DEFINITE-CCRI impact: three startups funded, with success stories ahead
Innovative circular projects often struggle to secure funding, as investors may view them as high-risk. To overcome this, DEFINITE-CCRI experts have guided European circular initiatives through due diligence, helped craft compelling investment pitches, and connected them with the right investors. This support boosted their chances of securing funding and accelerated their circular transition. As the DEFINITE-CCRI project concludes, we look back at our impact and celebrate the achievements of our startup partners.
Since 2022, we have directly supported 11 circular projects, three of which successfully secured funding by 2025.
Circular Library Network (CLN) provides the infrastructure for communities to share tools and household items, reducing the need for purchases. Its solution combines hardware, software, and a social platform to make sharing more scalable and convenient. Thanks to our support, CLN closed a €310,000 investment round led by Impact Shakers and Fundforward and was awarded an additional €350,000 government grant to expand its 'library of things' model for shared sustainable consumption.
‘Our experience with DEFINITE-CCRI has been enlightening and transformative. We’ve achieved key milestones such as securing international pilot programs and deepening our understanding of how to scale circular economy solutions across diverse regions. This has been crucial for our strategic growth’, — Anna De Matos, CEO and founder of the Circular Library Network.
Return2Sender is a start-up introducing tailor-made reusable B2B packaging to the market. Their unique Packaging-as-a-Service model incentivises continuous packaging reuse, helping to reduce waste and advance circularity. With support from DEFINITE-CCRI, Return2Sender has secured a €50,000 grant from VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship to pilot their solution and further develop their business model.
Tehdassaari Nokia Incubator Hub is an initiative by Cireco Finland aimed at transforming the historical Tehdassaari Island in Finland into a circular economy incubator hub. This project is inspired by the island's rich industrial heritage, which previously hosted the headquarters of the Nokia phone company. The Hub serves as a platform for businesses to collaborate, share byproducts, and create closed-loop systems, thereby reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency. Since 2022, the project has secured €350,000 in investment.
‘DEFINITE-CCRI offered precisely the support we needed—a comprehensive package of technical, financial, and circular economy expertise. Their services aligned perfectly with our needs, transforming our scattered ideas into a coherent, strategic plan. Just like refining scattered sand grains into a valuable glass sculpture, DEFINITE-CCRI helped us channel our vision into a structured, investment-ready project - Fuad Ashraf, COO of Cireco Finland.
Insights and experiences gained through one-on-one project development assistance have been distilled into the Circularity Tool, a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate the investment readiness of circular ventures and guide them through the due diligence process. The tool is complemented by 20 educational videos that unpack the complex process of securing investment. These free online resources ensure that our expertise and insights will continue to support circular businesses for years to come.
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