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Colorado NextCycle helps identify teams with ideas for developing or improving recycling end markets in the state.
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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is now accepting applications for the second season of Colorado NextCycle, a state-funded incentive program designed to encourage businesses to make products from recovered commodities, such as recyclables or organic materials, instead of using new materials.
Colorado NextCycle helps to identify teams with ideas for developing or improving recycling end markets in the state. It also provides a supportive atmosphere for innovative thinking and partnership development and nurtures viable end market business ideas to fundable, shovel-ready status.
The 2019-2020 season of Colorado NextCycle begins with the release of the project “Jump Kit.” The Jump Kit contains criteria and instructions on how to apply to participate in the program and provides access to a free library of resources to assist project teams in developing and strengthening their letters of intent.
Teams accepted into Colorado NextCycle will have access to:
Business Development Bootcamp: A multiday event focused on business growth and planning hosted at Galvanize Boulder (travel and registration expenses covered).
Technical Advisory Committee: Experts from business, investor, recycling and technical sectors help guide teams in business planning, the recycling landscape, investor pitches, market collaboration, commodity values and supply chains.
Preparation for Future Funding: Colorado NextCycle is followed by multiple CDPHE competitive grant rounds, including an end market dedicated request for applications.
Business Consulting: Assistance from economists, recycling practitioners, engineers and graphic designers provided by Resource Recycling Systems, the sustainability and recycling consulting firm supporting the Colorado NextCycle program.
Pitch Session: Each team will have the spotlight to pitch their business ideas to potential investors and partners (travel and registration expenses covered).
State Resources: The program includes staff and advisors for CDPHE and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade–providing teams with access to a range of resources and data.
During Colorado NextCycle’s first season in 2018-2019, the state selected nine teams to participate in the business incubator program including a two-day accelerator workshop and a pitch session to an audience of recycling professionals and investors.
“NextCycle gave me access to resources and a community that I didn’t have access to previously, which helped me refine my business plan tremendously,” said Adin Alai of 9Fiber, one of the nine teams accepted into the program last year, in a statement.
The nine teams also had the opportunity to apply for larger Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Program grants. The end market development grant, which closed earlier in October, seeks to provide up to $3 million in funding to anyone interested in creating or expanding end markets for recyclables and organic materials within the state.
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