Five years ago, the first startups came to Circular Valley to take part in the world's first in-person accelerator dedicated to the circular economy. Today, the progress many of these companies have made since then is becoming evident. Five alumni exemplify the wide range of developments – from industrial-scale production and multi-million-euro funding rounds to international partnerships.

Polycare: Circular Construction at Industrial Scale

Polycare from Essen (Batch 1) develops reusable masonry systems made from cement-free geopolymer concrete. As an alumnus of the very first batch, the company has successfully made the leap from the development stage to industrial-scale production. Since early 2025, its SEMBLA building system has been manufactured together with licensing partner Berding Beton. With the next generation of SEMBLA, introduced in early 2026, Polycare aims to further advance circular construction: the building blocks can be dismantled without damage, reused, and significantly reduce the carbon footprint compared to conventional construction methods. They are provided through a Product-as-a-Service model and taken back after use.

Bioweg: Biobased Alternatives Instead of Microplastics

Since participating in the second batch, Bioweg has taken major steps toward industrialisation. The company, based in Elsdorf, develops biodegradable alternatives to microplastics based on bacterial cellulose produced from food industry side streams. In 2025, Bioweg closed a €16 million Series A financing round and, together with TU Berlin, received an additional €1.5 million grant from SPRIND. The company is currently building Germany's first industrial-scale bacterial cellulose production facility in the Rhenish mining region together with a major sugar producer. Through the Circular Economy Accelerator, Bioweg also established a connection with Bayer AG, which led to the company becoming part of the Bayer Science Hub Monheim.

R3 Robotics: Automated Disassembly for Electric Mobility

Luxembourg-based R3 Robotics (Batch 5) develops automated systems for dismantling battery packs, electric drivetrains and power electronics. Since participating in the fifth batch, the company – then still operating under the name Circu Li-ion – has evolved significantly. In early 2026, R3 Robotics secured total funding of €20 million. At the same time, the company is working with industrial partners such as Fortum Battery Recycling and, within a EUREKA project, together with KUKA and the Swiss Battery Technology Centre to further develop and industrialise its technology.

Agrona: Turning Agricultural Waste into Wood-Based Panels

Since participating in the sixth batch, Agrona has taken important steps toward international expansion. The company produces wood-based panels from agricultural residues such as tomato stalks and bio-based resins. It is currently establishing its operations in Cologne and received the Startup Welcome Package from NRW.Global Business to support this step. At the same time, its partnership with the state-owned manufacturer ATICO in Egypt continues to grow: following its admission to the local incubation programme, more than 1,000 boards are now being produced there every month.

PragmaCharge: Infrastructure for Zero-Emission Freight Transport

UK-based startup PragmaCharge (Batch 8) develops solutions for electrifying heavy-duty road transport, including electric truck leasing, charging infrastructure and digital fleet management. Since participating in the Circular Economy Accelerator, PragmaCharge has continued to expand its solutions. In 2025, the company launched the Poland-Germany Zero Emission Freight Corridor together with the Smart Freight Centre and received the Startup Welcome Package from NRW.Global Business.

"The success of our alumni demonstrates that the Circular Economy Accelerator is much more than a programme lasting just a few weeks. Our goal is to support companies over the long term on their growth journey while connecting them with industry, academia and investors. When innovative ideas develop into companies that successfully bring their solutions into practice, it confirms the strength of our programme and contributes to advancing the circular economy as a whole," says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.

These five companies represent just a few of the many success stories within the Circular Economy Accelerator's alumni network. The application phase for the eleventh batch has now concluded. Circular Valley is currently reviewing applications and conducting interviews with the most promising startups. The selected founders will come to the Rhine-Ruhr region in October and November to participate in the programme. The highlight will once again be the Demo Day at the Circular Valley Forum on 13 November, where they will present their ideas to a large audience.