I’ve been thinking constantly about how to impact the consumer pain-point of in-home recycling. Like every other person who likes solving problems, I’ve got a note file (I use Evernote) on my phone keeping stock of random thoughts and ideas that either I’d like solved or could one day spin up into a business.

I reached out to a friend’s brother who works for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado asking about opportunities to impact municipal solid waste (residential trash and recycling). I was first clued in to some of the jargon and problems while working at the Idaho National Laboratory as a bioenergy technologies intern. He couldn’t meet with me, as he now works remotely from another state, but he offered to connect me to a friend—Andrew Maxey, the co-founder and CEO of Vartega.

Who They Are

Vartega’s overall purpose is to recycle carbon fiber. According to their website, “Vartega has developed a low-cost grade of carbon fiber through the use of its patented recycling process. This grade has mechanical properties similar to virgin material. Vartega’s recycled fibers are used in broad ranging applications including nonwoven fabrics, thermoplastic pellets, and 3D printing filaments.”

They share that carbon fiber waste can be as high as 30% throughout the manufacturing process. They take carbon fiber waste—a high-value, low-volume material often from the automotive industry—and turn it back into a usable material that they can sell back.

Our First Call

We connected over an email introduction and quickly set up a 30-minute call. My three main questions (with their respective answers) for that first call were:

• How did you get from “zero to one” and start prototyping real hardware?
  First, they got funding. Vargeta utilized Colorado’s Advanced Industries program. They also partnered with a university. It’s best if you’ve got an anchor like a university.
  
• Do you have a materials background?
  No; Andrew’s got a BS in Mechanical Engineering + his PE license. He started in technical sales, then moved to the oil and gas industry. Andrew’s a generalist and prefers to be that way.
  
  Andrew believes that the future of recycling is in chemistry. Mechanical recycling has been well established. If he were to start over, he believes that lithium-ion batteries are the next big thing and are ripe for disruption.
  
• How does your spouse come into the picture as a founder (i.e. mine is very risk-averse)?
  Andrews married with 4 kids, and he treats his wife as a co-founder. She shoulders risk and stress, too. If it’s not working for those you love, it won’t work for you either. He gave his wife veto power, which enables her as a cheerleader/advocate, wanting him to succeed.
  

A Visit to Vartega

We then set up a visit, and I got to tour their facility in Golden. It’s a relatively new location for them, but they’re up and running. It was exciting to see their equipment and meet some of their staff.

After a brief tour, we sat in the conference room to chat. More questions:

• How was your experience with the Techstars accelerator?
  Find a program and location that works for your business. Treat it as a tool in your toolbox. Manage your expectations, and don’t expect to be the next Airbnb just for participating.
  
• Risk Management
  One early employee didn’t take a salary for the first 6-months, but his wife was working, so he was okay for the beginning.
  
  Andrew runs a transparent company with open dialogue between him and his employees. If they’re looking for another job, he discusses what Vartega can do for them. In the case of that early employee, they made it work to start him on salary.
  
  Accept that planning and sacrifice are necessary with startups.
  
• Fundraising
  It sucks, and it’s hard. Pitch to relevant investors. Andrew’s naturally optimistic but appreciates team members with diverse perspectives. It’s definitely mentally taxing raising capital, though.
  
• Companies and Programs to Look Into
  • Closed Loop Partners fund
  • Rockies Venture Club
  • Jefferson County Aerospace & Defense Small Business Industry Day
  • Starburst aerospace accelerator
  • Air Force Accelerator Powered by Techstars
  • Colorado NextCycle
  • Recycle Colorado
  • Advanced Industries Program
  • Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing Infrastructure Development and Education (AMIDE) Alliance

• Miscellaneous Takeaways
  • For recycling, technology is important, but supply chain and infrastructure are key
  • Book: The Wizard of Menlo Park
  • Carbon fiber → high-value, low-volume waste stream
  • Value-added processing

A big thanks to the Vartega crew for taking the time to mentor me and to show me what they’re all about!