The City of Austin offers two pathways to support circular entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized enterprises. The Circular Austin Showcase provides the opportunity for established circular economy businesses and entrepreneurs to compete for a cash prize in August each year. The Circular Austin Accelerator helps entrepreneurs improve their circular business ideas throughout a 14-week program.
Applications for the Circular Austin Showcase and Circular Austin Accelerator are now closed and will reopen in Fall 2025.
- Circular Austin Accelerator
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The Circular Austin Accelerator helps local entrepreneurs improve their circular business ideas. During the program, participants receive free business training and coaching. The program ends with a practice pitch. The top three ideas at the practice pitch will receive entry to compete at Circular Austin Showcase for a $2,000 prize.
Learn
Receive free business training and coaching from professionals. Connect
Network with like-minded entrepreneurs in a group setting to improve your idea. Impact
Increase the positive impact your idea can have the community. Application and eligibility
Applications for the Circular Austin Accelerator program are now closed. They will reopen in late 2025 for the 2026 cycle.
Eligible applicants for the Circular Austin Accelerator must meet these requirements:
- Must have an idea focused on the circular economy, zero waste or sustainability.
- Must have an annual revenue below $35,000.
- The founder or representative must live or attend school in Austin city limits.
- Prior applicants may apply, but priority will be given to new applicants.
Program details
Scoring is based on alignment with the circular economy, community impact, and the organization’s potential for growth and success in the program. Participants can expect to spend 2 to 4 hours on program activities weekly. The program ends with a practice pitch, with the top three ideas receiving entry to compete at Circular Austin Showcase.
Participants can expect to:
- Attend 8 evening workshops taught by industry professionals
- Attend 4 business coaching sessions and one business engagement meeting
- Participate in a networking session with successful, local circular founders
- Attend an optional office hour session with City staff
- Present a six-minute pitch at the soft pitch event
- Provide program feedback at a virtual retrospective
A limited number of stipends may be awarded to eligible participants with the top scores. Recipients must sign a Prize Winner Agreement and complete requirements to receive funds. The requirements will include participating in workshops and submitting all homework from the workshops. Funds will be issued halfway through the program and at the program’s conclusion.
The sessions will cover:
- Understanding circular principles
- Creating a circular business canvas
- Building a revenue and business model
- Analyzing circular value chains
- Storytelling and preparing a pitch
2025 Circular Accelerator Finalists
- Concept 2 Consumption Fashion and Technology is a technology ecosystem and innovation virtual collaboration. They are on a mission to make Austin the sustainable fashion capital of the world.
- Frontier Resource Recovery is turning abundant agricultural waste into biochar as a sustainable solution to treat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) contamination. The treated biosolids are safe to be reused as fertilizer.
- Holocia is transforming the local food system by creating agricultural development districts. These districts will provide Austinites with fresh, healthy food and help eliminate over 1 million pounds of plastic food packaging annually.
- Circular Austin Showcase
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Circular Austin Showcase connects circular economy businesses with potential investors in the region. Circular economy businesses provide sustainable solutions to their customers and practice zero waste within the organization.
Showcase Prize
Circular economy enterprises will pitch to judges for a chance to win $10,000 in prize money.
Connect
Event attendees can network with 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. Impact
The showcase will inspire and educate the investment community on the social, environmental and economic benefits of circular economy businesses. Application and eligibility
Applications for the Circular Austin Showcase and the Circular Austin Accelerator are now closed and will reopen in Fall 2025.
Businesses and social enterprises must be located in the City of Austin and meet these additional requirements:
- Must be focused on the circular economy, zero waste or sustainability.
- Cannot have raised more than $500,000 in lifetime outside funding.
- Must have an annual revenue between $35,000 and $250,000.
Scoring is based on viability, fundability, job creation, and circular economy and social impact.
Program details
Participants will be encouraged to attend a free pitch prep session. The winner must sign a Prize Winner Agreement before receiving funds. Participants will receive a copy of the agreement when notified about their selection.
2025 Circular Austin Showcase Finalists
During a special event on Tuesday, Aug. 26, these five businesses will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for a chance to win $10,000 in prize money and connect with potential investors:
- Cocarbon converts agricultural waste into sustainable activated carbon for water filtration. Their carbon-negative, solar-powered process eliminates expensive water transport, reduces waterborne diseases and creates local jobs.
- CRAFT is a public studio that promotes sustainability through a shared use model for arts and crafts. Their model reduces waste, prevents unnecessary consumption, and fosters an inclusive, community-driven approach to making.
- Heartening is a community-driven initiative dedicated to creating a sustainable culture of giving and reuse. They are powered by volunteers who care about giving clothing back to the community freely or extremely cheaply.
- Save the Good Stuff is committed to the preservation and reuse of vulnerable vintage and historic building materials. They aim to maintain the integrity of Austin’s built environment.
- Wanderlust Wine Co. is the world’s largest wine-on-tap winery. They are on a mission to change the world through wine by utilizing sustainable, recyclable and reusable packaging and practices.
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. The City of Austin is proud to support our local circular businesses by hosting events that help Austin reduce waste, create a cleaner environment and grow the local circular economy.
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