r.World

What r.World does

r.World is a Minneapolis-based Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2017 that provides reusable cups and foodware to sports venues, music venues, entertainment operators, conventions, and corporate clients as a replacement for single-use disposable serveware. The company operates an end-to-end reuse infrastructure that delivers clean serveware to clients, collects it after use, and returns it to its sanitization facilities for redeployment, with the company reporting operations across 35 states, 150+ cities, and 10,000+ events.

The product portfolio consists of two named components: r.Cup, the physical reusable cup and foodware line, and r.Turn, the underlying proprietary platform that powers reverse logistics, tracking, and sanitization operations. Revenue is generated through a service-based model in which the company supplies reusable serveware on a recurring basis—pricing is quote-based, not publicly disclosed, and contracts are typically multi-year enterprise agreements with venues and concessionaires. Distribution runs through direct enterprise field sales supplemented by a channel layer of major US concessionaires and venue operators, including Legends, Levy, Sodexo, Aramark, and Centerplate, plus venue-management relationships with ASM Global and AEG. Strategic partners include Coca-Cola on the corporate side and Closed Loop Partners, Green Sports Alliance, WWF, and Upstream on the sustainability side.

The company's traction is anchored by named flagship accounts such as Colorado Rockies (Coors Field), Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater, Madison Square Garden, and LA Coliseum, with reported cumulative impact of 20–25 million single-use items diverted from landfills since inception. Leadership consists of founder/CEO Michael Martin and VP of Product Kevin Soran; the company is privately held, employs 11–50 people, and has raised approximately $4.1 million to date via a Regulation D insider offering in 2023.

Name

r.World

Legal name

r.World, PBC

Website

https://rcup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

r.World is a Minneapolis-based Public Benefit Corporation, founded in 2017, that operates a reusable serveware system—r.Cup products backed by r.Turn reverse-logistics technology—for sports venues, music venues, entertainment operators, conventions, and corporate clients across 35 US states and 150+ cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reusable Serveware Services

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store) (IMALAMAE), Hygiene Packaging & Dispensing Systems (Dispenser Systems, Packs) (IMAMAGAJ)

Keywords

• Reusable serveware systems
• Venue sustainability services
• Reverse logistics
• Event waste reduction
• Reusable cup programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Reusable serveware rental and service: r.World provides reusable cups and foodware to venues and events with delivery, collection, and sanitization services. The company operates a service-based model where they supply reusable serveware as an alternative to single-use items, likely charging per-event or on a subscription/service basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

r.World provides reusable cups and foodware to sports venues, music venues, convention centers, and corporate clients as a service-based alternative to single-use disposables. The company operates an end-to-end reuse system that includes delivery of serveware, on-site collection, reverse logistics, and industrial sanitization, powered by its proprietary r.Turn technology platform. Customers contract for the service on a per-event or recurring basis, eliminating the need for venues to manage reusable serveware infrastructure themselves.

Product overview

r.World offers a reusable serveware system as a single unified product. The core offering consists of r.Cup reusable cups and foodware, powered by r.Turn technology. The system provides end-to-end service including delivery of reusable serveware, reverse logistics for collection, and sanitization. The company serves sports venues, music venues, convention centers, corporate campuses, and entertainment events across 35 states and 150+ cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• r.Cup: The company's signature reusable cup product offered at venues and events.
• r.Turn

Products and services

• r.Cup Reusable Serveware Program End-to-end reusable cup and foodware service for sports venues, music venues, convention centers, cinemas, and corporate clients. Includes delivery of reusable serveware, on-site collection, reverse logistics, and industrial sanitization, providing a turnkey alternative to single-use disposables.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 million single-use cups and foodware items kept out of landfills globally since 2017
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and strategic.

• Colorado Rockies (Coors Field)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Colorado Rockies announced partnership with r.World to provide reusable r.Cups at Coors Field baseball stadium, marking a significant sports venue partnership.
• ASM GlobalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerASM Global is a leading venue management company. Shaun Beard from ASM Global stated 'r.World is clearly the top company in its field,' indicating a strong endorsement and partnership relationship.
• Crypto.com ArenacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCrypto.com Arena expanded sustainability commitment through a full-time reusable cup program in collaboration with r.World for sporting events and concerts.
• Peacock TheatercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPeacock Theater expanded sustainability commitment through a full-time reusable program in collaboration with r.World.
• AEGmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAEG is a global sports and entertainment company listed as a partner on r.World's website.
• LevymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLevy is a hospitality and food service company that serves as a concessionaire partner for r.World reuse solutions.
• LegendsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLegends is a hospitality management company listed as a venue partner.
• SodexomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSodexo is a food services and facilities management company listed as a partner.
• AramarkmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAramark is a food service, facilities, and uniform services provider listed as a partner.
• CenterplatemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCenterplate is an event hospitality company listed as a partner.
• Closed Loop PartnersstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerClosed Loop Partners is a sustainability-focused investment firm listed as a partner, indicating strategic alignment in circular economy initiatives.
• Coca-Cola CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola Company is listed as a venue/corporate partner.
• Green Sports AlliancestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Sports Alliance is a nonprofit organization that helps sports organizations enhance environmental performance, listed as a partner.
• UpstreamstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpstream is a clean water organization listed as a partner, indicating alignment on environmental initiatives.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF is listed as a partner, indicating alignment on environmental conservation initiatives.
• Madison Square GardenmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMadison Square Garden is listed as a music/venue partner.
• LA ColiseummajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLA Coliseum is listed as a sports venue partner.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• CupClub: CupClub offers tracked reusable cup systems for events and corporate campuses, addressing the same venue-driven reuse use case with an IoT-tracking emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Novolex: Novolex is a large specialty packaging producer including foodservice disposables, overlapping with r.World at the venue procurement level and increasingly offering sustainable lines.
• Eco-Products (Novolex): Eco-Products is a leading supplier of compostable foodservice packaging and a primary alternative to reuse systems at venues. It represents the substitution threat rather than direct reuse competition.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Pactiv is a major foodservice packaging manufacturer with a broad disposables portfolio, competing for the same venue procurement budgets as r.World via single-use alternatives.
• Dart Container: Dart Container is one of the largest manufacturers of disposable cups, containers, and foodservice packaging in North America, representing the entrenched incumbents whose volumes r.World is targeting to displace.

Direct peers

• TURN: TURN operates a reusable cup system at major concerts, festivals, and stadiums, with similar reverse-logistics and venue-direct sales motion to r.World. It is the most direct North American competitor in event-venue reuse.
• Algramo: Algramo provides reusable and refillable packaging systems across foodservice and consumer goods, using a comparable circular-economy service model targeting retailers and venues.
• MIWA: MIWA builds smart reusable and refill packaging infrastructure with reverse logistics for retail and foodservice, addressing the same reusable-packaging-as-a-service category as r.World.

Regional players

• CIRCULA: Germany-based CIRCULA operates returnable cup and foodware systems for events and stadiums, directly comparable to r.World but focused on the European DACH market.

Others

• Closed Loop Partners: Closed Loop Partners is both a strategic partner of r.World and a broader investor/incubator in the circular economy and reuse infrastructure space, making it an adjacent ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rcupworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about r.World