AI is already reshaping the industry and its involvement in our sector will only increase.

Fergal Donovan, Co-Founder & CEO, Cyculus

 

This is the second time you’ve joined us as a judge. How did you find the experience the first time round?

The first year was energising, a rare chance to see the full breadth of innovation across Europe’s circular tech ecosystem. What struck me most was the ambition: businesses and founders weren’t just iterating, they were redefining what circularity could look like at scale. It set a high bar for this year’s entries.

What do you look for when reviewing an application?

I look for clarity of problem & solution definition, measurable operational impact, and evidence that the solution can scale beyond a single facility or market. Strong entries show disciplined execution, not just vision. I’m especially attentive to actual case studies, data, and technical robustness rather than marketing language.

What changes have you seen in the circular tech industry over the last 8 months?

The sector has matured quickly. Buyers now expect consistent grading, transparent data, consistency and trust. There’s also a noticeable shift toward automation adoption and tighter integration between processors, refurbishers, logistics partners, and marketplaces, creating a more connected and accountable ecosystem.

AI’s impact — is it a gamechanger?

AI is already reshaping the industry and its involvement in our sector will only increase. It removes subjectivity, accelerates decision‑making, and unlocks new commercial models through trustworthy grading and routing data. The winners will be those who combine AI with operational discipline and circular‑economy scalability, not those who treat it as a bolt‑on feature.