Startups are accelerating the circular bioeconomy

How do you take a sustainable idea from prototype to market—and on to customers, partners, and investors? That is the core question addressed by the CircBioGo accelerator, where startups in the forest bioeconomy receive tailored assistance in developing their business, financing, and sales strategies.

How do you take a sustainable idea from prototype to market—and on to customers, partners, and investors? That is the core question addressed by the CircBioGo accelerator, where startups in the forest bioeconomy receive tailored assistance in developing their business, financing, and sales strategies.

"The Accelerator is a practical exercise where we combine the best experiences from a number of incubators and science parks in Sweden and Norway," says Jessica Vacklid, program manager at Innovatum Science Park.

– Companies not only receive expert advice, they also learn from each other, so results are achieved both through direct efforts and through the network itself.

Cutting-edge expertise from both sides of the border

The accelerator consists of six meetings focusing on go-to-market, pitch, sales strategy, financing, circularity, life cycle analysis, and team and organization. Each meeting is led by different collaboration partners, giving companies access to cutting-edge expertise from various science parks and incubators in Sweden and Norway.

– Participants range from cellulose-based products to digital solutions for measuring timber and natural risks. They are different – but all contribute to a smarter and more resource-efficient use of forest raw materials and residual flows.

Companies with a high sustainability profile

In addition to finding business and financing strategies, a key challenge for many companies is to formulate and demonstrate the sustainability values they create.

– Many companies need to get better at demonstrating concrete climate benefits and expressing the value of their solutions, especially to investors and customers. This is particularly challenging when you introduce something new that the market doesn't know it needs – yet.

Valuable input for reaching the market

"We hope to find new partners and other types of actors than those we have worked with so far, and to get support in establishing a good structure for the work going forward," says Lars Thorsrud from Oppatt, a company that transforms wood waste into new products while giving people new opportunities to enter the workforce.

"They have listened to the challenges we face. Right now, we are a small organization, but with high customer demand. We are getting help to meet that demand and build the organization for the future," says Jacqueline Hedin from Lumine North, a company that manufactures bio-based components for the lighting industry.

The program provides both practical development and new relationships. Participants attest to the value of meeting, testing ideas, challenging each other, and creating collaboration.