"Circular Economy is the only viable business concept of the near future."

Founded by Carl Warkentin, one of Europe’s leading experts in the circular economy space, CAWA Ventures is dedicated to advancing sustainable transformation by connecting capital, industry, and technology. With extensive entrepreneurial experience across footwear, textiles, and material development, Carl has founded multiple companies tackling major environmental challenges, from textile landfills to plastic waste.

With roots in a 150-year-old family business, SMS group, Carl brings a legacy of innovation and cutting-edge technology from the metals industry. Actively engaged in closing the loop in the battery industry, especially via enabling the urban mining ecosystem and battery recycling, Carl leverages his unique network and diverse roles as a board member, advisor, investor, speaker, and mediator to forge impactful connections between capital, industry, and technology. Through these roles, he identifies synergies and drives collaborations that unite corporations, startups, and investors in developing solutions for a sustainable future.

At CAWA Ventures, our mission is threefold: to support startups in scaling their operations and accessing new markets, to help investors identify high-impact opportunities in circular business models, and to guide established companies through transformational shifts to remain future-ready. Now based in California, Carl is particularly positioned to connect the dynamic ecosystems of Europe and the US, providing startups with the opportunity to expand internationally and helping the US market embrace circular practices.

Carl’s involvement with prominent initiatives like the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) in Brussels and the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) underscores his commitment to circular economy leadership on both sides of the Atlantic. At CAWA Ventures, we believe in shaping a world where innovation and sustainability work hand in hand to build a better future.