What are the latest funding news in the circular economy? (May 2026)
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In our circular economy deck, you will find everything you need to understand the market
Circular economy funding stayed active through May 2026, but the strongest signal came from companies that turn waste, underused assets and biological systems into repeatable industrial loops.
The latest disclosed rounds show that investors are still backing recycling platforms, circular design startups, repair technologies and regenerative agriculture models that can scale beyond pilots.
Capital was not evenly spread, as the largest rounds went to critical materials, textiles and infrastructure-linked circular economy companies with clear industrial demand.
And if you want to better understand this new industry, you can download our pitch covering the circular economy.
Insights
- The circular economy funding market is being pulled toward industrial resource security, with rare earths, batteries, e-waste and critical raw materials attracting several of the largest rounds.
- Textile circularity is no longer only about resale, as enzymatic recycling, CO2-based separation, recyclable fabrics and reverse logistics all appeared in recent funding activity.
- Europe produced many of the smaller circular economy rounds, while North America captured the largest checks through companies like Cyclic Materials and SuperCircle.
- Construction circularity is becoming more investable because startups are linking material reuse, repair robotics and building-material passports to measurable cost and compliance needs.
- Several rounds supported circular design before waste is created, especially in compostable packaging, bio-based chemicals and textiles designed for disassembly.
- Regenerative agriculture showed up through service models, with UBEES turning pollination into a managed circular economy input for food, cosmetics and agricultural supply chains.
- The latest circular economy deals suggest that investors prefer companies with hard infrastructure, proprietary science or enterprise operating systems over broad sustainability platforms.
As this chart shows, and as featured in our circular economy deck, search interest in eco-friendly brands has been growing steadily
Summary table of the latest funding deals in the circular economy as of May 2026
We define the circular economy market as all activities that keep products and materials in use for longer and return them safely to the economy or nature instead of sending them to waste.
We include circular design, sharing and product-as-a-service models, repair and refurbishment, remanufacturing, high-quality recycling, bio-based and compostable materials, regenerative agriculture, and the digital, logistics, consulting and financial services that enable these loops.
We exclude purely linear “take-make-waste” activities, traditional waste disposal such as landfilling and non-recovering incineration, and generic sustainability actions that do not materially change how resources and materials flow through the economy.
You can also read our detailed analysis to understand how funding activity in the circular economy has evolved over the last few years.
We also have a quarter-by-quarter analysis of funding activity in the market here.
| Name | When | Amount in $ | Round Type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAECONOMY | 10 Apr 2026 | $1.62M | Undisclosed round | Circular enablement & construction material passports |
| Epoch Biodesign | 25 Mar 2026 | $12M | Financing round | High-quality recycling & textile materials |
| Renasens | 25 Mar 2026 | $10.8M | Seed | High-quality textile recycling |
| Level Nine | 17 Mar 2026 | $4.32M | Seed | Circular design & bio-based materials |
| WeSort.AI | 16 Mar 2026 | $10.8M | Funding round | Recycling platforms & critical materials recovery |
| Shellworks | 4 Mar 2026 | $15M | Series A | Circular design & compostable materials |
| CLIMATEX | 20 Feb 2026 | $4.1M | Financing round | Circular design & textiles |
| Sitegeist | 16 Feb 2026 | $4.32M | Pre-seed | Repair, refurbishment & construction robotics |
| Project Omega | 11 Feb 2026 | $12M | Seed | High-value recycling & energy materials |
| UBEES | 3 Feb 2026 | $8.64M | Series A | Product-as-a-service & regenerative agriculture |
| Cyclic Materials | 23 Jan 2026 | $75M | Series C | Critical materials recycling |
| SuperCircle | 10 Dec 2025 | $24M | Series A | Circular enablement & textile reuse logistics |
All the latest funding deals in the circular economy as of May 2026
MAECONOMY raised about $1.62M in April 2026.
When was it?
The MAECONOMY round was announced on 10 April 2026.
Who are they?
MAECONOMY turns building materials into auditable and tradable circular assets for the built environment.
Geographical focus?
MAECONOMY is focused on Europe, with a model built for circular construction markets and material reuse infrastructure.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
MAECONOMY belongs in the circular economy because its platform helps keep building materials in use through passports, traceability and asset monetization.
What is the company stage?
MAECONOMY is at an early commercial stage, moving from MVP toward product-market fit after being founded in 2023.
How much did they raise?
MAECONOMY raised about $1.62M, based on a €1.5M disclosed round.
What round is it?
The round type was not publicly labeled, so it is best described as an undisclosed early funding round.
Why did they raise?
MAECONOMY raised to accelerate circular built-environment market infrastructure across Europe.
Epoch Biodesign raised $12M in March 2026.
When was it?
The Epoch Biodesign financing round was announced on 25 March 2026.
Who are they?
Epoch Biodesign uses enzymes to recycle nylon 6,6 and blended materials back into reusable monomers.
Geographical focus?
Epoch Biodesign is based in Europe and is building a technology platform with global relevance for textiles, plastics and mobility materials.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
Epoch Biodesign fits the circular economy because its process turns difficult waste materials into inputs that can be used again.
What is the company stage?
Epoch Biodesign is in scale-up mode, moving from pilot work toward larger demonstration capacity.
How much did they raise?
Epoch Biodesign raised $12M in this financing round.
What round is it?
The company described the deal as a financing round rather than a named Series round.
Why did they raise?
Epoch Biodesign raised to validate commercial-scale enzymatic nylon recycling and move toward multi-kiloton production.
This chart, featured in our circular economy deck, compares the main business model options for refurbished tech sellers
Renasens raised about $10.8M in March 2026.
When was it?
The Renasens seed round was announced on 25 March 2026.
Who are they?
Renasens uses modified supercritical CO2 to separate and decolour blended textile waste into reusable fibres.
Geographical focus?
Renasens is focused on Europe and already works with manufacturers in Portugal and Italy.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
Renasens belongs in the circular economy because the company helps recover fibres from textile waste instead of sending blended materials to disposal.
What is the company stage?
Renasens is at an early commercial stage, with customer supply relationships already in place.
How much did they raise?
Renasens raised about $10.8M, based on a €10M seed round.
What round is it?
The round was a seed round.
Why did they raise?
Renasens raised to scale CO2-based textile recycling infrastructure and partnerships across Europe.
Level Nine raised about $4.32M in March 2026.
When was it?
The Level Nine seed round was announced on 17 March 2026.
Who are they?
Level Nine builds machine-learning-designed catalysts that convert biomass into drop-in chemical intermediates.
Geographical focus?
Level Nine is based in Europe and is targeting chemical supply chains that need lower-carbon and bio-based feedstocks.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
Level Nine fits the circular economy because its catalyst platform supports bio-based materials and reduces dependence on virgin fossil inputs.
What is the company stage?
Level Nine is at an early commercial stage and is working toward its first kiloton-scale plant.
How much did they raise?
Level Nine raised about $4.32M, based on a €4M seed round.
What round is it?
The round was a seed round.
Why did they raise?
Level Nine raised to industrialize its catalyst platform and commercialize bio-based polyurethane inputs.
This chart, featured in our circular economy deck, shows why Back Market is winning in the circular economy
WeSort.AI raised about $10.8M in March 2026.
When was it?
The WeSort.AI funding round was announced on 16 March 2026.
Who are they?
WeSort.AI uses AI, cameras and X-rays to recover batteries, e-waste and critical raw materials from waste streams.
Geographical focus?
WeSort.AI is focused on Europe, where critical raw material recovery is tied to industrial resilience and recycling regulation.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
WeSort.AI belongs in the circular economy because its systems recover valuable materials from waste and return them to specialized recycling channels.
What is the company stage?
WeSort.AI is in growth mode, with systems already deployed at customers such as KORN Recycling and PreZero.
How much did they raise?
WeSort.AI raised about $10.8M, based on a €10M funding round.
What round is it?
The company described the deal as a funding round rather than a named Series round.
Why did they raise?
WeSort.AI raised to expand its market presence and scale AI-supported recovery of critical raw materials in Europe.
Shellworks raised $15M in March 2026.
When was it?
The Shellworks Series A was announced on 4 March 2026.
Who are they?
Shellworks makes Vivomer, a bio-based packaging material designed to replace conventional plastics and biodegrade after use.
Geographical focus?
Shellworks is based in Europe and is scaling partnerships, manufacturing and production for the US and European markets.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
Shellworks fits the circular economy because its packaging material is designed as a safer material loop than conventional single-use plastic.
What is the company stage?
Shellworks is in product-market fit and growth mode, with a material that is moving toward mass-market adoption.
How much did they raise?
Shellworks raised $15M in this round.
What round is it?
The round was a Series A.
Why did they raise?
Shellworks raised to expand mass-market partnerships, global manufacturing and US and EU production.
In our circular economy deck, we identify pain points entrepreneurs should prioritize
CLIMATEX raised about $4.1M in February 2026.
When was it?
The CLIMATEX financing round was announced on 20 February 2026.
Who are they?
CLIMATEX designs patented textile construction systems that make fabrics easier to disassemble, reuse and recycle.
Geographical focus?
CLIMATEX is based in Switzerland and serves textile applications across apparel, interiors and industrial material markets.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
CLIMATEX belongs in the circular economy because its textile systems are designed for reuse, recyclability and easier material recovery.
What is the company stage?
CLIMATEX is at product-market fit and growth stage, with patented systems moving into broader use.
How much did they raise?
CLIMATEX raised about $4.1M, based on CHF 3.2M disclosed in the source data.
What round is it?
The company described the deal as a financing round rather than a named Series round.
Why did they raise?
CLIMATEX raised to adapt, apply and scale circular textile technologies.
Sitegeist raised about $4.32M in February 2026.
When was it?
The Sitegeist pre-seed round was announced on 16 February 2026.
Who are they?
Sitegeist builds modular AI-enabled construction robots that help repair and refurbish concrete infrastructure.
Geographical focus?
Sitegeist is based in Germany and is starting with European infrastructure renovation needs.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
Sitegeist fits the circular economy because its robots support repair and refurbishment instead of full replacement of existing concrete assets.
What is the company stage?
Sitegeist is at pre-seed stage and is moving from early product work toward on-site deployment.
How much did they raise?
Sitegeist raised about $4.32M, based on a €4M pre-seed round.
What round is it?
The round was a pre-seed round.
Why did they raise?
Sitegeist raised to expand the team and bring automated modular robots onto construction sites.
This market map, featured in our circular economy deck, highlights top companies and startups in the circular economy
Project Omega raised $12M in February 2026.
When was it?
The Project Omega seed round was reported on 11 February 2026.
Who are they?
Project Omega recycles spent nuclear fuel into compact power sources for defense and other high-reliability energy uses.
Geographical focus?
Project Omega is focused on the United States, with work linked to national labs and the domestic nuclear fuel cycle.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
Project Omega belongs in the circular economy because the company aims to turn a high-value waste stream into usable energy materials.
What is the company stage?
Project Omega is at early product stage after emerging from stealth and working with public-sector technical partners.
How much did they raise?
Project Omega raised $12M in this round.
What round is it?
The round was a seed round.
Why did they raise?
Project Omega raised to turn spent fuel into usable power sources and build US nuclear-fuel-cycle capability.
UBEES raised about $8.64M in February 2026.
When was it?
The UBEES Series A was announced on 3 February 2026.
Who are they?
UBEES runs regenerative pollination programs using beekeeping, agronomic data and connected hives.
Geographical focus?
UBEES is global, with activity in more than 15 countries across five continents.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
UBEES fits the circular economy because regenerative pollination helps agricultural systems restore biodiversity while supporting productive resource loops.
What is the company stage?
UBEES is in growth stage, with multinational customers and field operations across several regions.
How much did they raise?
UBEES raised about $8.64M, based on a €8M Series A round.
What round is it?
The round was a Series A.
Why did they raise?
UBEES raised to expand internationally, strengthen teams and scale regenerative pollination services.
This chart, featured in our circular economy deck, shows annual funding in circular economy startups
Cyclic Materials raised $75M in January 2026.
When was it?
The Cyclic Materials Series C was announced on 23 January 2026.
Who are they?
Cyclic Materials recycles rare earth elements from end-of-life magnets, EV motors, wind turbines, MRI machines and electronics.
Geographical focus?
Cyclic Materials is focused on North America and Europe, with a strong emphasis on local rare earth supply chains.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
Cyclic Materials belongs in the circular economy because its process recovers critical materials from end-of-life products and returns them to industrial supply chains.
What is the company stage?
Cyclic Materials is in growth and commercial scale-up stage after completing commercial demonstration work.
How much did they raise?
Cyclic Materials raised $75M in this round.
What round is it?
The round was a Series C.
Why did they raise?
Cyclic Materials raised to expand rare-earth recycling infrastructure across the US, Europe and Canada.
SuperCircle raised $24M in December 2025.
When was it?
The SuperCircle Series A was announced on 10 December 2025.
Who are they?
SuperCircle provides an AI-powered textile take-back, sorting and end-of-life operating system for retailers.
Geographical focus?
SuperCircle is based in North America and supports retail partners that need scalable textile waste management.
Why do we include them in the circular economy?
SuperCircle fits the circular economy because the platform helps brands route used textiles into reuse, recycling and verified end-of-life pathways.
What is the company stage?
SuperCircle is in growth stage, with more than 75 retail partners and millions of textiles already diverted.
How much did they raise?
SuperCircle raised $24M in this round.
What round is it?
The round was a Series A.
Why did they raise?
SuperCircle raised to scale technology, reverse logistics, compliance reporting and enterprise onboarding.
Related blog posts
- How strong is fundraising in the circular economy right now?
- The most recent developments reported in the circular economy
- What is the real size of the circular economy?
- How funding activity has changed in the circular economy
- What are the latest fundraising trends in the circular economy?
- All the funding deals in the circular economy
- Which startups have raised the most funding in the circular economy?
- Which startups are the most valued in the circular economy?
- A complete list of business models in the circular economy
