Circular Innovation Challenge Apply

The Circular Innovation Challenge is a business pitch competition for the best manufactured product idea and business model that uses prominent waste or recycled materials. This competition is limited to Washington state businesses, individuals, or groups. 

Applications will be reviewed by a judging panel of industry experts in two rounds; from written submissions, a finalist pool of eight applicants will be selected to go through a seven-week program culminating with a final live-pitch event.

All applicants must source waste or recycled materials present in WA state to develop a viable product that can scale to meet the needs of our regional market, and must identify how local WA communities are positively impacted by the diversion of waste through the creation of their product. Business pitch submission requirements are outlined in this document and will be judged by a panel of professionals, practitioners, and industry experts based on the following categories:

• Volume/weight of waste diverted will be prioritized. Project ideas that use the most discarded waste/recycled materials will receive more points
• Equitable impact. Product ideas that have greater positive impact on historically under-resourced individuals and communities (BIPOC, refugee, immigrant, low-income, etc.) will receive more points (e.g., create new jobs, create a product that has low-barriers to access and purchasing/affordability, etc.)
• Environmental impact. Product ideas that show viable metrics around environmental impact will receive more points (e.g., measurable reductions in carbon emissions, water usage, pollution and/or chemicals)
• Innovation. Product ideas that create a solution for material streams that pose a prominent challenge will receive more points (e.g., a solution for a dominant ‘waste’ stream like textiles, glass, plastics, etc.)
• Scalability. Product ideas that clearly outline market demand and ability to scale across the region, and beyond, will receive more points

Coordinated by Seattle Good Business Network, in partnership with the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, and made possible by a grant from WA Department of Ecology.

Applicants must submit all required materials outlined below via email to gro.doogelttaes@ralucric no later than Friday, 4/23/2021 11:59PM PT. 

CRITERIA

The below criteria is to help you address key components of your manufactured product pitch to be considered for the finalist cohort. Judges will review all submissions after the application deadline to select a pool of eight finalists. 

Selected finalists will be notified on 4/30/2021 by 5pm PT via email. Finalists will then participate in a seven-week program (workshops, 1:1 support – this is not a full-time program) to further develop their product idea leveraging mentorship and other resources to prepare their final pitch, which will be shared live at the June 23rd event for the final prize of $10,000, access to viable investors, public recognition, and more.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

• 12pt font; 1-inch margins; single spaced
• Word or PDF Format
• Include research/sources of information in Appendix
• Be as concise as possible (Submission Criteria: 5 page limit)
• Appendix should include supporting documents, images, tables, graphs, and sources/evidence (Appendix: 3-page limit, in addition to 5-page limit).
• (optional) submission (via Google Drive, DropBox, YouTube, or other) of a six-minute (max) video that addresses the following criteria 

CONSIDERATIONS

1. Applicants must identify and describe a manufactured product (including its manufacturing process) that produces a viable consumer end-product. 
2. Applicants must work within one of the following material streams to create a product that has considerable end-market value, with the potential to realize economies of scale and long-term financial sustainability. 
3. Acceptable Material Streams include, but are not limited to: Construction and Demolition; Glass; Metal; Organics/Food; Paper; Plastic; Textiles; Wood; Pigment, etc.
4. Applicants are encouraged to keep their submission as concise and fact-based as possible.
5. If selected as Pitch Finalists, applicants must be available to participate in the 7-week program leading up to the LIVE pitch event on June 23rd. This program includes, but is not limited to:
   1. Pitch Finalist Orientation on 5/4 10:00-11:30AM PT
   2. Weekly workshops (90-120 minutes) that are geared towards helping Finalists refine and develop their pitch ideas (dates and times TBD)
   3. Coordinate with mentors as needed to develop and refine final pitch
   4. With support, create a video recording of their final pitch, which will be streamed during the LIVE event on 6/23 4-6:30PM
   5. Attend the LIVE event on 6/23 4-6:30PM and be available to engage in a short Q&A session with the audience

The final winner of the Circular Innovation Challenge 2021 competition will be announced during the live event on June 23rd 4-6:30pm.

This Winner’s Package includes:

1. A cash prize of $10,000 in the form of a check
2. Introductions to investors to help navigate the funding process in support of winning pitch idea 
3. Ongoing mentorship (details TBA)
4. Public, state-wide recognition and media features through Seattle Good Business Network, OED, and community partner channels

*We have over-the-phone interpretation support in over 200 languages! If you would like interpretation support, please email gro.doogelttaes@ralucric with the language you prefer and the best phone number to reach you. For applications in Español or 繁體中文 please email gro.doogelttaes@ralucric.

Need information or the application form in Spanish (Español) or Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)?

Applications for Product Pitches open: 3/12

Application Closing Date: 4/23 11:59pm PST

Program for Pitch Finalists: 5/4- 6/23

Live Event & Announcement of Best Business Pitch: 6/23 4-6:30pm PST

Registration link for attendees coming Soon. Sign up here to get notified when it opens!

Check out our full timeline here. 

If you are applying as a business that already produces/manufactures a product that fits this competition’s criteria, you must pitch a new product (e.g., one that is not already on the market).