Startup Greece Successfully Hosted the “From Waste to Worth” Startup Pitch Event and Roundtable Discussion

As part of the From Waste to Worth programme, Startup Greece successfully hosted the online startup pitch event “From Waste to Worth. Startup Edition: PITCH YOUR STARTUP” on the 22nd of May. The event created a dynamic space for startups to present practical solutions connected to circular economy, sustainability and innovation.

The pitch session brought together founders, specialists and ecosystem actors to explore how circular economy can become a real opportunity for new business ideas, startup development and sustainable innovation.

Participating startups included Wasty, which presented an all-in-one platform for food service businesses using AI, demand forecasting, production planning and waste tracking to help restaurants reduce food waste and improve operations. PHEE presented its green technology for transforming plant-based residues and biomass, including Posidonia oceanica dead seagrass leaves, into climate-positive materials for the built environment and design sectors. Solmeyea shared its work in biotechnology and microalgae, focusing on converting CO₂ emissions into sustainable proteins and food ingredients. MysteryPot presented a digital solution for reducing food waste by connecting consumers with businesses offering surplus food at lower prices, while Elysium Energy presented its AI-powered approach for designing and optimizing decentralized energy systems, including microgrids and hydrogen solutions.

Following the pitching session, Startup Greece hosted a roundtable discussion with founders, specialists and ecosystem representatives. The discussion explored how circular economy can create opportunities for entrepreneurship, startup growth, local impact and sustainable innovation.

The roundtable highlighted the importance of connecting different perspectives, including academia, startups, sustainability experts and ecosystem organizations. Speakers discussed how circular economy principles can move beyond theory and become practical tools for business development, resource efficiency, youth engagement and environmental impact.

Across the workshops and events of the programme, several key messages emerged. Circular economy is not only about recycling, but about redesigning how we produce, consume, reuse and create value. Sustainability needs evidence, transparent communication and measurable indicators in order to build trust and avoid greenwashing. Young people and NGOs can play an active role in leading local action, community engagement and circular economy initiatives. At the same time, market trends are increasingly moving toward repair, reuse, traceability, digital tools, service models and better use of existing resources.

“Through this series of workshops and events, we wanted to show that circular economy can become a practical pathway for youth, NGOs, startups and communities to create real impact,” said a representative of Startup Greece.

About the “From Waste to Worth” Programme

From Waste to Worth: Circular Economy Practices for NGOs and Youth is an Erasmus+ project focused on promoting circular economy knowledge, sustainability and social innovation through workshops, events and educational activities.

The project is implemented with partners from Greece, North Macedonia and Spain, including Startup Greece, A.B.A.T. Balkania and Permacultura Cantabria.

You can watch the event video at the following link.