upcycling

Novoloop’s upcycled plastic takes a step closer to production

Climate /

Plastic recycling startup Novoloop has inked a deal with a major manufacturer to produce its upcycled thermoplastic polyurethane at commercial scale, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. The agreement helps nudge the Menlo Park-based Novoloop through the so-called “valley of death” that many climate tech startups must slog through.  Startups that depend on hardware are particularly susceptible […]

Novoloop’s upcycled plastic takes a step closer to production Read More »

Mycocycle uses mushrooms to upcycle old tires and construction waste

Climate /

Usually, when something starts to rot, it gets pitched in the trash. But Joanne Rodriguez wants to turn the concept of rot on its head by growing fungus on trash to turn it into something better. “We train mushrooms to eat trash and create renewable, bio-based raw materials,” she told TechCrunch. Rodriguez is the founder

Mycocycle uses mushrooms to upcycle old tires and construction waste Read More »

Ethiopian plastic upcycling startup Kubik gets fresh funding, plans to license out its tech

Venture /

Kubik, a plastic upcycling startup, has raised a $1.9 million seed extension, months after announcing initial equity investment. The startup’s latest investment is from African Renaissance Partners, an East African venture capital firm; Endgame Capital, an investor with a bias for technologies around climate change; and King Philanthropies, a climate and extreme poverty investor. The

Ethiopian plastic upcycling startup Kubik gets fresh funding, plans to license out its tech Read More »