A vibrant community gathered for CIRCULAZE 2024, kicking off with the prestigious CIRCULAZE Night Award, a celebration honoring the Top 22 Circular Economy Start-ups of the year and the Top Circular Company. These awards recognized companies making groundbreaking contributions to advancing circular models. The night opened with an inspiring keynote by Tina Dreimann, Founder & Managing Director of better ventures, who highlighted the need to empower the start-up ecosystem. She emphasized that building a robust ecosystem requires more than just capital—it demands infrastructure, industry access, partnerships, and mentorship.
The Award Ceremony was expertly moderated by the fabulous Julia Profeta Johansson, whose engaging style and insightful commentary set a warm and inspiring tone, building anticipation for the impactful discussions and exchanges that awaited attendees at the next day’s main event.
On November 6th, the CIRCULAZE Summit opened its doors, bringing together leaders from business, politics, academia, and the investment community. Moderator Laurent-Frédéric Lohmann guided attendees through a dynamic program filled with exchanges on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the circular economy.
The Summit began with a powerful keynote by international expert Vojetch Vosecky, who addressed this year’s theme: “Close the Loop. Open Opportunities.” He reframed circularity not just as a sustainability initiative but as a smart business strategy, emphasizing how circular models help companies “make less trash and more cash,” benefiting both the planet and their bottom line.
One of the standout moments of the Summit was the 7×7-minute Impulse Talks, featuring seven speakers who each shared concise insights on seven aspects of the circular economy. Industry leaders from companies like EON, Evonik, WEPA, EPEA, and Veganz presented on topics including the human factor, transforming family-owned businesses, and the new era of collaboration and partnerships.
Marina Schmidt encouraged the audience in her climate slam “Talk hotter to me” to shift the narrative away from environmental threats and focus on positive, actionable stories that highlight opportunities for meaningful change.
Following the Impulse Talks, 16 start-ups took to the Main Stage to pitch their innovations, while attendees explored the Start-up Village, meeting 23 international start-ups and engaging in valuable networking opportunities. The Campus, powered by PwC, provided a platform to connect with emerging talent from prominent institutions like the University of St. Gallen, the Technical University of Munich, and the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (EIIS).
In the afternoon, the event split into six Topic Rooms. These sessions delved into key themes such as leadership and mindset, the twin transition of digital and green technology, Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) models, regulatory landscapes, communication strategies, and the CIRCO business model.
An expert panel discussion powered by Octopus Energy Germany focused on “The Economic Impact of Energy Transition.” Visionaries like Octopus Germany CEO Bastian Gierul, Dennis Stahl (R. Stahl AG), and Dr. Wolfgang Gründinger (Enpal) shared insights on the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic factors with environmental goals.
Coinciding with the U.S. presidential elections, Dr. Wolfgang Gründinger highlighted in his closing note Germany’s leadership role in the shift to sustainable energy solutions and urged attendees to double down on their dedication to alternative energy, regardless of the international political landscape.
See all photos of the CIRCULAZE AWARD NIGHT here:
See all photos of the CIRCULAZE SUMMIT here:
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