SoTecIn Factory Start-up Day: Showcasing circular solutions for industry transformation
The SoTecIn Factory project consortium is excited to invite you to the SoTecIn Factory Start-up Day on 19 and 20th of May 2025, at the Porto Inova Business Center. This event marks the conclusion of the Horizon Europe project, bringing together innovators, industry leaders, and sustainability advocates, to showcase solutions driving the industry towards circular and low-carbon transition.
Through its €3.3 million equity-free funding and support programme, the project has fostered tech-driven innovations enhancing circularity in four key product value chains— Food, Water & Nutrients, Textiles, Plastics, and Packaging—by applying higher R circular strategies such as Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture.
The event will feature 30 finalist ventures with pre-market demonstrations, each supported by the EU-funded project with €100K in equity-free funding. On 20 May 2025, the event will be open for public, providing all attendees with the opportunity to explore their solutions and engage with tech-savvy innovators and entrepreneurs driving social impact through pitches, exhibitions, and dedicated matchmaking sessions in dedicated b2b areas—fostering collaboration to accelerate social and environmental impact across European industries.
Along with the solutions exhibition, attendees can also expect engaging presentations from industry experts and public authorities, offering key insights on circular economy opportunities and challenges across Food, Water & Nutrients, Textiles, Plastics, and Packaging value chains.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Visit the b2match event page: https://www.b2match.com/e/sotecin-factory-startup-day
EXCLUSIVE PITCH SESSIONS (INVESTORS ONLY) ON 19 MAY 2025:
Seize this opportunity to experience live startup pitches from SoTecIn Factory ventures— streamed online and on-site. Join us virtually or in person to connect with innovative founders and fellow investors. Engage in the pitch sessions, in 1:1 conversations, expand your network, and explore cutting-edge opportunities in the circular economy.
To learn more about this opportunity, contact us at hello@sotecinfactory.eu
WHAT IS SOTECIN FACTORY FUNDING AND SUPPORT PROGRAMME?
Through two Open Calls, SoTecIn Factory supported 50 ventures developing circular solutions. The process was structured in two phases: In Phase 1, each of the 50 ventures received up to €15,000. From this group, 30 ventures advanced to Phase 2—pre-market demonstrations—securing up to €85,000 in funding. Besides equity-free funding, the innovators received capacity-building and business support through workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions focused on circular business models, systemic change, social entrepreneurship, funding strategies, and industrial value chains, leveraging the consortium’s in-depth expertise and multiple resources in these areas.
Innovators also collaborated with SoTecIn Factory Challenge Owners—industry actors tackling circular challenges—co-developing and co-designing solutions aligned with the project’s sustainable industry Missions. The solutions were also under a guidance of Mission Councils, 7 groups of 40+ industry experts, acting as ‘guardians’ ensuring that ventures stayed Mission- focused throughout the development of innovations for circular value chains.
MEET SOTECIN FACTORY INNOVATORS:
To check their solutions, go to: https://sotecinfactory.eu/social-innovators/
GET IN TOUCH WITH US AND OUR COMMUNITY
