It’s the 4th edition of the Circular Economy Incubator and 33 circular startups
from all over Switzerland have been chosen for a three-month support
program that started this January 2023. At the core of every startup is a
circular business model – meaning solutions based on the principles of the
circular economy such as reuse, repair, resell, and refurbish – and they stand
for a future where doing business is both economically and environmentally
sustainable. Startups with successful circular business models can contribute
significantly to this transition. As the recent release of the Circular Economy
Strategy by the city of Zürich shows, the circular economy framework has an
important role to play in the transition towards future-proofed cities.
Hybrid program implementation
The Circular Economy Incubator has adopted a hybrid program format which
offers startups a unique learning curve by providing virtual “Lunch and Learn”
Masterclasses, Peer-to-Peer learning formats, events, ongoing mentoring and
expert support. More than 100 startups have already gone through the previous
three editions of the Circular Economy Incubator. The program is run by Impact
Hubs in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano and Zurich.
“With a hybrid program format, we want to make sure that all Swiss regions are
integrated into the program and to foster collaboration between the circular
pioneers across regions. The digital “Circular Handbook” enables them flexible
access to all program materials and to work out important milestones with their
mentors throughout the next three months.”, says Laurene Descamps, Lead
Circular Economy & Climate Action, Impact Hub Zurich.
Broad field of participating startups
The 33 circular startups operate in different sectors and have all embedded
circularity in their very core, showing that circular opportunities can and must
arise across our economy.
