As cities worldwide face mounting waste and resource scarcity, circular economy ventures offer solutions. But, supporting them requires different approaches than traditional start-ups. These ventures prevent waste from being created by redesigning products and services before they enter the market -- rather than managing waste after it's produced. This means the Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs) helping them scale need a specialised understanding of circular business models, impact measurement, and market dynamics.

That's why 14 leading organisations from Bengaluru and Nairobi came together to co-create the Circular Venture Blueprint: a practical guide for ESOs that support circular economy innovation.

The result? A framework that any ESO can use! Whether that are just beginning their circular economy journey or strengthening existing programmes, the Blueprint makes it easier to collaborate, share resources, and learn from each other's experiences.

Each principle includes practical tools, case studies, and methodologies tested through real venture support.

Coordinated by Climate KIC, GrowthAfrica, and SecondMuse and funded by the IKEA Foundation, the Circular Economy Innovation Cluster (CEIC) supported 53 circular ventures and engaged 927 informal workers -- demonstrating that circular economy innovation can drive environmental impact and social inclusion simultaneously. The Blueprint emerged from these real-world experiences of supporting circular ventures on the ground.

Want to learn more about groundbreaking circular concepts from Bengaluru and Nairobi? Download the Blueprint and follow our journey here at climate-kic.org.