Circular Valley

Name

Circular Valley

Legal name

Circular Valley Stiftung

Website

https://circular-valley.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circular Economy Innovation Ecosystem

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Circular economy accelerator
• Startup ecosystem platform
• Sustainability innovation network
• Corporate-startup matchmaking
• Circular business mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Wuppertal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Accelerator Program Operations: Circular Valley operates as a foundation (Circular Valley Stiftung) that runs the Circular Economy Accelerator. Revenue appears to come from partner sponsorships, founding member contributions, and public funding rather than direct customer payments. The organization connects startups with industry partners for potential commercial collaborations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Circular Valley operates the Circular Economy Accelerator, a cohort-based program that brings international startups to the Rhine-Ruhr region for coaching, mentoring, and introductions to corporate partners and investors. The foundation also runs the Circular Valley Matrix matching tool, the annual Circular Valley Forum conference (1,200+ attendees), the Circular Valley Scouts educational program for students, Partner Talks networking events, and specialized transformation projects such as TraWeBa for the battery value chain.

Product overview

Circular Valley operates as a circular economy accelerator and network platform that connects startups, corporates, academia, and policymakers. The core offering consists of the Circular Economy Accelerator (CEA) program, which runs in batches and connects international startups with industry partners and investors through its extensive network. The Circular Valley Matrix serves as a matching tool for stakeholder connections. The flagship annual Forum brings together over 1,200 participants. Additional offerings include the educational Circular Valley Scouts program, Partner Talks networking events, and specialized projects like TraWeBa for battery value chains. The organization is funded by various corporate sponsors and institutional partners across Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circular Economy Accelerator (CEA) A cohort-based accelerator program that brings international startups with circular economy innovations to the Rhine-Ruhr region for individual coaching, mentoring, business-model validation, and introductions to corporate partners and investors.
• Circular Valley Matrix A matching tool that connects circular economy stakeholders by facilitating introductions and collaborations between startups, corporates, science institutions, and other ecosystem participants.
• Circular Valley Forum Annual flagship conference held each November in Wuppertal bringing together 1,200+ guests from business, politics, academia, and civil society to discuss the circular economy transition; includes a Demo Day where accelerator startups pitch to investors.
• Circular Valley Scouts An educational initiative for students from Year 5 onwards that introduces sustainability and circular economy concepts through hands-on learning, combining Education for Sustainable Development with practical career orientation in cooperation with regional companies such as Vorwerk and KNIPEX.
• Partner Talks Networking events organized by Circular Valley that bring partners together at industry locations (e.g., Port of Duisburg, PETKUS in Eisenach) to discuss specific circular economy topics such as logistics, sorting technologies, and battery safety.
• TraWeBa (Transformations-Hub Batterie-Wertschöpfungskette) A transformation hub focused on the battery value chain, addressing battery safety, repair requalification, and digital battery passports through workshops and industry collaboration.
• Tech Tour Circular International technology tours to European innovation hubs for bioeconomy and circular economy, enabling startups to present solutions to international audiences and visit pilot facilities (e.g., Tech Tour Circular 2026 in Ghent).

Quantifiable outcome

• 178 startups supported from 45 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BayercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor industrial conglomerate and founding partner of Circular Valley. Bayer works on circular solutions including recycling of workwear and operates within the Circular Valley ecosystem for innovation collaboration.
• BASFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest chemical company and donor partner. BASF participates in circular economy initiatives and collaborates on sustainable chemistry and materials within the network.
• HenkelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsumer goods and adhesives company, partner since 2023. Henkel is committed to circular economy connections as part of industrial recycling initiatives.
• EvonikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialty chemicals company and sponsor partner. Evonik contributes expertise in chemicals and materials for circular economy applications.
• VorwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing company and founding partner. Vorwerk participates in Circular Valley Scouts educational program and provides hands-on learning opportunities for students.
• SchaefflercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive and industrial supplier and donor partner. Schaeffler engages with circular economy initiatives for industrial components and supply chain circularity.
• Bergische Universität WuppertalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional university and cooperation partner. Contributes academic research, student involvement, and educational content including the Circular Valley Scouts program.
• Fraunhofer GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading applied research organization with multiple institutes (UMSICHT, IML, ISI, IPT, etc.) as cooperation partners. Provides research expertise for circular economy technologies and processes.
• Stadtsparkasse WuppertalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal savings bank and founding partner. Supports regional circular economy development and financial services for network participants.
• KNIPEXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTool manufacturer and sponsor partner. Participates in Circular Valley Scouts educational program providing hands-on manufacturing and circular economy learning.
• Port of Duisburg (duisport)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest inland port and donor partner. Hosted Partner Talk on logistics as key enabler for circular economy. Provides logistics expertise and infrastructure connections.
• PETKUS Technologie GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSorting technology company and donor partner. Hosted Sorting Summit bringing together 40 companies to discuss industrial sorting for circular economy. Specializes in optical detection systems.
• EIT Climate-KICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean knowledge and innovation community focused on climate change. Cooperation partner supporting circular economy innovation and transformation.
• NRW Ministry of Economic AffairscoreOthersState ministry provides patronage and support for Circular Valley initiatives. Minister Mona Neubaur serves as patron of Circular Valley.
• Tech TourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational innovation platform. Partnership for Tech Tour Circular events including 2026 in Ghent. Multiple Circular Valley alumni present at these events.
• North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation for Environment and DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Circular Valley Scouts educational initiative for students, funding educational programs on sustainability and circular economy.
• Port of DuisburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest inland port. Hosted Partner Talk on logistics as key enabler of circular economy. Demonstrates practical examples of keeping materials in circulation.
• City of GhentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian city hosting Tech Tour Circular 2026 in partnership with Circular Valley. Part of cross-border collaboration on circular economy.
• Ghent UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Tech Tour Circular 2026 collaboration. Supports bioeconomy and circular economy research and innovation.
• Wuppertal InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading sustainability research institute and cooperation partner. Contributes expertise on circular economy transformation and resource efficiency.
• Bio Base Europe Pilot PlantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent pilot facility in Belgium for scaling bio-based processes. Has collaborated on 900+ projects with 270+ companies. Provides scale-up services for Circular Valley startups.
• Taiyo YudenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese electronic components manufacturer. Strategic partner with AraBat (Circular Valley alumni) for joint proof of concept development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WRAP: UK-based nonprofit working with governments, businesses, and citizens on circular economy and resource efficiency — comparable mission and multi-stakeholder engagement model.
• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based nonprofit operating the Circularity Gap Reporting initiative and circular economy advisory services for corporates and governments — comparable as a circular economy ecosystem builder.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global nonprofit foundation advancing the circular economy through research, corporate programs, and education — directly comparable to Circular Valley's mission, foundation structure, and stakeholder convening model.
• EIT Climate-KIC: EU knowledge and innovation community driving climate and circular economy innovation through accelerators and corporate partnerships — comparable as a pan-European ecosystem platform and existing Circular Valley partner.
• Sitra: Finnish Innovation Fund running circular economy programs, experiments, and corporate matchmaking — closely comparable as a publicly-backed circular economy platform.

Regional players

• European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform: EU Commission-hosted platform bringing together circular economy stakeholders — comparable multi-stakeholder convening role at a policy rather than regional-industrial level.

Emerging players

• Material Economics: Nordic consultancy providing research and advisory on circular economy and industrial decarbonization — comparable thematic focus with a consulting rather than accelerator delivery model.
• Renewable Carbon Initiative: Industry-led initiative promoting renewable carbon for circular chemicals and materials — comparable circular economy association with strong corporate partner base.

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play: Global corporate accelerator and innovation platform — comparable accelerator model and corporate partner network, though not focused on circular economy specifically.
• Tech Tour: European tech investor forum running Tech Tour Circular events — comparable international investor-startup convening function and existing Circular Valley partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CircularValley
• Xx.com/CircularValley_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Valley