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Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Circular Brain develops digital platforms for circular economy management and e-waste traceability. The company provides a centralized portal that connects collection centers, transporters, dismantlers, and recyclers using certified, traceable credits to help electronics manufacturers comply with environmental waste regulations. Operating with a team of 35 employees, the platform facilitates reverse logistics and lifecycle tracking across Latin America, recently integrating an operational network of 20 dismantlers and 200 vehicles. Circular Brain has raised $4 million in total funding, highlighted by a $3.5 million investment in May 2025 from Lorene Urban Mining that provided a 600 percent return for exiting early backers Barn Investimentos and BR Angels. Additionally, the enterprise operates as an active member of the global PREVENT Waste Alliance. The organization was founded in 2019 by Marcus William Oliveira.
Circular Brain has raised $560K across 1 funding round.
Circular Brain has raised $560K in total across 1 funding round.
Circular Brain has raised $560K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $560K Seed in September 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2021 | $560K Seed | — | Barn Investments | Announced |
Circular Brain is a Brazilian climate tech startup founded in 2019 that builds a SaaS platform connecting stakeholders in the electronics and e-waste industry, including manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, collection centers, transporters, and consumers.[1][2][4] It solves regulatory compliance, reverse logistics, and recycling challenges by enabling traceable e-waste management, generating certified credits for producers to meet Brazil's waste laws, and providing economic incentives for consumers to recycle electronics.[1][4][5] The platform serves electronics manufacturers for environmental compliance, recyclers for reliable sourcing, and consumers via rewards, operating as a one-stop digital ecosystem for product lifecycle tracking, reuse, and disposal.[1][2] With strong growth momentum, it raised $500K initially from BR Angels and Barn Investimentos, followed by a $3.5M round in May 2025 from Lorene Urban Mining—including equity and a partnership to scale logistics across Latin America using Lorene's network of 20 dismantlers and 200 vehicles—yielding a 600% return for early investors.[4][6]
Circular Brain was founded in 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil, by Marcus William Oliveira (CEO and Chief Innovation Officer, with expertise in circular tech) and Marcello Fernandes Fornari (IT business background in edTech and analysis).[1][7] The idea emerged from the need to promote circular economy principles in electronics consumption cycles, addressing gaps in reverse logistics, data safety, reuse, and recycling through a traceability algorithm and digital hub.[2] Early traction included incubation in programs like the Prevent Waste Alliance (a German Agency for International Collaboration project focused on e-waste in low- and middle-income countries) and joining the UN Global Compact as a non-communicating SME participant in June 2020.[2][3] Pivotal moments feature initial funding from BR Angels and Barn Investimentos, setting the stage for the 2025 expansion round amid rising e-waste regulations.[1][4]
Circular Brain rides the global circular economy wave, particularly in e-waste management amid exploding electronics demand—projected to generate 75 million metric tons annually by 2030—fueled by regulations like Brazil's waste laws and EU-style mandates spreading to LatAm.[1][4] Timing is ideal as climate tech investments surge post-COP commitments, with e-waste recycling markets growing 8-10% yearly due to resource scarcity and ESG pressures on manufacturers.[2][6] Market forces favoring it include rising corporate sustainability mandates, urban mining for rare metals (via partners like Lorene operating in Brazil, Chile, Colombia), and digital traceability tech enabling compliance at scale.[4][5] It influences the ecosystem by catalyzing reverse logistics networks, promoting "product as a service" models, and setting standards for SaaS in waste prevention—potentially inspiring similar hubs in emerging markets.[2][7]
Circular Brain is poised for LatAm dominance in e-waste tech, leveraging its $3.5M infusion to integrate advanced logistics and expand beyond Brazil into high-growth markets like Chile and Colombia.[4][6] Key trends shaping it include AI-enhanced traceability, stricter global regs (e.g., upcoming UN Global Compact progress report due July 2025), and corporate net-zero pledges driving demand for compliance credits.[3][5] Influence may evolve from niche player to regional leader, potentially acquiring smaller recyclers or launching consumer apps, amplifying circularity in electronics amid resource wars—echoing its founding mission as the world's promoting agent for sustainable consumption cycles.[2]
Circular Brain has raised $560K in total across 1 funding round.
Circular Brain's investors include Barn Investments.
