CIRCULAR ECONOMY4 COLOMBIA INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2024 ACCELERATOR PROGRAM AND DEMO DAY REPORT Copyright © 2025 Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT In the context of CGIAR Research initiatives Nature-Positive Solutions, the CircularEconomy4Colombia Innovation Challenge is powered by CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) and co- organized with CGIAR Centers – the Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and implemented in partnership with EAN University the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), and the Green Business Office of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia. Monday, 21 July, 2025 CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report ii Correct Citation Khader T. Miller Sanchez H, 2025. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator Program and Demo Day Report. Rome (Italy): Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). ISBN: 978-92-9255-351-7 Acknowledgments This report was developed by Taija Khader 1 and Hannah Miller Sanchez following the CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator Program and Demo Day in 2025 as part of the CircularEconomy4Colombia Innovation Challenge. The innovation challenge was powered by the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and co-organized with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with EAN University, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Green Business Office of Colombia's Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development (Minambiente), and supported by Rockstart. We acknowledge the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Science Editing Unit for copyediting this report. About The CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) The CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) is a venture space that builds on CGIAR’s legacy of research and innovation to support both incremental and transformational innovation to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges as the nexus of agriculture, environment and health. A4IP bridges science and entrepreneurship to incubate and accelerate scientific ventures for spin-offs, such as start-ups, that directly respond to market demand and generate both impact and the resources needed to support continued research in pursuit of sustainable development goals (SDGs). A4IP is an initiative powered by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, a CGIAR research center. About the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. The Alliance delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives in a climate crisis. Coordinator / Primary contact Taija Khader t.khader@cgiar.org Senior Project Specialist Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Headquarters – Rome, Italy Via Di San Domenico, 1 – 00153 T +39 06118210 – M +393929840302 This report is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – Non-commercial 4.0 International License. © 2025 Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT | Photos: Credit Radhika Gajjar, Dabun Works. https://alliancebioversityciat.org/tools-innovations/accelerate-impact-platform https://alliancebioversityciat.org/tools-innovations/accelerate-impact-platform https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ https://a4ip.cgiar.org/ https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ mailto:t.khader@cgiar.org https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report iii Table of Contents List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................iv Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... v 1. Context ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Innovation Challenge Objectives ................................................................................................................... 2 3. Timeline and Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 2 4. Accelerator Program .......................................................................................................................................... 3 4.1 The Goals of the Accelerator Program .................................................................................................. 3 4.2 Accelerator Program Methodology ...................................................................................................... 4 4.3 Program Modality and Instruction Language .................................................................................. 5 4.4 Accelerator Program Schedule.............................................................................................................. 6 4.5 Accelerator Cohort ........................................................................................................................................7 4.6 Mentors ..............................................................................................................................................................7 5. Demo Day ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 5.1 Demo Day Agenda .......................................................................................................................................10 5.2 The Sharks and Evaluation of the Pitches.........................................................................................10 6. Feedback from the Participants ................................................................................................................... 11 7. Next Steps .............................................................................................................................................................. 12 8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 Annex 1: Accelerator Program Guest Masterclass Highlights................................................................. i Appendix 1: Program Agenda .............................................................................................................................. ii CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report iv List of Abbreviations Abbreviation Full Term A4IP Accelerate for Impact Platform CE4C CircularEconomy4Colombia CGIAR Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture CONPES Consejo Nacional de Política Económica y Social (Colombia) IWMI International Water Management Institute EAN Escuela de Administración de Negocios GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit Minambiente Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible (Colombia) SDG Sustainable Development Goal IoT Internet of Things KPI Key Performance Indicator FAIoTs Future with Flies / Internet of Things CIMMYT International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center WWF World Wide Fund for Nature VC Venture Capital NPS Net Promoter Score R&D Research and Development CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report v Executive Summary Colombia, ranked 35th worldwide in greenhouse gas emissions, faces mounting environmental challenges across agriculture, energy, transport, and waste management. With biodiversity loss, and deforestation—particularly in the Amazon, as well as rising temperatures, and water scarcity, the country remains highly climate-vulnerable. Solid waste has surged 28% in the past decade, yet only ~16% is recycled. In response, Colombia is advancing a circular economy as a pathway toward sustainable growth. Landmark policies (e.g., the 2019 National Strategy on Circular Economy; CONPES 4129, and the 2022–2026 National Development Plan) highlight strategies to reduce emissions, optimize resource use, and promote waste valorization, while creating new opportunities for business innovation and rural development. Within this context, the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance’s Research Initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions launched its CGIAR CircularEconomy4Colombia (CE4C) Innovation Challenge. The CE4C initiative is powered by the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP), and aims to accelerate Colombia’s transition by fostering technological and scientific solutions in the agri-food sector. Its objectives include identifying high-potential startups, providing tailored acceleration, strengthening networks among innovators, investors, and policymakers, and promoting knowledge exchange to reinforce the country’s circular economy ecosystem. The 12-month initiative followed a structured methodology. Initial assessments aimed to identify candidates aligning with the Challenge’s five waste-management priority areas, and secured four core partners. A national call for applications in 2024 yielded 120 proposals, from which 20 teams advanced to a bootcamp. Following intensive workshops and networking in Palmira, 11 innovation teams were selected for a three-month Accelerator Program. Conducted fully online, the program combined masterclasses, personalized mentorship, and practical assignments across six modules: metrics, experimentation, fundraising, pitching, scientific validation, and networking. Participants benefited from daily engagement through digital platforms, including Notion and WhatsApp, and were guided by expert mentors. The program culminated in a Demo Day on March 11, 2025, at EAN University in Bogotá. Ten accelerator teams, alongside five growth-stage startups, pitched their solutions to over 140 stakeholders, including government representatives, industry leaders, and investors,. A Shark- tank style format allowed real-time feedback and evaluation based on innovation, market potential, scalability, and team strength. Awards recognized Madera de Coco for best pitch and Evolutio as the best-performing team. Feedback confirmed program impact: participants rated the experience 9.5/10 with a 98 net- promoter score, averaging >10 new ecosystem connections per startup. Founders highlighted improved business models, enhanced investor readiness, and strengthened scientific rigor. Looking ahead, CE4C will continue supporting alumni through monitoring, investment facilitation, community-building, and potential expansion to a second phase. By advancing circular economy entrepreneurship, CE4C strengthens Colombia’s position as a regional leader in sustainable innovation while driving tangible environmental and economic benefits. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report vi More information about the CircularEconomy4Colombia Innovation Challenge at the project website: https://agritechchallenge.org/projects/circulareconomy-4colombia More information on the individual teams in the CircularEconomy4Colombia Innovators Booklet here. https://agritechchallenge.org/projects/circulareconomy-4colombia https://agritechchallenge.org/fileadmin/Websites/Agritech/CircularEconomyColombia/visuals/CircularEconomy4Colombia_Innovations__Booklet.pdf CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 1 1. Context Colombia, ranked 35th globally for greenhouse gas emissions, faces significant environmental challenges stemming from agriculture, its energy, transportation, and waste management sectors. As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in Latin America, Colombia faces escalating risks of water scarcity, rising temperatures, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and declining rural economic productivity. The waste-management sector significantly contributes to these emissions, with solid waste generation increasing by 28% over the past decade, and only 10.51% of waste recycled in 2023 1 . Deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion and land ownership issues, exacerbates these issues, particularly in the Amazon region, which accounts for over 70% of the country's deforestation. To address these challenges, Colombia has embarked on an ambitious quest towards a circular economy, implementing robust strategies and policies focused on valorizing resources, optimizing materials’ production and consumption efficiencies, and sustainably using resources such as water and energy. In 2019, Colombia became the first country in Latin America to adopt the National Strategy on Circular Economy, a landmark move that underscores the country’s commitment to leading the circular economy movement in the continent. This strategy aims to enhance efficiency in material, water, and energy use while bolstering ecosystem resilience and promoting the circular flow of materials. Additionally, the CONPES 4129 National Planning Policy advocates for circular economy practices, bioeconomy development, and sustainable agriculture. The 2022‒2026 National Development Plan further emphasizes the pivotal role of circular economy and green growth strategies in safeguarding water sources, optimizing waste management, and includes a Deforestation Containment Plan aimed at supporting forestry and biodiversity in the Amazon. These strategies aim to reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainable waste management and environmental conservation. They also create new opportunities for developing innovative business models, generating industrial synergies, and integrating advanced technological solutions. Within the CGIAR Research Initiative Nature-Positive Solutions, the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance has launched its CircularEconomy4Colombia (CE4C) Innovation Challenge. This is powered by the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) and co-organized with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with EAN University, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Green Business Office of Colombia's Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development (Minambiente), and supported by Rockstart. This initiative represents a powerful effort to drive Colombia’s transition to a circular economy within the agri-food sector by supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable solutions with high impact potential. The CE4C Innovation Challenge emerges as a catalyst for guiding Colombia’s agri-food sector towards a transformative circular economy through technological and scientific innovation. This initiative supports developing and deploying high-impact, context-specific solutions that will enhance resource efficiency, reduce waste and deforestation, and promote sustainable rural and urban development. Colombia can restructure traditional business models by 1 Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística. (2025). Cuenta Ambiental y Económica de Flujos de Materiales de Residuos Sólidos (CAEFM-RS) 2022 – 2023 provisional. In Boletín Técnico. https://www.dane.gov.co/files/operaciones/CAEFM-RS/bol-CAEFMRS- 2023pr.pdf https://www.minambiente.gov.co/asuntos-ambientales-sectorial-y-urbana/estrategia-nacional-de-economia-circular/ https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Conpes/Econ%C3%B3micos/4129.pdf https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Prensa/Publicaciones/plan-nacional-de-desarrollo-2022-2026-colombia-potencia-mundial-de-la-vida.pdf https://agritechchallenge.org/projects/circulareconomy-4colombia CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 2 fostering a circular economy approach, ensuring long-term economic resilience and sound environmental stewardship. The innovations teams aligned with the five priority areas of the challenge: i) Waste Valorization for Soil Health and Agricultural Productivity; ii) Advanced Wastewater Treatment and Reuse; iii) Innovative Waste Conversion for Animal Feed; iv) Renewable Energy Generation from Agri-Food Waste and v) Repurposing Waste into Functional Materials and Inputs. 2. Innovation Challenge Objectives The CircularEconomy4Colombia Innovation challenge has the following objectives: • Scout and support high-potential circular economy startups addressing Colombia's environmental challenges. • Provide a comprehensive acceleration program tailored to circular economy ventures. • Foster connections between startups, investors, government actors, and academia. • Enable startups to refine their business models and prepare for investment readiness. • Promote knowledge exchange and strengthen Colombia’s circular economy ecosystem. 3. Timeline and Methodology The Innovation Challenge project was guided by the following steps over a 12-month period: + Assessment & Design: May‒July 2024 (online) Develop an analysis of the local and national innovation landscape and trends, to identify the types of organizations and priority areas that match the focus of the Challenge.  Results: 5 challenge priority areas defined, 4 partner organizations engaged, and the accelerator service-provider onboarded + Call for Applications: August‒September 2024 (online) A call for circular economy innovations followed by a selection process based on the criteria of the value proposition; sustainability and scalability; scientific relevance, and maturity. This phase is supported by the expertise and networks of partners as the judging committee.  Results: 120 applications received, 20 selected for Bootcamp. + Bootcamp: 9‒11 October 2024, Palmira, Colombia 20 teams attended, hosted by the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance, in collaboration with partners, focusing on pitch readiness; market strategy; technical and business model refinement, and preparing for the final pitch day.  Results: 17 hours of expert talks and workshops, a networking event, and the final pitch event delivered. A cohort of 11 innovation teams selected to participate in the accelerator program CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 3 + Accelerator Program: November 2024‒February 2025 The 12-week program was divided into 6 modules: metrics, experimentation, raising capital, pitch, scientific track, and networking. It offered personalized mentorship, business workshops, and technical support.  Results: 44 hours of support delivered per team with a blend of group workshops and 1:1 mentorship. + Demo Day: March 11, 2025, in-person at EAN University, Bogotá, The event showcased the 10 accelerator program startups to investors, partners, and the public.  Results: The Demo Day resulted in high visibility for the participating teams, fostered valuable connections with investors and ecosystem actors, and positioned the innovations for future collaboration, funding, and market opportunities. + Post Accelerator Support: Support innovators with strategic guidance, technological due diligence, mentorship, and access to CGIAR and partners networks. Work with the beneficiaries to ensure deployment and adoption 4. Accelerator Program As part of the challenge, 11 selected teams participated in a three-month accelerator program starting on November 12 and concluding in February 2025. This comprised 40‒44 hours (depending on the team) of collaborative work per phase with a blend of group workshops and one-to-one mentorship. During this period, the teams received mentorship, resources, and specialized training to refine and scale their innovative solutions. At the end of the program, the teams presented their progress at a shark-tank style Demo Day on 11 March 2025, where they had the opportunity to connect with investors and key actors from Colombia's innovation and sustainability ecosystem. 4.1 The Goals of the Accelerator Program • Expand Their Network: Teams will connect with key actors in Colombia and global experts in agri-tech innovation, fostering collaborations with potential partners and agricultural enterprises to drive innovative circular-economy solutions. • Deepen Understanding of Colombia’s Circular Economy: Teams will gain a comprehensive understanding of the circular economy sector in Colombia, including its needs and challenges, to ensure solutions are effectively tailored to the local context. • Establish Connections with CGIAR: To build relationships with CGIAR scientists, impact areas, and research activities, exploring opportunities to contribute to CGIAR’s mission. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 4 • Refine Value Proposition: Using the Lean Canvas, teams will deepen their business models, clarify their value propositions, and ensure their solutions effectively align with market needs within Colombia’s agri-food sector. • Prepare for Fundraising: Teams will develop an investment deck and teaser to capture investor interest, focusing on communicating their impact and scalability clearly and convincingly. • Develop a Business Plan: Throughout the program, teams will work on building a solid business plan that includes strategies for rapid growth and scaling, ensuring their innovative solutions are viable and attractive to investors and strategic partners. 4.2 Accelerator Program Methodology The Accelerator Program has been designed with a dynamic and hands-on methodology that combines group learning, individualized support, and ecosystem engagement. The structure blends masterclasses, one-on-one mentorship, collaborative sessions, and practical assignments, to equip the teams with the tools, knowledge, and network needed to strengthen and scale their circular economy innovations. (see figure 1) CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 5 Group Sessions Networking and Speed dating Masterclasses covering all fundamental aspects of the program in a group setting Through speed meetings, the teams meet with multiple ecosystem actors: mentors, entrepreneurs, scientists. 1:1 Sessions Group Mentoring Personalized sessions with each team to work on their specific challenges. A space for all the teams and the mentors where individuals/ teams can ask questions and learn together. Challenges / Homework Rocking Fridays Individual team work to test individual/team knowledge, and work outside the scheduled sessions. Friday group meetings to review individual/team progress together and keep track of the teams’ challenges. Figure 1: The Accelerator program structure 4.3 Program Modality and Instruction Language The Accelerator Program (figure 1) was delivered entirely online. The organizing team created a dedicated learning space on the platform Notion, a connected workspace application, which housed all program materials, including the agenda and session details, a reference materials library (Rockstart Library), program recordings, and individualized workspaces for each team to track their metrics and complete weekly challenges. The accelerator cohort also had a dedicated WhatsApp group, which was actively used on a daily basis by the participants and the organizing team. To ensure clear and consistent communication, the organizing team sent out weekly Friday update emails with reminders of the upcoming schedule and any important program updates. During the end-of-year break, the organizing team shared bite-sized daily content via WhatsApp, related to entrepreneurship, leading up to Christmas. For 11 days, each piece of content was accompanied by reflective questions that encouraged the cohort to discuss their personal experiences. This exercise was inspired by the Colombian Advent Calendar tradition and helped maintain momentum during the three-week break by prompting teams to continue reflecting on their businesses. The program was conducted in Spanish, as it was the only common language spoken by all participants and organizers. Spanish was the native language of all but one participant, which allowed for smooth communication and rich exchange of ideas. All speakers throughout the program were fluent in Spanish. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 6 4.4 Accelerator Program Schedule The program was structured into six core modules, each combining theoretical and practical components: 1. Metrics (2 weeks) – Focused on learning how to define clear and relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) tailored to each startup’s unique needs. Teams tested strategies to improve these KPIs and explored best practices for tracking business performance. Each startup established its own set of KPIs, which were measured and iterated throughout the remainder of the program. 2. Experimentation (2 weeks) – Centered on designing and implementing experiments to help scale the startups’ solutions. After a masterclass on identifying, setting up, and measuring experiments, startups completed weekly challenges and participated in one-on-one mentoring sessions to refine their experimentation strategies. 3. Raising Capital (3 weeks) – Focused on understanding various financing options available to early-stage startups, and developing tailored fundraising strategies. Startups assessed their financial needs, and learned how to approach suitable investors and funding opportunities. 4. Pitch (4 weeks) – Aimed at helping teams craft compelling, concise, and data-driven stories to effectively capture investor interest. In addition to pitch coaching, the teams gained soft skills such as how to engage in investor conversations, identify the right type of investor, and navigate difficult discussions to safeguard their long-term vision. 5. Scientific Track (4 weeks, in parallel with the business track) – Led by CGIAR scientists and partners, this track offered a scientific lens to enhance the startups’ solutions. Masterclasses covered topics such as lifecycle analysis, sustainable scaling using CGIAR-developed tools, and identifying, managing, and quantifying climate risks and opportunities within circular economy innovations. 6. Speed Dating – Participants had the opportunity to connect with mentors, scientists, and investors through three dedicated speed-dating sessions. Each startup was matched with experts based on their needs assessment, current challenges, and long- term goals. In these structured 30-minute conversations, startups pitched their innovations, received targeted feedback, and explored potential next steps, including further mentorship or networking referrals. 7. Demo Day – As the culmination of the program, Demo Day offered startups a platform to showcase their solutions to over 140 attendees, including investors, ecosystem actors, and public and private sector stakeholders. Startups presented refined pitches, gained valuable exposure, and began building strategic relationships to help scale their impact beyond the program. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 7 4.5 Accelerator Cohort The table below provides details on the innovation teams that participated in the accelerator program. More information on the teams can be found on the CE4C Innovators Booklet here. Team Name Innovation Summary Stage ASOMEFAMA (Asociación de Mujeres Emprendedoras Para un Futuro Amigable con el Medio Ambiente) Produces CAMHARINA, a natural flour made from shrimp heads and exoskeletons. It contributes to food sovereignty and reduces environmental impact by transforming waste into high-protein, nutritious food. Pre-seed Cacota Develops biodegradable bioplastics and biopolymer films from enzymatically modified cacao pod cellulose, offering a sustainable, compostable alternative to conventional plastics. Laboratory Circulab Implements AI-driven circular economy models and IoT solutions to optimize organic waste management in Colombia’s agri-food system. Laboratory Evolutio Uses Black Soldier Fly larvae to transform agro-industrial organic waste into high-quality insect protein for pet food and organic fertilizer for sustainable farming. Pre-seed Future With Flies / FAIoTs Develops IoT hardware and software solutions for organic waste processing using black soldier flies, improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and optimizing resource use. Pre-seed NanoMOF Transforms low-value agro-industrial byproducts like coffee and cacao waste into high-performance materials for agriculture, water treatment, and energy, using nanotechnology. Laboratory NATECO Turns biomass waste into sustainable products like organic candles, biofilms, eco-friendly panels, and pulp, advancing circular economy and waste reduction. Laboratory Origin Bites Upcycles discarded coffee pulp into nutritious, sustainable snacks, creating income sources for small coffee farmers while reducing agricultural waste. Pre-seed Vida Azul Produces natural pigments and raw materials from cyanobacteria, offering sustainable alternatives to synthetic dyes for food, cosmetics, textiles, and packaging. Laboratory Madera de Coco Manufactures moisture-resistant particle boards from coconut husks, reducing deforestation and providing sustainable materials for construction and design. Laboratory 4.6 Mentors Mentors delivered masterclasses and held group and individual mentoring sessions in their areas of expertise. The summary of the mentors can be seen in the table below: Mentor Expertise Charles Bockelmann Co-Founder Veta Expertise: Data driven founder and product building Francisco Vivas CEO Zhana Solutions Expertise: Experimentation and user knowledge https://agritechchallenge.org/fileadmin/Websites/Agritech/CircularEconomyColombia/visuals/CircularEconomy4Colombia_Innovations__Booklet.pdf CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 8 Mentor Expertise Sebastian Canal CEO Gooms Expertise: Sales and Marketing for Retail Jairo Burgos CEO Weia Expertise: Financials and User Knowledge Alejandro Brisquet CEO Codebreaker Expertise: Scientific knowledge and experimentation Diego Gutierrez Co-founder Codebreaker Expertise: Scientific knowledge and sales Federico Wajerman CEO M4Life Expertise: Financials and Business model Mentor Expertise By the end of the program, the teams were expected to deliver investor teasers, the final pitch deck for the demo day, the completed lean canvas, and the business plan. 5. Demo Day The CE4C Demo Day, held on March 11, 2025, in Bogotá, marked the culmination of the CE4C Innovation Challenge and the Accelerator Program. The event served as a platform for circular economy innovators in Colombia to showcase their solutions to an audience of investors, ecosystem partners, government representatives, and industry leaders committed to advancing sustainability in the country’s agrifood sector. More than 140 participants attended in person and online, demonstrating significant interest and engagement from across the ecosystem. The 10 Accelerator Program teams, along with five additional growth-stage startups identified during the program, presented their innovative, science-backed solutions designed to enhance resource efficiency, reduce waste and deforestation, and contribute to sustainable development in Colombia. Throughout the day, teams delivered high-quality pitches, received insightful feedback from investors and experts, and established connections that will support their continued growth beyond the program. The Demo Day provided visibility to the innovators, opening doors to potential investment opportunities, new partnerships, and market access. Figure 2: Asomefama and Kacota teams pitching during the Demo Day. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 9 The event successfully highlighted the progress made by the participating teams during the program while reinforcing the importance of circular economy innovation in Colombia. It also strengthened collaboration between CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform, the Bioversity- CIAT Alliance, GIZ, and other key stakeholders, setting the stage for continued support and follow-up activities with the entrepreneurs to further scale their impact. Figure 3: The CE4C Accelerator Cohort at the end of the Demo Day Demo Day Agenda highlights: • The event was opened by representatives of the partner organizations. • Each team had a strict 4-minute time to pitch • Each pitch was immediately followed by a 5-minute Q&A session by the Investor Shark panelists. • After the pitches, Growth-stage companies identified during the call for application had a chance to showcase their solutions to the room. • Panel discussions on circular economy opportunities • Speed meetings with investors and networking lunch The live recording and the highlight video of the Demo Day can be found on the CGIAR A4IP Channel on YouTube. The press release can be read on the Alliance Blog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESAb0crdYbM&t=3423s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn5ZNX4_jzE https://alliancebioversityciat.org/stories/rights-valen-oro-demo-day-economy-circular-style-shark-tank CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 10 5.1 Demo Day Agenda 5.2 The Sharks and Evaluation of the Pitches The Demo Day pitching followed a ‘Shark Tank’-style format, with angel investors as the sharks, who evaluated each pitch based on their performance during the pitch and Q&A section. The Shark Panel included: • Sergio Cadavid, Fund Coordinator – Fondo Impacta, EAN University • Miguel Vanegas Torres, CEO, Salamandra Ventures • Javier Montes Zea, Financial Advisor and Corporate Governance, LP Rockstart • Valentina Melendez, Sustainable Finance Analyst, Bancolombia Figure 4: The Sharks in Action: The angel investors following the teams pitching during the Demo Day https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiocadavid/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguelvanegas/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/javier-m-3357243a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sostenibilidadvmelendez/ CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 11 The evaluators scored each innovator team based on four evaluation criteria to assign a rating and determine the winners: • Innovation, Impact, and Relevance • Market Potential and Feasibility • Scalability and Growth Potential • Pitch Quality and Team Strength After evaluation and deliberation by the judging panel, Madera de Coco was selected as the best pitch of the day, and Evolutio was recognized as the best team during the acceleration program. 6. Feedback from the Participants The organizing team placed strong emphasis on continuously monitoring the participant experience throughout the Accelerator Program. Short feedback surveys were conducted after each session to evaluate the quality and relevance of content, while a comprehensive survey was distributed following the Demo Day to gather final reflections. Overall, feedback from the participants highlighted the value and effectiveness of the program’s structure, mentorship, and scientific content. Respondents noted that the Accelerator helped them refine their business models, improve their market readiness, and strengthen their value propositions. Key Feedback Highlights • Program Experience Rating: 9.5 / 10 • Net Promoter Score (NPS): 98 • Average New Ecosystem Connections per Startup: >10 • Average Attendance Rate for Group Sessions: 85% Participants emphasized the usefulness of the tailored deliverables—such as the business plan, investment teaser, and pitch deck—which helped them better understand their positioning and next steps toward market entry. Several respondents highlighted the quality of the scientific masterclasses and the value of one-on-one mentoring with both business and technical experts. Common suggestions for improvement included offering additional resources on negotiating with investors and access to funding or technical equipment to accelerate prototype development. One participant shared: “I am sincerely grateful to the entire organizing team. The program helped us improve our business model and connected us with a valuable network.” CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report 12 The overwhelmingly positive feedback affirms that the program successfully provided a high- impact learning experience tailored to the needs of Colombia’s emerging circular economy innovators. 7. Next Steps Building on the momentum of the CE4C Innovation Challenge, the following next steps are planned to sustain and scale the impact of the program: • Ongoing Monitoring and Support: Startups will continue to be tracked through the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) pipeline, enabling ongoing performance monitoring and identification of growth opportunities. • Investment and Partnership Facilitation: The organizing team will provide targeted follow-up support to help selected startups secure investment and strategic partnerships, based on their specific needs and stage of development. • Strengthening the Alumni Community: Plans are underway to host alumni networking events to encourage continued peer- to-peer learning, knowledge exchange, and collaboration across cohorts. • Exploring a Phase 2: A second phase of the initiative is under consideration, with a focus on scaling circular economy startups across Colombia and the broader Latin American region, leveraging the lessons and network developed in this first edition. These actions aim to further strengthen Colombia’s circular innovation ecosystem and position local startups as regional leaders in sustainable transformation. 8. Conclusion The CE4C Innovation Challenge successfully strengthened Colombia’s circular economy ecosystem by equipping startups with business and technical capacities, connecting them with relevant stakeholders, and advancing their journey towards market readiness. The high engagement, satisfaction, and tangible progress achieved during the accelerator program and Demo Day lay a strong foundation for further initiatives to drive circular economy innovation in Colombia. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report i Annex 1: Accelerator Program Guest Masterclass Highlights . . CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report ii Appendix 1: Program Agenda Program Agenda Week Focus Sessions & Speakers Expected Outcomes 1 Program Launch Welcome Kickoff, (Guillermo Peña, Daniela Rubio) Understand program structure 2 Diagnostics & Experimentation - 1:1 Sessions: Diagnostics - Masterclass: Masterclass: Metrics (Daniela Rubio) - Masterclass: How to Experiment & Measure (Daniela Rubio) - Weekly Challenge: Metrics & Experiments - Key growth metrics - Design user-centered experiments with clear metrics - Execute a relevant experiment and present data-backed results 3 Market & Metrics - 1:1 Sessions: Metrics - Masterclass: Market Analysis & Competitor Study - Rocking Fridays: Group Mentoring - Define a clear differentiating strategy - Adjust key business metrics for growth - Resolve challenges with expert guidance 4 Product-Market Fit - Masterclass: Experimenting to Find Product-Market Fit - Weekly Challenge: Planning, Executing and measuring Experimentations - Design and execute experiments validating value propositions with key users - Present validated experiments to support strategic decisions 5 Deepening Experiments & Climate Impact - 1:1 Sessions: Experiment Labs - Masterclass: Measuring Climate Impact in Circular Models (Julián Andrés López Cleves, GIZ) - Rocking Friday: Group Mentoring - Refine ongoing experiments - Learn to measure climate impact in circular models 6 Climate Risks & Opportunities -Masterclass: Climate Risks and Opportunities Management (Julián Andrés López Cleves, GIZ) Integrate climate risk management strategies into business planning December Break / Break Activities (Entrepreneurship Advent Calendar) 7 Financing Fundamentals - Masterclass: Financing Fundamentals - Weekly Challenge: Fundraising - Masterclass: Scaling Scan (Katharina Schiller, CIMMYT) - Understand types of financing and alignment with startup needs - Draft a fundraising action plan - Learn responsible scaling using the Scaling Scan tool 8 Founder Mindset & Investment - Masterclass: Founder Mentality - Building Strategic Relationships - Masterclass: Talking to Funds about Circular Economy Investment - Rocking Friday: Group Mentoring - Gain tools to build strategic partnerships - Learn how to approach investors in the circular economy space 9 Human- Centered Design, Life Cycle Analysis, and Pitch Training - Masterclass: Human-Centered Design (Berta Ortiz, Alliance) - Masterclass: Life Cycle Analysis: Measuring Sustainability in Circular Economy (Guillermo Peña, Alliance) - Masterclass: Fundraising Pitch - Weekly Challenge: Pitch - Develop a clear, compelling investment pitch - Present and refine pitches with actionable feedback CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator and Demo Day Report iii Week Focus Sessions & Speakers Expected Outcomes - Rocking Friday: Group Mentoring 10 Pitch Training - Masterclass: Lessons & Tools from Food Loss & Waste + WWF Impact Fund (Alex Nichols-Vinueza and Isabelle Foster, WWF) - 1:1 Sessions: Pitch - Speed Dating with Business Mentors - Refine pitches with personalized feedback - Build strategic networks for growth 11 Pitch Training - Rocking Friday: Group Mentoring - 1:1 Sessions: Pitch - Fine-tune pitches - Address final preparation for investor- facing sessions 12 Strategic Connections - CGIAR Scientist Speed Dating (and follow up meetings with the selected scientists) - 1:1 Sessions with GIZ Sessions Establish connections for technical and strategic support 13 Leadership & Final Pitch Panel - Masterclass: Building Teams & Navigating Critical Conversations -Masterclass: Uncomfortable conversations with Investors (GIZ) - Special session: Pitch Panel with Investors -Group session: Program Closing - Present startups to an expert panel - Receive constructive feedback to enhance communication strategies - Space for organizers and participants to summarize what they learned during the program - Post-program growth recommendations and planning 14 Demo Day In-person Demo Day in Bogota More information about the CE4C Innovation Challenge at the project website: https://agritechchallenge.org/projects/circulareconomy-4colombia Learn more about the teams on the CE4C Innovators Booklet here. https://agritechchallenge.org/projects/circulareconomy-4colombia https://www.canva.com/design/DAGiTOzVaws/KswdY5QInPWeUl6K9yqs1A/view?utm_content=DAGiTOzVaws&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hbcfeceb08f Khader T. Miller Sanchez H, 2025. CircularEconomy4Colombia Accelerator Program and Demo Day Report. Rome (Italy): Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). ISBN: 978-92-9255-351-7