Over the past six months, the Ready2Scale Acceleration Program has provided invaluable support to 15 innovative digital and deep-tech startups. These startups have been equipped with mentorship, resources, and a €60,000 grant to help them scale and make an impact in their respective fields. One such startup is Catalyco, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the materials recovery industry. Let’s take a closer look at their story.
Catalyco is creating an alternative supply chain of ZnO by recovering it from side material streams in different manufacturing processes. The company has developed a platform for material recovery that will help industries close the loop and become more sustainable throughout the manufacturing process. Catalyco was founded by Vera Shchankina, CTO, who has a background in chemical engineering, and Reinis Spunde, CEO, with a background in business development.
The following questions are answered by Reinis Spunde, CEO of Catalyco.
How did you come up with the idea to create a startup?
Catalyco was born during an event dedicated to matchmaking scientific ideas with excited entrepreneurs who connected with the presented ideas.
What have been the biggest challenges/failures and the biggest wins so far?
The biggest challenge for Catalyco was to find the market/technology fit and discover the potential for materials recovery. Once this market fit was found and validated with the industry, we were able to attract partners for funding and customers.
What sets your startup apart from competitors?
The materials that Catalyco processes have superior characteristics over competing products. Our product can be used in up to 4 times less quantity compared to competing materials to achieve similar results. Moreover, our recovery process is more effective in terms of speed and energy usage compared to other recovery processes available on the market.
Why would you recommend Ready2Scale Acceleration Program to other startups?
We believe that the Ready2Scale Acceleration Program is a great match for companies searching to speed up their scale-up with dedicated mentor support as well as market discovery missions. A focused approach towards milestones helps avoid getting off track in a changing start-up environment.
Where do you see your startup in 1 year? And where in 5 years?
Within one year, we expect Catalyco to be able to supply our recovered material on a ton scale to industrial customers. In five years, Catalyco would be a leading materials recovery company, having the ability to recover valuable materials such as NiO, CuO, CoO, and copper from various side streams in the production industry.
Which books/podcasts/publications and influencers in your field do you follow and would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?
Recommended books:
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- The Lean Startup
Recommended podcasts:
- How I Built This
If you’re inspired by Catalyco’s mission and want to contribute to the company’s success, send a short introduction about yourself to rs@catalyco.eu. For more information, visit https://www.catalyco.eu.