Learning, Sharing and Growing with Circular Valley!

For three weeks in March 2025, we participated in Batch 8 of the Circular Valley Accelerator, where we showcased the Circular Library Network and represented Iceland alongside other incredible circular start-ups.

The two-month program started in February, while the first four weeks took place virtually to prepare the startups for the on-site phase. Anna, our founder, and Steffi then traveled to Germany for three intensive weeks at the Circular Valley offices in Wuppertal, the Silicon Valley of the Circular Economy in Germany's Rhine-Ruhr region!

The journey began when Anna joined week one, getting to know Batch 8 and attending training sessions. She had the opportunity to pitch other team's business cases to test them, which was fun and insightful. Highlights of the first week included peer-to-peer exchanges, body language training, and business model coaching.

Steffi dove into week two with a branding bootcamp and sales & marketing excellence training. The week featured valuable pitch training and an insightful "kill your company" session, where we identified and strategized around our weaknesses. Anna concluded the week by attending the Zebra Investment Night in Hamburg.

That weekend, we had the pleasure of witnessing our first system live in Germany, installed at the Schauspielhaus Bochum and operated by bib der dinge Bochum.

Anna (left), and Najine from bib der Dinge (right), visiting the sharing station at Schauspielhaus Bochum

In week three, it was time to prepare for the Circular Valley Convention in Düsseldorf on March 12 & 13. This major event brought together industry leaders and experts to discuss the latest circular economy innovations. We proudly showcased our IL system in the start-up area, connecting with potential clients, partners, and collaborators about building a more sustainable, circular future.

Steffi (left), and Anna (right), showcasing the IL system during the Circular Valley Convention 2025

In week four—partner week—Steffi traveled to Hamburg and Berlin. In Hamburg, she visited the Impact Hub, a coworking space that provides communities with everything they need for personal and professional growth. In Berlin, Steffi had the opportunity to follow up with Craig Willmott and his team from NEEW Ventures at Scaling Spaces. Afterward, Maximilian Mauracher from Kreisler in Berlin showed his amazing project that supports the Gropiusstadt neighborhood through sharing, repairing, and community events. We love what you are doing!

Steffi also attended the Urban Innovation Forum, Berlin's annual gathering of founders, investors, and tech leaders. The trip concluded with an inspiring tour of Motion.Lab, led by Paul and Lau through their incredible makerspace.

Maximilian Mauracher at Kreisler in Berlin

These three weeks were transformative—meeting inspiring founders, sharing ideas, and experiencing tremendous support throughout the program. We watched each other grow personally and professionally as ideas took shape and connections formed. We're truly honored to have been part of this 2025 program.

A special thanks to the organizers and all the start-ups in Batch 8 we had the pleasure to work with.

What's next?

We're now following up with everyone we met during the program who expressed interest in implementing our sharing system in their neighborhood, coworking space, or community center. If you want to learn more, you can contact Anna at anna@munasafn.is or Steffi at steffi@munasafn.is