PreCycle Innovation Challenge 2023 Winners Announced

May 17, 2023

3 Min Read
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SEATTLE: This afternoon, during the final round judging for the 2nd annual PreCycle Innovation Challenge, six prize winners were selected for their business ideas that advance Washington’s circular, regenerative, and just economy.
 
Development-Stage Business Startup Winner ($14,000 Award) was SeaBar, a company selling concentrated shampoo and conditioner bars inside reusable, durable, plastic applicators.

Development-Stage Business Startup Runner-up ($4,000 Award) was Rebundance. Rebundance upcycles used bedding textiles into beautiful and functional home goods, wellness items, and craft supplies.
 
Idea-Stage Business Startup Winner ($10,000 Award) was ReuMo, a UW-student run startup developing low-intensity filtration system kits (green stormwater inserts), made from reused materials.
 
Idea-Stage Business Startup Runner-up ($2,000 Award) was B2YROOTS. This nutritional-education service in Whatcom county seeks to serve the Hispanic community while reducing food & packaging waste by helping the community get back to their roots with culturally relevant home cooking.
 
The Audience voted for their favorites ($2,000 Awards): Idea-Stage Business Startup Audience Favorite was Mendful, a nonprofit business based in Forks, WA that is transforming landfill-destined textiles into marketable products, and Development-Stage Business Startup was SeaBar.
 
PreCycle Innovation Challenge 2023 is hosted by Seattle Good Business Network and Zero Waste Washington.  The business accelerator drew 36 startup teams from around the Pacific Northwest to participate in a six-week program which featured a series of online workshops from experts in law, marketing, impact measuring, storytelling, and more. Teams were supported with technical assistance from mentors and a professional videographer. 
 
The judging panel was an independent group of Washington-based experts.
 
The final pitch competition coincided with the Circular Innovation Summit on May 15, a presentation of cutting edge advancements in the circular economy. Attendees of the event heard from West Coast speakers who are spearheading government initiated reuse ventures. Areas of innovation featured in these presentations included edible food rescue, single use foodware replacement with durables, beer glass bottles sanitization and refill system, wood and lumber salvaging, and other reusable items diversion from a waste transfer station, and more. 
 
The PreCycle Innovation Challenge and Circular Innovation Summit was made possible in part by funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Impact WA, WorkTank, Port of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilities, King County Solid Waste Division, Washington Recycling Development Center, and Washington State Microenterprise Association.

Top Ten Finalists:

  • B2YROOTS: Minimizing food and packaging waste through practical, nutritional, education services for the Whatcom Latino community.

  • EcoRare: Green extraction of rare earth elements from coal ash.

  • Free Clothing Stores for College Students: Free clothing for college students on Washington campuses.

  • Mendful:  Redesigning landfill-destined textiles into marketable products that support disadvantaged community members in Forks, WA.

  • ReuMo:  Low-intensity filtration system kit for green stormwater inserts, made from reused materials.

  • Black Forest Mushrooms: Locally grown mushrooms to prevent food waste, transportation emissions, and plastic packaging.

  • Rebundance: Upcycling used bedding textiles into beautiful and functional home goods, wellness items, and craft supplies.

  • Revolve Solar:  Green roof planters that can be attached to a commercial or residential home made from upcycled solar panels.

  • SeaBar: Concentrated shampoo and conditioner bars inside reusable, durable, plastic applicators.

  • The Cup Project:  Reusable cups for large, public events in Bellingham, WA.

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