Circular Austin Showcase and Accelerator Programs

Circular Austin Accelerator

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

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 

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Material Union accepts the $2,000 prize from Maddie Morgan and the judging panel at the 2024 Circular Austin Showcase. 

2024 Circular Accelerator winner and finalists

During the pilot program in Summer 2024, 10 circular entrepreneurs participated in a 14-week educational program. Some of the topics covered included: creating a circular business canvas, revenue modeling, budgeting, strategic pricing, and creating a branding narrative. The program wrapped up with a practice pitch, with the top three ideas moving on to compete at the Circular Austin Showcase.

Material Union won the Circular Accelerator division at the Circular Austin Showcase on August 30, 2024. They took home a $2,000 prize. The finalists included: 

• Aura Rain is a premium water brand. They harvest rainwater and transform it into sustainable drinking water.
• Material Union plans to collect and sort textiles to give them a second life as new products, like pillows and insulation.
• Sleep, Never is a slow fashion brand that uses reclaimed materials to create made-to-order clothing. Each piece is ethically developed and manufactured in-house in Austin, Texas with a focus on quality, fit and size inclusivity. 

Circular Austin Showcase

Circular Austin Showcase connects circular economy businesses with potential investors in the region. Circular business models reduce the need to extract new resources from our planet by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible. Up to five established circular businesses will have a chance to compete in the Circular Austin Showcase.

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 the spring

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.
• Must be in operation for at least 12 months

Applications and pitches will be scored based on clarity of problem and solution, innovation in circularity, environmental and community impact, economic benefits, and equitable practices. 

Program details

Participants will be encouraged to attend a 2-hour workshop and a 1-hour pitch coaching session. The Circular Austin Showcase will take place the last week of August. The winner must sign a Prize Winner Agreement before receiving funds. Participants will receive a copy of the agreement when notified about their selection.  

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The Mosaic Workshop accepts the $10,000 prize from Maddie Morgan and the judging panel at the 2024 Circular Austin Showcase.

2024 Circular Austin Showcase winner and finalists

The Mosaic Workshop was the winner of the 2024 Circular Austin Showcase. They took home the $10,000 grand prize. The finalists included:

• Black Lives Veggies is a not-for-profit with a mission to diversify the local food system. They teach BIPOC communities how to plant, grow, harvest, and distribute fresh veggies.
• Heron rents and delivers anything you don't use enough to buy. They offer everything from wheelchairs to air mattresses to patio heaters.
• The Mosaic Workshop teaches people of all ages and abilities the art of mosaic making. They host classes and design community-led mosaic murals using broken tile, glass and ceramics.
• Shop Slow is a “slow fashion” boutique that features clothing by a collective of makers who sew custom and unique clothing. Their makers focus on using recycled materials.
• 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. 

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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.