Circular Austin Showcase brings together investors and entrepreneurs for a pitch event supporting the circular economy
The City of Austin’s Circular Austin Showcase connects circular economy businesses and entrepreneurs with potential investors in the region. Circular economy businesses provide sustainable solutions to their customers and practice zero waste within the organization. During this event, these entrepreneurs and business owners will pitch their circular economy business ideas and meet with investors to start and/or grow their businesses.
The City of Austin is proud to support our local circular businesses by hosting an event that helps Austin reduce waste, create a cleaner environment and grow the local circular economy.
Showcase Prize
Circular economy businesses will pitch to judges for a chance to win $12,000 in prize money. Runner up receives $1,000.
Connect |
Event attendees can meet with investors and business owners to learn more about local efforts and opportunities. |
Pitch |
A pitch event hosting a diverse group of people from investor and business communities to support and inspire growth in the circular economy. Select circular economy businesses will pitch to judges for a chance to win $12,000 in prize money. Runner up receives $1,000. |
Impact |
The showcase will inspire and educate the investment community on the social, environmental and economic benefits of circular economy businesses. |
Mason Arnold (second from left) accepts the cash prize at the Circular Austin Showcase from Meghan Doherty (left), Tara Levy and Maddie Morgan.
2023 Circular Austin Showcase winner
A judging panel selected The Conscious Pet as this year’s winner following pitches from eight finalists. Two of the finalists participated as Reverse Pitch Innovation Fellows. Scoring criteria included business viability, fundability, circular economy/zero waste impact, economic impact and local job creation, along with effectiveness of pitch delivery.
Mason Arnold with The Conscious Pet will receive a $12,000 cash prize. Kelly Rytlewski with Heartening will receive a $1,000 cash prize for placing second. In addition, all competitors gained valuable feedback from the judges.
2023 finalists
- diaperkind is a modern cloth diaper service that emphasizes zero waste, zero laundry and zero chemicals.
- Dispoze is focused on improving recovery infrastructure for lithium-ion batteries. The organization aims to refurbish recovered batteries for reintroduction into US supply chains and offset the carbon emissions caused by the mining of precious metals.
- Frontier Resource Recovery aims to create scalable agricultural solutions to restore the environment.
- Heartening* plans to create a product line of pallet-able patio furniture made from upcycled wooden pallets and recycled textile cushions.
- Pyrocycling* plans to use carbon filter pads from Deep Eddy Vodka to harvest agricultural minerals directly from treated municipal sewage.
- Sleep, Never creates quality slow fashion, that is suitable for a fast paced world.
- The Conscious Pet provides nutritious, sustainable food for dogs and for the planet.
- Wanderlust Wine Co. is the world's largest wine-on-tap winery with a mission to change the world through wine by utilizing sustainable, recyclable, and reusable packaging and practices.
*2023 [RE]verse Pitch Innovation Fellows
The City of Austin supports businesses and entrepreneurs in the circular economy sector through a partnership between the Circular Economy Program and Economic Development Department.
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