[ad_1]
Many will not know that breweries generate significant waste. Spent grain, a by-product of brewing beer, is a major contributor of methane emissions, and yet it often ends up in landfill sites.
Denimir Dimitrov, inspired by spent grain’s nutritional value and recycling potential, co-founded Zero Wave, a healthy snacks company based in Bulgaria that turns waste into resources. Today, he is a pioneering entrepreneur on a mission to inspire sustainable initiatives in other industries.
Zero Wave’s roots
Thinking back to his childhood, Denimir recounts the summer breaks he spent at his grandparents’ countryside cottage. He remembers how his family had taught him to be conscientious about nature, and how everything from cooking to the disposal of food had been done sustainably.
“I thought of ways I could replicate this countryside model in a bigger city,” he says. The time I spent living abroad allowed me to observe how others organised their cities with sustainability in mind and how they were dealing with this global challenge. I wanted to do the same for Bulgaria.”
Back home, Denimir enrolled in an entrepreneurship programme where he met other like-minded individuals who shared the same vision of sustainability and were equally committed to promoting meaningful change. Together, they founded the Zero Waste foundation, a non-profit organisation that aimed to educate others about climate change, recycling, composting and zero waste practices.
From waste to protein
Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, Denimir sought practical solutions that went beyond just raising awareness.
He and his friends started exploring the potential of leftover beer malt and its wider applications. The by-product often went to waste, yet it was edible and high in protein and fibre. Since one of their peers owned a zero waste restaurant, Denimir came up with the idea of making healthy crackers out of this spent grain. After testing it out on a few of the restaurant’s clients, who relished the scrumptious and innovative treat, the team decided to go to market with their first prototype.
Although Denimir and his team launched Zero Wave only a year and a half ago, the start-up took off relatively quickly, winning several accolades and achieving steady growth. Once his company reached the pre-seed stage of investment, he sought guidance from the EBRD’s Star Venture programme, which helps businesses in their early stages overcome hurdles through mentoring, business expertise and access to finance.
With support from the Bank’s Small Business Impact Fund (Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the TaiwanBusiness – EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund), the EBRD paired Denimir with a finance expert, who helped him prepare a multi-year financial plan and pitch deck to support fundraising and new product development. The financial model has empowered Denimir’s team and enabled them to approach investors and investor funds with a great deal more confidence.
Since spent grain proved to be such a versatile ingredient, Denimir is now focused on developing additional products, including plant-based protein powders and biodegradable tableware, while securing new distributors and continuing to expand on international markets.
Denimir is confident that Zero Wave’s business model and positive impact will catalyse the shift towards sustainable business practices and promote a circular economy today for a better tomorrow.
[ad_2]
Source link