The City of Austin announced the winner of the 2024 Circular Austin Showcase, a pitch competition for local circular businesses focused on reuse and zero waste. Circular business models reduce the need to extract new resources from our planet by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible. The event took place Aug. 29 in partnership between Austin Resource Recovery and the Economic Development Department.
A judging panel selected the Mosaic Workshop as this year鈥檚 winner following pitches from five finalists. Three participants from the Circular Austin Accelerator program also pitched their business ideas during the competition. Material Union took home a $2,000 prize. Scoring criteria for both categories included business viability, fundability, circular economy/zero waste impact, economic impact and local job creation, along with effectiveness of pitch delivery. In addition, all competitors gained valuable feedback from the judges.
2024 Circular Austin Showcase finalists:
- Black Lives Veggies by Larry Franklin聽
Black Lives Veggies is a not-for-profit with a mission to diversify the local food system. They teach BIPOC communities how to plant, grow, harvest and distribute fresh veggies. - Heron by AnnMarie Wakely聽
Heron rents and delivers anything you don’t use enough to buy. They offer everything from wheelchairs to air mattresses to patio heaters. - Mosaic Workshop by J Muzacz聽
The Mosaic Workshop teaches people of all ages and abilities the art of mosaic making. They host classes and design community-led mosaic murals using broken tile, glass and ceramics. - Shop Slow by Mikaela Friedman聽
Shop Slow鈥痠s a 鈥渟low fashion鈥� boutique that features clothing by a collective of makers who sew custom and unique clothing. Their makers focus on using recycled materials. - Wanderlust Wine Co. by Sammy Lam聽
Wanderlust Wine Co.鈥痠s the world’s largest wine-on-tap winery. They are on a mission to change the world through wine by utilizing sustainable, recyclable and reusable packaging and practices.
2024 Circular Austin Accelerator program finalists:
- Aura Rainwater by Alexander Williams聽
Aura Rain is a premium water brand. They harvest rainwater and transform it into sustainable drinking water. - Material Union by Christa Clark
Material Union plans to collect and sort textiles to give them a second life as new products, like pillows and insulation. - Sleep, Never by Aaron Torres聽
Sleep, Never is a slow fashion brand that uses reclaimed materials to create made-to-order clothing. Each piece is ethically developed and manufactured in-house in Austin, Texas, with a focus on quality, fit and size inclusivity.
鈥淎ustin Resource Recovery is proud to host the fourth annual Circular Austin Showcase alongside the Economic Development Department. This event is a great way to give local businesses a platform to showcase their circular business ideas,鈥� says Richard McHale, Director for Austin Resource Recovery. 鈥淲e congratulate all the finalists. These organizations are dedicated to reusing materials and reducing waste to help Austin toward a zero waste future.鈥�
“The Circular Austin Showcase highlights innovative businesses that are driving sustainability and economic growth in our community,” said Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the Economic Development Department. “We applaud the finalists for their commitment to reducing waste and inspiring a circular economy in Austin.”