Circular Innovation

What Circular Innovation does

Circular Innovation (legal entity Innovazione Circolare S.r.l.) is an Italian accelerator and consultancy based in Milan that helps startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) transition from linear to sustainable, circular, and digital business models. The company was founded in 2021 by five partners — Giovanni Abelli, Umberto Bernasconi, Marco Delle Donne, Gianna Paciello, and Alessandro Paciello — and operates with a 1-10 person team and a registered share capital of €11,918.

The firm delivers an integrated portfolio of professional services: advisory on circular-economy research and development projects, business plan development for fundraising and M&A (delivered with A2B Group), management and operational process redesign, ESG research and development, communication services (delivered with AIDA Partners), and an acceleration program for qualifying startups and SMEs. Underlying technology is not proprietary; instead, the company leverages an ecosystem of platform partners (Poetronicart for technology tooling, Seedventure for startup scaling and investment) and collaboration partners spanning Italian environmental, cultural, academic, and energy organizations (Legambiente, Symbola, AzzeroCO2, Slowfood, UNISG Pollenzo, Ainem, SBN, and others). Core technology, API, and AI capabilities are not disclosed in available materials.

Commercially, Circular Innovation operates a professional services revenue model with quote-based, non-publicly disclosed pricing. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise/mid-market consulting engagement supported by partner referrals and community/event outreach. No revenue figures, funding rounds, named customers, or third-party certifications have been disclosed. The company is privately held, domestically focused on the Italian (primarily Lombardy) market, and is currently operating with no parent company, subsidiaries, or public listing.

Name

Circular Innovation

Legal name

Innovazione Circolare S.r.l.

Website

https://innovazionecircolare.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circular Innovation is a Milan-based accelerator and consultancy that helps Italian startups and SMEs adopt sustainable, circular, and digital business models through advisory, business planning, ESG research, communication, and accelerator programs delivered via a partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Innovation, Product & R&D Consulting (BPAHACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB), Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)

Keywords

• Circular economy consulting
• Sustainability transformation services
• ESG advisory services
• Startup acceleration programs
• Business model innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Consulting: Consulting services for research and development projects focused on circular economy innovation and application of circular economy principles and processes.
2. Business Plan Development: Redazione business plan services for fundraising, extraordinary finance operations, M&A and Capital Markets. Provided in partnership with A2B Group.
3. Management Process Consulting: Processi gestionali consulting for redesign of business strategies and operational processes embracing sustainability and digital transformation.
4. Communication Services: Communication services to increment value in marketing, sustainability, reputation and online/offline communication. Provided in partnership with AIDA Partners.
5. Acceleration Programs: Acceleration services for startups through ecosystem approach, providing access to networks and resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Innovazione Circolare is a Milan-based accelerator and consulting firm (S.r.l.) that supports startups and SMEs in transitioning to sustainable and digital business models. It delivers R&D projects, business plan drafting, management process redesign, communication services, ESG research, and acceleration programs to help Italian SMEs adopt circular economy practices.

Product overview

Innovazione Circolare operates as an accelerator for circular economy and digital transformation, offering an integrated suite of advisory and consulting services. The portfolio includes research and development project consulting, business plan development for fundraising and M&A, business process redesign services, ESG research and development, communication services, and an acceleration program for startups and SMEs. The company also supports its ecosystem through platform partnerships with Poetronicart and Seed Venture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• R&D Consulting (Progetti di Ricerca e Sviluppo) Research and development consulting engagements for startups and SMEs pursuing circular and digital transformation.
• Business Plan Drafting (Redazione di Business Plan) Preparation of business plans for startups and SMEs building sustainable and circular ventures.
• Management Process Redesign (Riprogettazione dei Processi Gestionali) Redesign of management processes for SMEs pursuing digital and sustainability transformation.
• Communication Services (Comunicazione) Communication services supporting startups and SMEs in articulating their sustainability and circular economy positioning.
• ESG R&D (Ricerca e Sviluppo ESG) Research and development focused on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) topics for SMEs and startups.
• Acceleration Programs (Accelerazione) Acceleration programs that help startups and SMEs transform their business models toward sustainability and digitalization.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A2B GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for business plan development services, specifically for fundraising, extraordinary finance operations, M&A and Capital Markets. A2B Group provides expertise in financial advisory services.
• AIDA PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for communication services including marketing, sustainability communication, reputation management, and online/offline communication strategies.
• SymbolaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian foundation for the quality of Italian style, focused on innovation and sustainability. Collaboration partner in the Circular Innovation ecosystem.
• LegambienteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Italian environmental association, active in circular economy and sustainability initiatives. Partner in collaboration network.
• AzzeroCO2minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian organization focused on carbon neutrality and climate action. Partner in sustainability-focused collaboration network.
• SlowfoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit organization dedicated to food culture and sustainable food systems. Partner in ecosystem addressing environmental and territorial contexts.
• Pollenzo (University of Gastronomic Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG) located in Pollenzo, focused on sustainable food systems and agricultural biodiversity. Academic collaboration partner.
• SBN (Sustainable Business Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable Business Network. Partner in the collaboration network focused on business sustainability.
• AinemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian energy association. Partner in collaboration network supporting sustainable energy and circular economy transition.
• Associazione culturale planaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural association partner in the collaboration network. Contributes to cultural and educational aspects of the ecosystem.
• Italia dei talentiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on talent development in Italy. Partner in supporting young people dedicated to sustainability themes.
• Il quinto ampliamentominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural and creative organization partner in the collaboration network.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Systemiq: Systemiq is a global consultancy focused on circular economy and sustainability transitions. Comparable to Circular Innovation because both sell advisory services around circular business-model redesign, R&D, and ecosystem orchestration for corporates and SMEs.
• Circle Economy: Circle Economy is a Dutch circular-economy impact organization that advises companies, cities, and governments on circular transitions. Comparable to Circular Innovation as both provide circular-economy advisory, methodology, and program delivery to SMEs and larger organizations.
• Metabolic: Metabolic is a sustainability and circular-economy consultancy that helps companies redesign products, processes, and business models. Comparable to Circular Innovation in service mix: strategic advisory, business-model redesign, and acceleration-style partnerships for sustainable transformation.
• Anthesis Group: Anthesis is a global sustainability consultancy spanning ESG strategy, reporting, and circular-economy advisory. Comparable to Circular Innovation because it sells similar ESG/sustainability advisory to SMEs and corporates, with project-based engagement models.
• Quantis: Quantis is a sustainability consultancy specializing in environmental footprinting, circularity, and ESG strategy. Comparable to Circular Innovation because both translate sustainability science into business-model and process redesign for corporate and SME clients.

Broad incumbents

• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): ERM is a global environmental and sustainability consultancy serving large corporates with deep resources. Comparable to Circular Innovation as an established incumbent offering circular-economy and sustainability advisory, though at far larger scale and serving multinational clients.
• Deloitte Sustainability (Italy): Deloitte offers a broad sustainability and circular-economy advisory practice in Italy serving mid-market and large enterprises. Comparable to Circular Innovation as a competitor for ESG strategy, sustainability reporting, and business-model transformation mandates, with far greater scale and brand.
• KPMG Italy - Sustainability Services: KPMG's Italian practice includes ESG advisory, CSRD reporting, and circular-economy transformation services. Comparable to Circular Innovation because both sell sustainability strategy and reporting advisory to Italian corporates and SMEs.

Regional players

• B Lab Italy: B Lab Italy is the Italian arm of the B Corp movement, certifying and supporting purpose-driven SMEs on sustainability. Comparable to Circular Innovation because both serve Italian SMEs on sustainability transformation, though B Lab operates via certification and community rather than paid consulting.

Others

• Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform / Symbola Foundation: Symbola is an Italian foundation promoting sustainability and innovation, including circular-economy initiatives. Comparable to Circular Innovation as a thought-leadership and ecosystem actor in Italy's circular-economy space, though it is a non-profit foundation rather than a paid consultancy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/innovazionecircolare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Circular Innovation