Circular Entrepreneurship - Stichting DOEN

Enriched family-office · Found: 2026-03-11 08:11

DOEN provides direct support to these pioneers in the form of grants, loans, guarantees or investments. Applications. If you would like to make an ...

Source: https://www.doen.nl/en/how-we-do-it/circular-enterpreneurship/

Funding Details

Funder

DOEN Foundation

Funding Goal

Support sustainable and socially inclusive entrepreneurs and organisations driving the transition to a circular, inclusive, and regenerative economy. Funded activities include initiatives that reduce resource use, replace raw materials with natural materials, enable upcycling of materials (clothing, construction, waste treatment, food), facilitate reuse (e.g. waste for 3D printing), support sustainable ecological landscape restoration, and develop new ownership models such as lending or products-as-a-service.

Funding Amount

Grants, loans, guarantees, or investments (specific amounts not stated; project-level support for early-stage/near-market initiatives)

Deadline

Rolling basis (Rolling)

How to Apply

Submit application via the My DOEN online portal at aanvraag.doen.nl. First read the programme criteria at doen.nl/en/applications/criteria. Questions can be directed to regeneration@doen.nl. Application procedure takes approximately 4 months.

Target Region

Netherlands and East Africa

Contact

regeneration@doen.nl

Last Checked

2026-05-07 04:02

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a legal entity (not an individual)
• Initiative must operate in the Netherlands or East Africa

Project Scope

• Initiative must fit the Circular Entrepreneurship / Regenerative Economy theme
• Entrepreneurial approach required; must demonstrate financial sustainability pathway

Required Documents

• Online application via My DOEN portal; detailed SMART plan and transparent budget required

Constraints

• Organisation's free reserves must not exceed 1.5x annual implementation costs
• Pure research, awareness campaigns, and government agencies are excluded
• Application must be submitted at least 4 months before project start

Summary

The DOEN Foundation Circular Entrepreneurship programme supports innovative pioneers working to transition from the current linear economy to a circular, inclusive, and regenerative economic model. The programme operates under DOEN's Regenerative Economy theme and is funded through contributions from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and VriendenLoterij, enabling annual disbursements to selected pioneers. Thematic priorities include initiatives in materials upcycling across the clothing, construction, waste treatment, and food sectors; waste-to-resource models such as 3D printing from waste; sustainable ecological and landscape restoration; and new ownership models including lending systems and products-as-a-service. The programme explicitly targets systemic innovation in the circular economy, not just incremental improvements. Geographically, the programme covers the Netherlands and East Africa. Eligible applicants must be legal entities with an entrepreneurial approach and a transparent, realistic plan. Organisations with reserves exceeding 1.5 times annual implementation costs are not eligible. Purely commercial initiatives, standalone research, awareness campaigns, and government agencies are excluded. Financial instruments available include grants, loans, guarantees, and equity investments, reflecting DOEN's blended-finance approach. The programme particularly targets early-stage innovators who have moved beyond proof of concept and are approaching market introduction, or organisations that convene and strengthen the circular economy ecosystem. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted at least four months before the project start date. The process takes approximately four months. Applications are submitted via the My DOEN online portal. DOEN's funding is designed to be catalytic — supporting initiatives through the risky early phase before they can attract mainstream capital or become self-sustaining.

Historical Context

DOEN Foundation was established in 1991 and has supported over 250 pioneers annually. The Circular Entrepreneurship theme is part of the broader Regenerative Economy strand, one of three core themes alongside Social Solidarity and Power of Imagination.

Sources

• https://www.doen.nl/en/how-we-do-it/circular-enterpreneurship/
• https://www.doen.nl/en/applications/criteria/

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