Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • There is NO FEE to apply for or participate in NextCycle Washington. Additionally, one of the ways that makes this accelerator different is NO EQUITY SHARE is required to participate., Your time, effort and commitment are the only things required to make this experience a success. 

  • NextCycle Washington will attempt to support additional language needs. Please reach out to NextCycleWA@recycle.com if you require interpretation or translation services.

    Comuníquese con NextCycleWA@recycle.com si necesita servicios de interpretación o traducción.

  • You do NOT need to be a registered business or nonprofit, however, you must be able to demonstrate that you have some existing progress towards your project plan. Early ideas without any research, validation or other traction are not considered eligible. Reach out to the NextCycle Washington team for further clarification.  

Accelerator Questions

  • Up to 16 teams will be selected to participate in the 2025-2026 cohort.

  • Tentative timeline for Cohort 4: 

    • Sep 22 - Oct 31, 2025: Application Period

    • Dec 2025:  Teams Selected and Notified 

    • Jan 2026: Team Onboarding

    • Jan 21-23. 2026:  Accelerator Academy (in person)

    • Jan-May 2026: Coaching, Working the Plan, Pitch Development (mainly virtual)

    • May 2026: Pitch Showcase (in person)

  • Participants must be committed to engaging in the entire circular accelerator experience for approximately 60-80 hours over the six-month program period. This includes, at a minimum: 

    • One-hour, virtual/online monthly meetings over the six-month program period. 

    • Participation in a 2-day Accelerator Academy – Currently this is planned as an in-person event in Jan 2026, that will be centrally located based on the locations of selected teams. 

    • Engagement in one-on-one consulting activities. These activities can be in-person or virtual/online. 

    • Preparation and participation in the pitch showcase in May 2026. 

    Applicants selected for the accelerator will be asked to sign a release giving NextCycle Washington permission to use the project title, team members’ names, bios and headshots, brief organizational and project descriptions, project photos, and logo(s) for communications and promotional purposes. 

  • The NextCycle Washington Accelerator program does NOT provide grants or guarantee funding or investment. However, part of the program is to help identify potential funding pathways for projects, while assisting teams to develop a value proposition and project plan that can attract funding. 

  • Preparation for Larger Investment Pathways:
    Teams that are selected for the accelerator will learn about the range of funding available to develop their projects and grow their businesses and organizations. Educational and consulting support will be provided to each team to help prepare a successful pitch for funding. The range of options includes but is not limited to: public or private grants, impact investment, venture capital, or traditional financing through a local bank or Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Learn more now by downloading the NextCycle Washington Circular FundingResource Guide.

    One-on-one Consulting:
    Consulting services with specific task outcomes will be available from expert-in-resident economists, operators, engineers, researchers, and communications specialists at Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), Cascadia Consulting Group, Start Consulting Group, Traversal Design, and other partners from businesses, community organizations, universities, research institutions, and local/ state governments. 

    Expert Mentorship:
    Teams will have access to leading subject matter experts who can: 

    • Provide insight into business and project planning. 

    • Provide helpful information about the recycling landscape, and markets in Washington State and beyond. 

    • Facilitate connections along the supply chain. 

    Accelerator Academy:
    This multi-day, intensive experience includes workshops focused on developing project and business plans, identifying funding and investment opportunities, leveraging partnerships, developing an effective pitch, and interacting with other NextCycle Washington teams and industry experts. Travel and attendance costs are supported by NextCycle Washington. 

    Networking and Partnership Facilitation:
    Teams will learn with previous and future NextCycle WA cohorts to expand the circular economy network within Washington State. 

    • Teams will have many opportunities to connect with: 

      • Experts and investors in their industries 

      • Community Organizations and Nonprofits; 

      • Universities and Research Institutions; and 

      • Local and State Governments. 

    • Teams will be supported in developing partnerships including: 

      • Supply chain partnerships, 

      • Cross-organization partnerships, and 

      • Public-private partnerships. 

    NextCycle Washington Pitch Showcase:
    Teams will have the opportunity to pitch their venture to potential funders, investors, and partners at the conclusion of the track experience in May 2025. 

    Recognition and Publicity:
    Teams are promoted through press releases, social media, published articles, webinars, the NextCycle Washington website, showcases, and public presentations, providing exposure to a larger network of investors and partners. 

  • You do NOT need to be a registered business or nonprofit, however, you must be able to demonstrate that you have some existing progress towards your project plan. Early ideas without any research, validation or other traction are not considered eligible. Reach out to the NextCycle Washington team for further clarification.  

  • The application period opens September 22, 2025 and closes October 31, 2025. All applications must be submitted through the online portal by 11:59 p.m. PT on October 31, 2025, to be considered for participation. 

  • NextCycle Washington can support Spanish language and potentially additional language needs. Please reach out to the NextCycle Washington team for support. NextCycleWA@recycle.com

    Comuníquese con NextCycleWA@recycle.com si necesita servicios de interpretación o traducción. 

  • Yes! We have several ways for you to receive support during the application period.'

    • Email: NextCycleWA@recycle.com

    • Virtual 1-on-1 Meetings: We call them “office hours” - schedule a 30-minute call with one of our facilitators. Links to schedule are located on the APPLY webpage.

    • Information Meetings: These “Application Parties” are online Zoom meetings that provide a quick overview of the program and then provide space for you to ask questions and meet facilitators and past teams. Links to register are located on the APPLY webpage.

Seed Grant Questions

  • Up to 15 Seed Grants will be awarded to projects that contribute to building King County’s circular economy.

  • Expenses must be directly related to the project. The following expenses are eligible for reimbursement:

    • Consulting Assistance/Legal Services

    • Marketing/Collateral

    • Market Feasibility Analysis

    • Project Related Event(s)

    • Project Related Salary/Labor

    • Prototyping/Lab Testing/R&D

    • Supplies/Materials

    • Certain equipment purchases, rentals or leases

    Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to general operating expenses, purchase of computers, software, vehicles, office furniture, food and beverages, entertainment, fundraising events, conference or event registration fees (unless directly related to the project), lobbying activities, and debt payments.

  • We are looking for projects focused on waste prevention, reuse, repair, recovery, recycling, organics management and product development using otherwise wasted materials. Projects must have an impact on King County’s waste system (excluding Seattle and Milton).

    The application is open to organizations or a team of organizations:

    • for-profit businesses

    • nonprofits

    • community-based organizations

    • university/research institutions

    • Tribal nations

    • public-private partnerships

    • trade organizations

  • Upfront Funding Distribution: Projects will receive a grant of up to $10,000 to fund eligible expenses that advance their project idea. Eligible expenses are listed in the application information packet under Section 2: Application Submission Details.

  • The Seed Grants are based on King County’s solid waste system that serves 37 of the 39 cities in King County, excluding Seattle and Milton. A project may have residual impact in the Seattle/Milton areas and other areas in the state, however it should primarily impact the unincorporated cities in the King County solid waste system.

    • Application Period: Aug 11 - Sep 19, 2025

    • Application Status Notification: Nov 2025

    • Grant Fund Distribution Period: Dec 1 - Dec 31, 2025

    • Grant Execution & Reporting Period: Jan - Jun 2026

  • All information on the Seed Grant is located here: https://www.nextcyclewashington.com/seed-grants-2025

  • Email your questions to either address:

    NextCycleWA@recycle.com

    or

    CircularGrants@kingcounty.gov

I have more questions! Can I get even more support?

Absolutely! NextCycle Washington is designed to cultivate a community of zero waste and circular economy enthusiasts. You can schedule virtual office hours with the NextCycle team, email us at NextCycleWA@recycle.com, and check out the Resource Library to better understand the specific challenges that need to be addressed when creating zero waste solutions in Washington state.