To all startups working on the circular economy
Information about batch #11
Why you should apply
- Participate in an on-site program with startups from all over the world, benefit from the exchange with your peers, and become part of a global community.
- Gain access to the partner companies from the Circular Valley network and meet their representatives.
- Showcase your startup at the Circular Valley Forum (November 13), with a dedicated startup booth and a three-minute pitch on Demo Day. This is your opportunity to present your innovations to experts from academia, government, and corporations, as well as investors and media representatives.
- Receive financial support covering 80% of your travel expenses, accommodation costs, and potential visa fees. You will also receive a daily allowance for each day you participate in the on-site program.
- Since Circular Valley requires no equity in return, you retain full ownership of your company.
Upcoming batch #11
Following our mission, 'Grow the Economy – Protect the Environment', we are looking for startups engaged in the transformation from a linear to a circular economy and that are keen on contributing to our unique environment in Circular Valley.
Batch #11 focuses on the following seven topics:
1. Plastics - Circular economy solutions for plastics for durable goods and packaging, more recyclates in the loop, increased recyclate quotas, allowing qualities up to food contact
2. Reverse Logistics - Economically viable Take Back Concepts and/or reverse logistics concepts for returning products, including their downstream tracing
3. Textiles - Cost-competitive solutions for keeping textiles and fibre materials in open or closed loop – from design to recycling – in particular, for the return of apparel, including reverse logistics concepts
4. Circular Design - Circular design for durable goods which reduces material consumption, allows reuse and/or refurbishment, repair, dismantling and remanufacturing, including cost-competitive platforms for repair and reuse
5. Raw materials - New process chemistry to recover critical and strategic raw materials from product waste streams (e.g. from magnets, batteries, electronics, plastics, wastewater, treated ashes)
6. Value Chain Orchestration - Circular supply chains and circular processes fulfilling pharmaceutical standards, including reuse of chemistry (solvents, catalysts, …) and equipment (e.g. piping, valves, …)
7. Wildcard - Artificial intelligence and its application for cost-competitive solutions in the circular economy
What we expect from you
- Interest in actively engaging with our partners and further developing your business model
- Participation in our program components and on-site peer-to-peer exchanges. Please find the dates for batch #11 below
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- During the three-week on-site phase, at least one representative of each startup must attend the program on-site
- Participating startups should have already secured initial funding or investment, or have generated their first significant revenue.
What is important - timing
The 15 startups for Batch #11 will be selected by the end of August 2026.
The two-month program of Batch #11 consists of a virtual preparation phase, a mandatory three-week on-site phase in Wuppertal, Germany, and an optional additional partner week.
The program starts with our virtual introductory event, Welcome to Circular Valley, on September 28th. The needs assessments will be conducted virtually in individual appointments during the week of September 29th to October 2nd. Our virtual "Get to Know" event for Batch #11 will take place on October 12th. In addition, individual virtual media check-ins will take place from October 13th to 16th.
The on-site phase in Wuppertal (October 26th to November 14th, 2026) starts with the kick-off on October 26th, where participating startups will have their first opportunity to pitch their idea and meet Circular Valley's partners in person. One highlight of the on-site phase will be the Demo Day of Batch #11 at the Circular Valley Forum on November 13th.
After the mandatory on-site phase, startups can stay in Wuppertal for an additional week (until November 20th, 2026) to meet with our partner companies, institutions, or alumni.
Check out our FAQ section to find more information about the accelerator program.
About Circular Valley
At the core of our program, you will have the opportunity to connect with more than 150 partners from industry, R&D, and government from our Circular Valley® network. In addition, expert workshops, hot-chair sessions, pitch-trainings, coaching, and a mentoring program await you. You will be surrounded by a vibrant, international, and diverse community of startups and the dedicated Circular Economy Accelerator team.
Circular Valley® is a globally unique hotspot for establishing a future-oriented circular economy. Since its foundation in the summer of 2021, over 170 startups from all around the world have participated in its Circular Economy Accelerator.
It is funded by the North-Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Economics to leverage and further develop the region's unique strengths through trend-setting, innovative circular economy concepts, products, and business models.
Funded by
Application start is June 15th, 2026, 00:00 am (CEST) and the deadline is July 19th, 2026, 11:59 pm (CEST).