#72 - Venturing to Accelerate Circular Innovation

What does it take to finance the transition to a circular economy? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, we welcome Costas Papaikonomou, co-founder of Una Terra, a 200-million-euro early growth venture capital fund driving the transition toward a circular economy. With a mission to deliver measurable impact—from reducing 2 gigatons of CO2 emissions to preventing 1 million tons of plastic waste by 2030—Una Terra invests in market-ready innovations that balance environmental restoration with financial performance.

Costas shares his journey from engineering and innovation consulting to impact investing, emphasizing the importance of commercial viability in circular solutions. He dives into the challenges of scaling circular innovations, the need for patience and pragmatism, and the role of technical sales in bridging the gap between startups and large organizations. The conversation also explores the future of circular investing, the perfect storm driving circularity forward, and why the transition to a circular economy is a century-scale journey.

Why listen?

• Discover how Una Terra is accelerating the transition to a circular economy through early growth venture capital.
• Learn about the importance of commercial viability and why desirability comes before impact in circular solutions.
• Explore the challenges of scaling circular innovations and the need for patience and pragmatism in industrial adoption.
• Understand the role of technical sales in bridging the gap between startups and large organizations.
• Gain insights into the future of circular investing and the forces driving circularity forward.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, an investor, or simply curious about the future of circular innovation, this episode offers practical insights and inspiring stories from the frontlines of impact investing.

Keywords: circular economy, Una Terra, Costas Papaikonomou, circular economy investing, commercial viability, scaling circular innovations, technical sales, industrial adoption, impact investing, circular transition, environmental restoration, financial performance

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