Samenvatting

Despite the key roles of circular startups and investors in enabling the transition towards a circular economy, weak connections have been found between the two actors, limiting effective collaboration and the exchange of resources. While previous research demonstrated the beneficial role of intermediaries in strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem, concrete strategies for newly established intermediaries to engage circular startups and investors remain an understudied topic. Using a qualitative approach, this research showed the findings of 13 semi-structured interviews conducted with three groups of participants: Belgian circular startups, European impact investors, and European intermediaries. Data were analyzed using a six-step thematic analysis approach. The findings showed that intermediaries need to first develop a curated, strong pipeline of startups to attract and engage with investors. Mentorship aligning with the development stage of the circular startups and curated networking formats, such as sector-specific events and one-on-one matchmaking conversations, were found to be what circular startups would value the most in an intermediary offering. Barriers limiting the adoption of circular business models were found, such as a mindset misalignment between circular startups and investors, low market readiness, a lack of a standard impact measurement framework, and insufficient regulatory support. This research provides practical insights and recommendations for newly established intermediaries aiming to engage circular startups and investors.