Working with the Ruta-N Corporation, this skill-share delivered capacity- building workshops and mentoring on circular business models to eight Colombian start-ups.

The Colombian city of Medellin is working to implement sustainable business models, commercialisation schemes, and inter-institutional arrangements to promote an environment that nurtures companies committed to circularity. In Medellin, the Ruta-N Corporation (an innovation centre channelling resources for science, technology, and innovation) is leading the city’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy.

Our expert worked with eight start-ups at the Ruta-N corporation to promote the development of innovative, technology-based new businesses. These start-ups are key to building a more sustainable future for Medellin, increasing its competitiveness, revitalising the economy, strengthening strategic clusters, and enabling better jobs for its citizens.

During workshops, the expert introduced attendees to circular economy concepts, illustrated through examples of where the UK has successfully embedded circularity into business practices. These real-life circular business models have built the capacity of the Colombian start-ups to make policy recommendations to national and local governments on how to create the right infrastructure to enable circularity, including considerations of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI).

Each of the participating start-ups also received mentoring on how to attract funding, a review of their business ideas and recommendations on how they can become more circular and sustainable.