The Incubation Network (SecondMuse & Circulate Capital)

Enriched Impact Investor · Found: 2026-03-11 11:10

Accelerator and innovation program by SecondMuse and Circulate Capital targeting plastic waste solutions in South and Southeast Asia. Provided US$2.8M in direct funding to startups, with supported startups raising additional US$63M. Offers seed capital, mentorship, and network access.

Source: https://theincubationnetwork.com/

Funding Details

Funder

The Circulate Initiative and SecondMuse (with backing from Circulate Capital, U.S. State Department, Ocean Conservancy, and AEPW)

Funding Goal

Source, support and scale innovative solutions tackling plastic pollution by optimising land-based plastic waste management and advancing a circular economy in South and Southeast Asia

Funding Amount

USD 2.3 million in total funding disbursed across the three-year programme period (2020-2023) supporting 350+ startups; individual award sizes not published

Deadline

Main three-year programme concluded March 2023. Country-specific accelerators ongoing; check incubationnetwork.com for current intake rounds (periodic)

How to Apply

The main Incubation Network programme has concluded. Successor country programmes (Java Low-Value Plastics Accelerator and Thailand Plastics Circularity Accelerator) continue through The Circulate Initiative. Apply via incubationnetwork.com or thecirculateinitiative.org.

Target Region

South and Southeast Asia — Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and other countries in the region

Contact

The Circulate Initiative: thecirculateinitiative.org. Incubation Network: incubationnetwork.com. SecondMuse: secondmuse.com/ocean-plastic. AEPW: endplasticwaste.org/what-we-do/projects/circulate-initiative-incubation-network

Official Page

https://www.incubationnetwork.com/

Last Checked

2026-03-15 13:30

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Target beneficiaries: early-stage startups and SMEs, not established NGOs
• Geographic focus: South and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand)

Project Scope

• Successor programmes: Java Low-Value Plastics Accelerator (Indonesia) and Thailand Plastics Circularity Accelerator

Required Documents

• Apply to successor programmes via thecirculateinitiative.org or incubationnetwork.com

Constraints

• Main three-year programme concluded March 2023 — no longer accepting applications under original structure
• Accelerator model — provides mentorship, network access, and small grants rather than large operational grants

Summary

The Incubation Network was a multi-year initiative to source, support, and scale innovative solutions addressing ocean plastic pollution through land-based plastic waste management and circular economy acceleration in South and Southeast Asia. The network was established as a partnership between SecondMuse and The Circulate Initiative (formerly Circulate Capital's incubation arm), with financial backing from Circulate Capital, the U.S. State Department, Ocean Conservancy, and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW). Over its three-year operational period from approximately 2020 to March 2023, the Incubation Network supported more than 350 startups and early-stage companies in the plastic waste management ecosystem. Total funding disbursed across the programme amounted to USD 2.3 million, focused on pre-investment and early-stage solutions. The network helped participating ventures optimise their operations, prepare for investment, and connect with strategic partners across the plastic waste value chain. Geographically, the programme focused on countries in South and Southeast Asia where plastic leakage into the ocean is highest, including Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand. The primary theory of change was that improving land-based plastic waste management systems in these countries would prevent plastic from entering waterways and oceans. Although the main three-year programme concluded in March 2023, country-level successor programmes continued through The Circulate Initiative. Active programmes as of 2026 include the Java Low-Value Plastics Accelerator (Indonesia) and the Thailand Plastics Circularity Accelerator. These programmes provide a more focused geographic and sector-specific continuation of the original network approach. Organisations interested in participating in continuing programmes should contact The Circulate Initiative through thecirculateinitiative.org or incubationnetwork.com for current call and intake information.

Historical Context

Main three-year programme ran 2020-2023 and has concluded. Country-specific accelerators (Java, Thailand) continue through The Circulate Initiative as of 2026. Original programme backed by USAID and U.S. State Department, which may affect future continuity given US policy changes in 2025.

Why it was added

Impact investor/blended finance for plastic waste

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