We are the People Creating the Circular Economy
The CIRCLE ZERO community brings together founders, industry leaders, and investors to accelerate systemic change, drive innovation, and empower resilient supply chains.
We are a trusted community, a safe place to exchange experience, deal flow, and insight.
Our Belief
Transformation Is Driven by People
The Real Barrier to Circularity
We all know the circular economy can only be achieved through genuine collaboration. Yet in practice, this rarely happens. Corporates guard their opportunities. Startups compete for scarce capital and strategic partners. The incentives are misaligned, and the walls remain high.
Membership
Exclusivity and Curation
Our membership process is meticulously curated and application-based, ensuring that every member is excited to be part of an exclusive and purposeful network dedicated to driving meaningful impact.
How to Become a Member
Aspiring members are invited to submit a short application. Each application is thoughtfully reviewed to ensure alignment with our community's values and potential for significant contribution. We seek individuals who are passionate about collaboration and innovation within the circular economy.
Membership
$145.83 monthly (billed annually)
$1,750 yearly
Member Perks
WhatsApp Communities
Access curated WhatsApp groups — global and local, industry-specific, and role-based.
Knowledge Centre
Recorded masterclass sessions and educational resources from network members.
MicroMeets
Intimate gatherings of 8–10 members for focused 60-minute sessions to share insights.
Webinars
Live sessions with experts, founders, and investors from across the ecosystem.
Virtual & In-Person Events
Local and global gatherings — from intimate salons to flagship summits.
Member Deals
Exclusive offers and discounts curated specifically for community members.
Job Channels
Access to prime opportunities and top talent across the circular economy.
Deal Flow
Trusted access to exclusive investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Global Concierge
Connect with fellow members wherever you travel, making every city feel like home.
Who Belongs Here
Designed for the Builders, Leaders, and Investors Who Are Doing the Work
The community spans three core member profiles — united by purpose, distinguished by their role in the ecosystem.
Impact Founders & Entrepreneurs
Building or scaling circular or regenerative businesses. Looking for peers who understand the journey, investors who share the vision, and partners who can open doors.
Industry Leaders & Experts
Driving innovation and transformation from within large organizations. Seeking access beyond your own sector — to the founders, thinkers, and experts shaping what comes next.
Investors & Capital Partners
From business angels to institutional capital. Looking for trusted access to people, emerging trends, and high-quality deal flow in the circular and regenerative economy.
How It Works
A Global Community with Local Chapters
We are building a multi-layered architecture that connects members across geographies, industries, and roles — while preserving the intimacy and trust that make real exchange possible.
Every element of the structure is designed to reduce friction and increase signal: less noise, more meaning.
Global & Local Chapters
A worldwide network anchored in cities and regions where circular economy activity is concentrated.
Industry & Sector Groups
Focused communities within textiles, food systems, built environment, manufacturing, and beyond.
Role-Based Cohorts
Founder circles, investor roundtables, and corporate leader forums — structured for peer exchange.
Curated Gatherings
Intentional events, conversations, and salons designed to create genuine connection and momentum.
About the Founder
Built from Experience
"CIRCLE ZERO is built to scale access to trusted relationships across industry, capital, and innovation. It’s a way to open up similar access beyond 1:1 advisory — at a fraction of the cost."
Carl Warkentin
Carl is the founder of CAWA Ventures, a venture platform investing in, advising, and building companies across the circular economy value chain. With roots in a multi-generational industrial family business, he has spent his career building and backing ventures across manufacturing, technology, and infrastructure — connecting founders, corporates, and capital.
Over the last decade, Carl has built a global network of leading family offices, business owners, and post-exit founders, alongside investors from business angels to venture capital and private equity. That access has supported the growth and financing of multiple ventures and initiatives, contributing to $100m+ raised across the ecosystem.
Carl co-founded CIRCULAR REPUBLIC within UnternehmerTUM, Europe's largest entrepreneurship center (supporting 300+ startup formations yearly) and works closely with founders and investors globally, including as a Venture Partner at Regeneration.VC and Senior Advisor to McKinsey's Green Business Building (GBB).
CIRCLE ZERO grows directly out of that network — and a conviction that the right connections, made in the right context, can change the trajectory of entire industries.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CIRCLE ZERO?
CIRCLE ZERO is a curated, high-trust community for people building the circular economy. We bring together founders, industry leaders, and investors to exchange experience and insight, share opportunities, and form collaborations that accelerate real progress across value chains.

Why is membership not for free?
CIRCLE ZERO is intentionally not free. A paid membership protects the quality of the room: it ensures members are committed, keeps the community curated and high-trust, and allows us to offer concierge-style connections. For most founders, investors, and industry leaders, the annual fee is far less than what comparable introductions, scouting, or advisory support would cost month to month.

What differentiates CIRCLE ZERO from other communities?
Exclusive communities exist for business leaders, family business owners and entrepreneurs. But there is no network covering all relevant people around impact business models like Circular Economy, Regenerative Economy and Green-tech. Nowhere else can you get access to relevant players in industry, capital and innovation and at the same time access to the entire value chain of various industries. We are a curated membership platform, a strict no-selling culture, offer cross-role exchange between founders, industry, and capital in one trusted room, local chapters and focused cohorts that create real relationships, and a long-term orientation toward real collaboration and action.

Who is CIRCLE ZERO for?
CIRCLE ZERO is built for three member profiles: Founders and entrepreneurs building circular or regenerative businesses; Industry leaders and experts driving transformation within organizations; Investors and capital partners focused on circular and regenerative innovation.
We are not limited to specific industries, positions or titles.

How are members selected?
Membership is curated to protect trust and quality. We review applications based on active involvement in circular or regenerative work, track record, intent, and willingness to contribute, and alignment with our principles and community culture.
Can service providers join?
In general, CIRCLE ZERO is not a space for selling services. We prioritize members who are building, operating, investing, or leading transformation. If you support the ecosystem in a non-sales capacity, we review on a case-by-case basis.

What benefits can I expect?
Members join for trusted relationships across industry, capital, and innovation; high-signal peer exchange and learning; curated introductions and collaboration opportunities; access to local chapters, role-based cohorts, and curated gatherings; and a safe space to discuss real challenges and opportunities.
We also offer discounts and perks within the community.

How does the community work day-to-day?
CIRCLE ZERO is organized through local and global chapters, industry and sector groups, role-based cohorts (founders, investors, corporate leaders), and curated gatherings and roundtables. Communication channels and formats evolve with the community while staying aligned with the same principles.

Is membership paid?
Yes. Membership is paid to protect quality, ensure continuity, and keep the community independent. Pricing and formats may evolve as we build, and early members help shape the model.

Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes — we offer a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Can I cancel anytime?
You can cancel renewal at any time. You keep access until the end of your paid term.

What is expected from members?
CIRCLE ZERO works when members contribute. We ask for respectful participation and confidentiality where appropriate, no selling or promotional behavior, openness to sharing experience, insight, and support, and a willingness to make a few thoughtful connections over time.

Are events included in membership?
Local events are included in membership. We are working on a global annual conference, which will likely carry a small additional charge for members.

How do I apply?
Use the application form on the website. We review applications on a rolling basis.

I have more questions. Who can I contact?
Reply to the confirmation email after applying, or contact us via the email or LinkedIn.
Stay in the Loop
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