Circular Economy Transition

What Circular Economy Transition does

Circular Economy Transition (CET), founded in 2018 and headquartered in Geneva, is a Swiss initiative that accelerates the country's transition to a circular economy through a portfolio of programs rather than a technology product. It is structurally embedded as a multi-partner collaboration between Impact Hub Switzerland (operational backbone across Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, and Ticino) and sanu durabilitas (research and policy), with the MAVA Foundation as the anchor funder and additional support from federal, cantonal, and municipal governments plus corporate sponsors.

CET operates four interconnected pillars: (1) the Circular Economy Incubator, a 12-week, zero-equity, zero-fee acceleration program for early-stage Swiss circular startups, providing CHF 15,000 of in-kind support per team across 1:1 mentoring, workshops, Impact Hub space access, and Swiss-wide visibility through Demo Days (25-35 startups per cohort, 100+ applications, 200+ alumni); (2) the Business Lab and Catalyzer Program (in partnership with WWF Switzerland and reverse agency), a 6-month program helping SMEs and corporates develop resource-light, circular business models; (3) Community Events including the annual Circular Innovation Day at Kraftwerk Zürich; and (4) Research & Policy Recommendations under the patronage of the Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development. Sector-specific Circular Economy Circles (Furniture/Architecture/Built Environment, Food System Transformation, Fashion & Textiles in Zürich and Bern, and Circular Design) layer industry-focused practitioner engagement on top of the startup funnel. Notable alumni commercial outcomes include Planted's national listing at Coop and Neustark's carbon-neutral concrete partnership with Holcim Switzerland.

CET does not sell products or charge participants; it is grant-funded and partnership-funded, with reported revenue mechanics anchored to foundation grants, municipal/cantonal co-funding, and corporate sponsorship. It has 11-50 employees (coordinators and Circle Leads distributed across six Impact Hub locations), no disclosed equity ownership, no funding rounds, no patents, and no AI/technology stack.

Name

Circular Economy Transition

Legal name

Circular Economy Transition

Website

https://www.cetransition.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Circular Economy Transition is a Swiss initiative accelerating Switzerland's shift to a circular economy through startup incubation (CE Incubator), corporate support (Business Lab/Catalyzer), community events, and policy research, operating across six Swiss cities via the Impact Hub network and funded by foundations and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Accelerator Programs

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Circular economy programs
• Startup incubation services
• Sustainability advisory
• Resource efficiency consulting
• Community networking platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Incubator Program Services: The CE Incubator provides support services valued at CHF 15,000 per team with a zero equity and fees policy. This means participants are not charged for their participation in the incubator.
2. Catalyzer Program: Resource-light business model acceleration program run in partnership with WWF Switzerland and reverse agency, targeting enterprises in the Zurich region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Circular Economy Transition is a Swiss initiative that accelerates Switzerland's transition to a circular economy by delivering a portfolio of interconnected programs: a 12-week startup incubator (CE Incubator), a 6-month resource-light business model program (Catalyzer), corporate/SME advisory (Business Lab), public community events, sector-specific Circular Economy Circles, and Research & Policy Recommendations. It operates across five Swiss cities (Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich) in collaboration with Impact Hub Switzerland and sanu durabilitas.

Product overview

Circular Economy Transition is a pioneer initiative that drives the circular economy transition in Switzerland through a portfolio of interconnected programs and platforms. The core offerings include: the Circular Economy Incubator (12-week startup acceleration program), the Catalyzer Program (6-month resource-light business model support), Business Lab (corporate/SME support), Community Events (public awareness), Research & Policy Recommendations (framework improvement), and Circular Economy Circles (sector-specific networking platforms). These programs operate across 5 Swiss cities (Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich) with support from Impact Hub Switzerland and sanu durabilitas, enabling startups, corporates, and communities to prototype and scale circular solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circular Economy Incubator: 12-week incubation program supporting Swiss-based startups to prototype and develop circular economy solutions
• Catalyzer Program
• Business Lab
• Circular Economy Circles

Products and services

• Business Lab Support programs for corporates and SMEs to integrate circular economy principles into their business models and operations.
• Circular Economy Incubator 12-week intensive incubation program for early-stage Swiss startups developing circular economy solutions. Provides mentorship, workshops, peer sessions, community access, and investor networking. Zero equity and fees policy. Support services valued at CHF 15,000 per team.
• Catalyzer Program 6-month prototype program for resource-light business models, run in partnership with WWF Switzerland and reverse agency. Supports enterprises in the Zurich region to integrate circular and sufficiency strategies, with workshops led by TU Delft experts.
• Circular Economy Circles Sector-focused networking circles connecting practitioners in Furniture/Architecture/Built Environment, Food System Transformation, Fashion & Textiles (Zurich and Bern locations), and Circular Design. Provides platform for idea exchange and collaboration on circular topics.
• Kickstart Innovation Partnership Collaboration with the Kickstart Innovation ecosystem platform connecting circular economy startups with established corporates, cities, foundations and universities for Proof-of-Concept development. Facilitates PoCs between startups and partners such as Coop and Holcim.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25-35 startups incubated per cohort, with 33+ startups in 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023 editions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• WWF SwitzerlandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in the Catalyzer Program for resource-light business models. Provides sustainability expertise and brand credibility for the program targeting enterprises in the Zurich region.
• reversemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Creative agency partner in the Catalyzer Program contributing design thinking and communication expertise for resource-light business model development.
• TU DelftminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Academic partner collaborating on the kick-off workshop for the Catalyzer Program, contributing research and innovation expertise.
• Kickstart InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Ecosystem innovation platform partnership bringing circular economy focus area to Kickstart's corporate partners. Enables startups to develop PoCs with established organizations like Coop and Holcim. Connected 200+ startups with corporate innovation needs.
• Basel CircularminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Regional circular economy initiative in Basel, part of the funding and support network.
• Impact Hub SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Primary implementing partner providing physical spaces and operational infrastructure across Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, and Ticino. Impact Hub network hosts CE Incubator programs, community events, and coworking spaces for circular economy entrepreneurs.
• sanu durabilitascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Core implementing partner contributing expertise in sustainability and durabilitas. Manages the Research & Policy Recommendations pillar of the initiative, including policy framework development and multi-stakeholder dialogues.
• EY (Ernst & Young)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Professional services partner providing expertise and mentorship. EY professionals serve as jury members and mentors in the CE Incubator program.
• DeloittemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Professional services partner supporting circular economy initiatives. Contributed to the Circularity Gap Report for Switzerland launch.
• WeMakeItminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Crowdfunding platform partner providing knowledge partnership and awards to CE Incubator startups.
• MovetiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Knowledge partner supporting exchange and mobility in circular economy education and training.
• One Planet LabmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Strategic partner in sustainability, collaborating on circular economy initiatives and providing support to the CE Incubator.
• Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Federal government partner under whose patronage the CE Incubator operates.
• WWF SwitzerlandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Environmental organization partner supporting circular economy transition and sustainability initiatives.
• AccentureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Technology consulting partner collaborating on circular economy innovation projects.
• BCG (Boston Consulting Group)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Management consulting partner supporting circular economy strategy and initiatives.
• CoopmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Retail partner through Kickstart Innovation. Planted startup products now listed in all main Coop points of sales after PoC through the program.
• Holcim SwitzerlandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Construction materials partner through Kickstart Innovation. Joint material test program with Neustark (CE Incubator alumnus) for carbon-neutral concrete production.
• Circular Economy SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019National platform organization of which Circular Economy Transition is a part. Offers exclusive membership for program participants with nationwide visibility and industry partner access.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Impact Hub Network: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs and incubators; CET's primary implementing partner and the infrastructure that delivers all of its programs, making it the most directly comparable peer in operating model and target audience.
• Kickstart Innovation: Swiss ecosystem innovation platform connecting startups with corporate partners (Coop, Holcim, etc.); a strategic partner of CET and the closest direct peer in terms of startup-to-corporate PoC facilitation in Switzerland.
• Circle Economy: Dutch social enterprise driving circular economy transition globally through programs, reports (Circularity Gap Report), and corporate engagement; directly comparable to CET's mix of program delivery, corporate support, and policy advocacy.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global charity accelerating the circular economy through programs, business engagement, and policy work; the highest-profile peer in the circular economy program/policy space and directly comparable in mission and stakeholder mix.
• EIT Climate-KIC: EU-backed climate innovation community running accelerator programs and systemic change initiatives across Europe; highly comparable in its accelerator-plus-policy-plus-community model, though operating at significantly larger geographic scale.
• ClimateLaunchpad: World's largest green business ideas competition, running cohorts in 40+ countries; comparable to CET's CE Incubator in target audience (early-stage sustainability startups), structure (cohort + pitch), and zero-equity approach.

Emerging players

• One Planet Lab: Swiss sustainability-focused innovation initiative and CET strategic partner supporting circular economy startups; overlaps with CET in target audience and corporate partner network but operates as a separate program.

Broad incumbents

• WWF Switzerland: Major environmental NGO and CET partner; broader in mission but runs sustainability programs and corporate engagement initiatives that overlap with CET's Catalyzer Program and corporate-circular-strategy work.
• WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development): Geneva-headquartered global CEO-led organization promoting sustainable business; comparable to CET in targeting Swiss/international corporates on circular and sustainability strategy, though at a much broader mandate.

Regional players

• Greentown Labs: US-based cleantech and circular economy incubator supporting hardware and materials startups; comparable in incubator-plus-corporate-engagement model but operates in North America rather than Switzerland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CE_Transition
• Facebookfacebook.com/CircularEconomyTransition
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circulareconomytransition
• Instagraminstagram.com/circulareconomytransition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Circular Economy Transition