The Incubation Network to fast-track solutions for plastic waste and circularity challenges in South and Southeast Asia with new startup program

15 Entrepreneur support organizations commit to pilot PXCC, the first-of-its-kind curriculum to roll out across the region, to accelerate dozens of pre-seed and seed-stage entrepreneurs.

 

Singapore – Entrepreneur support organizations across South and Southeast Asia are rolling out PXCC (Plastics X Circularity Curriculum), the first program in the region designed to fast-track startups that apply a circular economy approach to plastic waste management.

Developed by The Incubation Network, The Circulate Initiative and Sagana, it is the first-ever curriculum on circular plastic waste management for pre-seed and seed-stage startups in South and Southeast Asia. 

“By developing comprehensive learning resources to support entrepreneurs in the sector, we can fuel their growth and accelerate the implementation of both short-term and long-term solutions towards a circular plastic waste management system in the region. The Plastics X Circularity Curriculum is an example of the tools that are needed to help high-potential entrepreneurs succeed,” said Simon Baldwin, Global Head of Circularity for SecondMuse, and Director of The Incubation Network. 

A circular economy is a business model which designs out the potential for waste and pollution by structuring systems that prioritize the restoration or regeneration of resources. It aims to counter conventional linear business models which are structured to take, make and waste resources.

 

Approximately 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enters oceans annually, much of which is mismanaged from South and Southeast Asia, indicating the need to optimize solutions in the region.

15 entrepreneur support organizations across South and Southeast Asia have committed to pilot PXCC, exploring opportunities to roll it out in their programs. To support the implementation of PXCC, organizations will receive tools such as a fundraising guide, sample pitch deck, and lesson plans, to turn learning into action.

“As an investor, Circulate Capital is looking for ventures that have developed strong business models to prevent plastic leakage and scale circular plastics value chains. A high-quality curriculum and support program is critical in helping early-stage entrepreneurs to build and scale effective and circular solutions into investable opportunities in the long term,” said Rob Kaplan, Chief Executive Officer, Circulate Capital.

There are 31 sub-modules across 9 learning domains that can be delivered with mentorship and cross-learning from industry experts within The Incubation Network, as bite-sized on-demand learning, or in personalized lessons where entrepreneurs can focus on topics that align with their solutions. 

 

The curriculum content and supporting materials were developed with input from entrepreneurial support organizations SocialAlpha and StartUpX, and have already been piloted by five entrepreneurs under the guidance of The Incubation Network.

“The best thing about the Plastics X Circularity Curriculum is how applicable it has been to how we are currently developing as a company. The real highlight and added value was the 1:1 mentorship calls, during which we reviewed the material and were able to ask questions and receive tips and advice,” shared Natasha Viitasaari, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Nu Cycle, a waste offset service in Indonesia that trialled the content. 

“I was very comfortable with the material, and think it is very comprehensive. The videos in the sub-modules are particularly useful and easy to absorb. The user stories exercises also helped me put myself in the shoes of my target market, which I appreciate because it saves us time and money,” shared Ryan Corpuz, Founder, Nanolabs LRC, a startup that provides sustainable nano-solutions to electrochemical energy storage and environmental challenges in the Philippines. 

The PXCC is supported by: Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Global Alliance Canada, and Lucy Ana Walton via The Denver Foundation.

 

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Entrepreneur support organizations can learn more about the PXCC at: https://www.incubationnetwork.com/membership/

 

About The Incubation Network

The Incubation Network is an impact-driven initiative that sources, supports and scales holistic innovative solutions to combat plastic pollution through strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems with a diverse network of key partners.

Part of a highly collaborative community of investors, innovators, partners and programs, The Incubation Network works together with industry players to tackle key barriers to address plastic leakage and advance a circular economy. This includes sourcing and supporting, to scaling early stage or pre-investment solutions, and connecting compatible ecosystem players to reinforce the value chain in waste management and recycling.

Established in 2019, The Incubation Network is a partnership between non-profit organization, The Circulate Initiative and impact innovation company, SecondMuse. The Incubation Network is open to interested collaborators, corporations, and mentors, looking to address plastic leakage and advance a circular economy in South & Southeast Asia. 

For more information, visit: www.incubationnetwork.com. 

 

About The Circulate Initiative:

The Circulate Initiative is a non-profit organization committed to solving the ocean plastic pollution challenge by supporting the incubation of circular, inclusive and investible waste management and recycling systems in South and Southeast Asia. We achieve this by collaborating with key stakeholders across the sector, and by producing insights to support and accelerate investment and scale across the value chain.

For more information, visit: www.thecirculateinitiative.org

 

About Sagana

Sagana is a global impact investment advisory firm working to unleash the potential of people, capital and business to create a better future for all. Sagana leverages decades of experience in private equity, impact investing, and entrepreneurship to discover, invest in and grow companies that are successfully solving some of the biggest challenges of our time – in topics like climate change, sustainable fashion, food technology, plastics, health and wellness, education and gender and diversity. Sagana clients are family offices, foundations, corporations and development agencies who are looking for both attractive financial returns and positive social and environmental impact. Through our Talent practice, the Sagana team also works with leading purpose-driven entrepreneurs to build the people-practices they need to succeed.