especially with respect to overburdened communities.
Projects must consider GHG reduction potential.
Projects must demonstrate a measurable and/or scalable impact to Washington’s waste diversion/zero waste goals.
Foundational research and feasibility studies are not eligible. Pilot projects may be considered eligible.

Next Steps

Track programming will take place between January - June 2025.

Sign up – join the mailing list to receive updates.
Reach out – contact us with your questions at nextcyclewa@recycle.com.
Start scoping your project or business plan – reach out to potential project partners or community partners to make your team even stronger.
The application period is now closed. Look for the team selection announcement in December 2024.

Cohort 3 Timeline

September 23, 2024
Application Period Opens
November 4, 2024
Application Period Closes
December 2024
Teams Selected
January-June 2025
Track Programming
february 2025
Accelerator Academy
May 2025
Pitch Showcase