Is Waste The New Gold?

Is Waste The New Gold?

Author: Hugo Rauch September 4, 2025 Duration: 34:13

Can circularity deliver on both carbon reduction and financial performance?

Today, we’re joined by Nic Gorini, Managing Partner at Spin Ventures, a fund dedicated to the circular and regenerative economy.

In this episode, Nic reframes circularity as a path to business efficiency, not just environmental good. Forget the “waste = trash” mindset. Circularity is about designing smarter systems that cut costs, increase profit, and reduce environmental impact. As Nic puts it: “Less carbon, more profit.”

Still have doubts?

Vinted, Back Market, Vestiaire Collective are all worth $1B+.

If you’re a founder building with efficiency in mind or a VC looking to stay ahead of the curve, this episode is packed with insights.

***

Where to find Nic & Spin:

Spin Ventures: Spin Ventures Ltd.

House of Circularity: The House of Circularity

LinkedIn: Nic Gorini

***

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:20) Less Carbon, More Profit

(07:23) The Three Pillars of Circularity

(17:38) VC Guide to Circularity

(24:04) Are Consumers Ready?

(28:33) Can Generalists Play?

(31:26) Deep Tech + Circularity?

(34:51) Fire Questions 🔥

***

Who’s next?👀

Next week, I’ll be speaking with someone who has backed 60+ founders in emerging markets, where climate resilience isn’t optional, it’s survival. We explore why VCs often overlook adaptation, and why that’s a missed opportunity for impact and returns.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

Hugo Rauch hosts New Wave, a podcast that lives at the intersection of business ambition and scientific reality. This isn't about distant predictions or abstract science; it's a grounded exploration of the technologies and companies being built right now to address our environmental future. Each episode focuses on the practical journey, dissecting the models, the breakthroughs, and the hard decisions that define the climate tech landscape. You'll hear from founders, researchers, and investors who are actively shaping this space, getting into the specifics of what works, what doesn't, and why. The conversations move beyond hype to examine the tangible mechanics of creating viable solutions, from energy storage and sustainable materials to carbon removal and regenerative agriculture. It’s for anyone who thinks about the climate challenge not just as a crisis, but as a complex and urgent field of innovation. By tuning into this podcast, you gain a clearer understanding of the economic forces and scientific principles driving the next generation of environmental solutions. New Wave connects the dots between the lab, the boardroom, and the impact we need to see in the world, offering a sober yet optimistic look at where substantive progress is truly being made.
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