The Circular Accelerator Program consists of competitive challenges designed to identify and support promising circular businesses and projects.
Donor Name: NextCycle Washington
State: Washington
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Accelerator
Deadline: 07/15/2022
Grant Duration: 6 months
Details:
Applicants are selected for a six-month program to advance their ventures.
The Circular Accelerator Program provides:
- Business and Technical Planning Support
- Pitch Development
- Funding Pathway Identification and Matchmaking
What’s Included
- Developing growth plan fundamentals through a multi-day intensive Business Bootcamp
- One-on-one consulting with experienced mentors and subject matter experts to improve and refine business models and project plans
- Attending facilitated networking opportunities to foster collaborations and partnerships
- Engaging with community voices to ensure equitable outcomes and generate grassroots support
- Identifying funding pathways
- Introducing participants to potential investors
- Refining pitch deck to help secure project funding
- Recognition and publicity
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses, entrepreneurs, universities, non-profits, community-based organizations or tribal governments that have investable project ideas with the potential to contribute towards zero waste goals, greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and equitable outcomes while stimulating the circular economy.
- Cross sector partnerships and existing end markets from out-of-state are eligible to apply.
- Applicants from communities that have been overburdened, under-resourced, or under-represented are encouraged to apply.
- Late-stage startup, early growth, and mature stage projects will be considered.
Projects must either utilize materials that are otherwise disposed of, provide a higher better use of materials, or focus on waste prevention. - Project leads do not need to be headquartered in Washington at the time of application, but to be accepted, the project or business idea must be implemented and based in Washington.
- Projects must show the potential to be financially sustainable.
- Projects must consider social equity and community impacts, especially with respect to overburdened communities.
- Projects must consider GHG reduction potential.
- Projects must demonstrate a measurable and/or scalable impact to Washington’s waste diversion/zero waste goals.
- Foundational research and feasibility studies are not eligible. Pilot projects may be considered eligible.
For more information, visit NextCycle Washington.
