Monday, April 13th | Critical raw materials

Guusje Delen works at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and climate innovation. With a background in chemistry, her journey into climate solutions began in the lab, and her work continues to build on that scientific foundation.

As a venture builder at BigCircle Ventures, Guusje focuses on translating deep scientific breakthroughs into scalable climate technology ventures. She works with "orphan IP" from universities and research institutes, turning promising but underutilised research into the next generation of hardware climate tech startups. Her main focus lies in the fields of energy, materials, and circularity, where she believes some of the most impactful solutions are still waiting to be unlocked.

Building science-based ventures is rarely straightforward. Guusje combines technical expertise in innovation assessment with hands-on startup experience, evaluating whether technologies can scale, attract capital, and bring together the right teams to succeed. At BigCircle Ventures, the ambition is to build 30 new ventures over the coming three years, each designed to contribute to a more circular and resilient materials economy.

During the breakout session "Critical Raw Materials," Guusje Delen, together with Johannes Weber of Ananda, explores how innovation and venture building can help address the growing global demand for critical materials. She shares insights into the technological breakthroughs and entrepreneurial opportunities that can reshape how we source, use, and reuse the materials our economies depend on.

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