VC | E518 | Julia Binder, Manuel Braun & Enrique Molina on Circularity as Strategy, Not Sustainability

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm sits down with Julia Binder (IMD), Manuel Braun (Impact Hub), and Enrique Molina (CircularCo) to unpack the evolving world of circular venture. They dive into why circularity should be viewed as a horizontal investment lens — not a niche — and how startups across materials, manufacturing, and infrastructure are already proving out scalable models.

From textile dyeing to resale logistics and digital product passports, the group highlights how circularity intersects with every vertical and why now is the time for more GPs and LPs to get involved.

Here’s what’s covered:

• 00:50 – “We don’t invest in dumb things”: The Pale Blue Dot mindset
• 02:30 – Why current supply chains reward harm — and how venture can reverse it
• 04:30 – Startups vs. corporates: Who’s best positioned to drive change?
• 07:40 – 5 monetizable circular business model archetypes
• 12:10 – What infra is needed to scale circularity?
• 15:00 – Real-world startups & back-end enablers in resale, reuse & track-and-trace
• 18:00 – Circularity: Horizontal lens or vertical category?
• 23:00 – Where capital is flowing: Startups, funds & LPs getting serious
• 26:00 – Hype cycles: AI ascendant, circularity under the radar
• 28:00 – Building ecosystems: Infrastructure, co-opetition, and collective voice
• 31:00 – Final call: Why everyone — from founders to family offices — must engage