The Role of Start-ups as Enablers of the Circular Economy in Smart Cities

This study investigates how startups contribute to implementing circular economy strategies in the context of smart cities. Existing literature has largely emphasised technological infrastructures and policy frameworks. This paper fills a gap by focusing on startups as operational agents of change that help implement circular principles in real-world urban contexts. The research uses a synthetic approach, integrating secondary data, insights from the IMD Smart City Index 2025, and a custom-designed 10-question survey. The survey was administered to 12 synthetic personas, composite stakeholder profiles representing startup founders, urban planners, and sustainability experts. Each persona provided Likert-scale responses (1–5) and qualitative comments, enabling a comparative analysis across roles and perspectives. Results were synthesised into a matrix highlighting convergences and divergences (e.g., technology use and policy perceptions). Findings confirm a broad consensus on the strategic value of startups in enabling clever circular transitions, primarily through the use of 4.0 technologies and reuse-based business models. High alignment was observed on technological potential and sectoral relevance, while divergences emerged around public-private collaboration effectiveness, inclusivity, and the perceived adequacy of public policy support. Open data access was seen as a promising but unevenly implemented enabler. The paper contributes a structured, stakeholder-based analysis of how circular-oriented startups are perceived and positioned in the innovative city ecosystem. It offers actionable insights for designing more inclusive, adaptive, and innovation-friendly urban policies.