In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, hosts Barry O’Kane and Jo Weston talk with Frans Biegstraaten, co-founder of BIYU, a modular rental, subscription and PAAS platform helping businesses build circular systems that scale.

BIYU started as a consumer rental service in Amsterdam, offering same-day delivery on everything from drills to electric bikes. When the business had to pivot, Frans and his team transformed their operational know-how and internal software into a SaaS product that now supports circular businesses across Europe.

✨ In this episode we learn about:

• The journey from consumer rental startup to multi-tenant SaaS provider

• How BIYU’s tech manages repair, refurbishment, and reverse logistics.

• Why integrating circular systems with existing tech like Shopify and Firmhouse matters.

• The challenges and rewards of building circular tech through experimentation.

• How BIYU enables brands to pilot circular models before full adoption.

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

BIYU – www.biyu.world

Shopify - https://www.shopify.com/

Firmhouse - https://www.firmhouse.com/

👤 About our guest:

Frans Biegstraaten is co-founder of BIYU, a circular technology company based in the Netherlands. BIYU helps rental and Product-as-a-Service companies manage everything from asset tracking to refurbishment using its modular SaaS platform.

Frans Biegstraaten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fwbiegstraaten/

🌍 About HappyPorch

HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy.

Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com

💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News

HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology.

Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/

🎙 Explore the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide

We’ve created something new: the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide. After 9 seasons of HappyPorch Radio and years of discovering other brilliant shows on circularity, we realised the podcast space needed a central, searchable place to explore the best voices in circular innovation.

Browse at: https://circulareconomypodcasts.guide/

▶️ Listen and subscribe:

Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, iHeart, Pocket Casts — or wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://www.happyporchradio.com to explore more episodes.

What if attending a wedding, gala, or an important event didn’t mean buying something new, but instead allowed you to rent a designer-quality outfit?

In this episode of HappyPorch Radio we are joined by Büsra Zanner, the founder of Wearr. Wearr is a German-based startup reinventing circular fashion rental for special occasions.

Büsra shares how her tech background shaped Wearr’s customer-first approach, from prioritising flawless event delivery to building a data-driven platform that keeps garments in circulation longer.

With a focus on convenience, automation, and strong partnerships, Wearr is proving how circular models can delight customers, extend product lifecycles, and shift mindsets away from ownership toward access.

✨ In this episode:

• Büsra explains why customer experience must come first in rental - even before sustainability.
• We learn about the emotional side of circular fashion: garments creating new stories through multiple lives.
• Büsra talks about building a tech stack for rental that uses data to optimise sourcing, curation, and customer experience.
• We touch on the challenges and opportunities of sourcing: buying retail, partnering with private lenders and working with designers and retailers.
• We learn why focus and clarity matter for early-stage circular startups.
• Büsra highlights the importance of picking the right partnerships - and knowing when to say no.
• We find out how Wearr achieves a 100 NPS by prioritising reliability and delight.

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

Wearr - https://www.wearr.com/

👤 About our guest:

Büsra Zanner is the Founder & CEO of Wearr, a fashion tech startup out of Munich making wardrobe sharing effortless and premium. After 5+ years in B2B SaaS at Celonis, leading global solution engineering teams, she made the shift into fashion to build a more circular future. Learn more at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busrazanner?originalSubdomain=de

🌍 About HappyPorch

HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com

💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News

HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology. Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter

🎙 Explore the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide

Discover the best voices in circular innovation: https://circulareconomypodcasts.guide

▶️ Listen and subscribe:

Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, iHeart, Pocket Casts — or wherever you get your podcasts.

Explore more at...

What if you could arrive at your ski chalet and find premium ski wear waiting for you, no suitcase, no hassle, and a lot less waste?

In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, hosts Barry O’Kane and Tandi Tuakli talk with Anna Smoothy and Anders Bergenstrand, co-founders of Cirkel Supply, a Swiss startup rethinking ski holidays with circular rental.

Cirkel combines technology and circular design to make ski wear rental simple and sustainable. Using platforms like Shopify and Supercycle, they deliver high-quality ski outfits directly to accommodation, proving how smart tech choices can support convenience, reduce waste, and keep products in circulation.

✨ In this episode:

• Why ski wear is a perfect case for access over ownership
• How off-the-shelf tech platforms help startups scale efficiently
• The role of lifecycle assessments in measuring circular impact
• What seasonality teaches about building resilient circular systems
• Cirkel’s vision for expanding beyond Switzerland to serve global ski tourism

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

Cirkel Supply – https://cirkelsupply.com

👤 About our guests:

Anna Smoothy and Anders Bergenstrand are co-founders of Cirkel Supply, a Swiss-based startup making circular ski wear rental convenient, premium, and sustainable. With backgrounds in skiing, fashion, and sustainability, they combine a love of the outdoors with a mission to change consumer habits and reduce waste in the industry.

Anna Smoothy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-smoothy/

Anders Bergenstrand on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-bergenstrand/

🌍 About HappyPorch

HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy.

Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com

💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News

HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology.

Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/

🎙 Explore the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide

We’ve created something new: the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide. After 9 seasons of HappyPorch Radio and years of discovering other brilliant shows on circularity, we realised the podcast space needed a central, searchable place to explore the best voices in circular innovation.

Browse at: https://circulareconomypodcasts.guide/

▶️ Listen and subscribe:

Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, iHeart, Pocket Casts — or wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit

What does it take to run a business that keeps millions of garments in circulation every year? And why should rental, resale, and repair be part of every fashion brand’s strategy?

In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Andrew Rough, CEO of Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS), Europe’s largest provider of circular fashion fulfillment. From RFID technology to ozone cleaning, ACS combines logistics, technology, and sustainability to help brands extend product lifetimes and build new revenue streams.

✨ In this episode:

• Andrew explains how ACS supports brands with rental, resale, and repair programs.
• We discuss why circular fashion makes business sense, not just environmental sense.
• How resale can attract new customers and strengthen brand loyalty.
• The role of data feedback loops in improving design and durability.
• Why ACS chose a technology-agnostic approach to integrate with partners.
• Andrew shares his vision for expanding circular solutions across Europe.

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

ACS Clothing – https://acsclothing.co.uk

👤 About our guest:

Andrew Rough is CEO of Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS), a pioneer in circular fashion logistics. Under his leadership, ACS has grown into a global partner for fashion brands, enabling rental, resale, repair, and more — all while earning recognition as one of the UK’s top 10 B Corps. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-rough-493a4b14

🌍 About HappyPorch

HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy.

Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com

💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News

HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology.

Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/

🎙 Explore the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide

We’ve created something new: the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide. After 9 seasons of HappyPorch Radio and years of discovering other brilliant shows on circularity, we realised the podcast space needed a central, searchable place to explore the best voices in circular innovation.

Browse at: https://circulareconomypodcasts.guide/

▶️ Listen and subscribe:

Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, iHeart, Pocket Casts — or wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://www.happyporchradio.com to explore more episodes.

What does it take to bring rental models into the world of large household appliances (white goods) and why might this be a key step in scaling the circular economy?

In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Valentin Lheureux, COO of HomeCycle, a French startup pioneering rental for washing machines, dryers, fridges, and other essential “white goods.”

Valentin shares his journey from working in retail to founding HomeCycle, motivated by the unsustainable pressures he saw in the linear economy. He explains why tackling rental for large appliances is so challenging, what customers really want, and how partnerships with manufacturers could change the industry for good.

✨ In this episode:

• Valentin explains how customer demand is shifting, with convenience, repair, and simplicity driving adoption of appliance rental.
• We discuss the unique financing challenges of white goods rental and why partnering directly with manufacturers is the “royal way” forward.
• Valentin shares how HomeCycle approaches repair and refurbishment to extend product lifetimes and make rental a compelling alternative to ownership.
• We explore the difference between B2C and B2B customers, from families to co-living spaces and student accommodation.
• Valentin reflects on why HomeCycle chose the “hard path” of big appliances and their ambition to become France’s leading rental specialist.
• We consider the tech gap and why existing rental software doesn’t yet fully support circular models.

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

HomeCycle – https://homecycle.fr

Boulanger - https://www.boulanger.com/

Jumanji 2030 - https://www.jumanji.studio/

Coolblue - https://www.coolblue.nl/en/subscriptions

👤 About our guest:

Valentin Lheureux is COO and co-founder of HomeCycle, a French startup pioneering rental models for household appliances. With a background in engineering and retail, Valentin combines deep industry experience with a passion for circular economy innovation. He and his team are working to make appliance rental a mainstream option in France — and a more sustainable alternative to ownership.

Connect with Valentin on LinkedIn: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/valentin-lheureux-b28936b5

🌍 About HappyPorch

HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy.

Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com

💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News

HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology.

Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/

🎙 Explore the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide

We’ve created something new: the Circular Economy Podcasts Guide. After 9 seasons of HappyPorch Radio and years of discovering other brilliant shows on circularity, we realised the podcast space needed a central, searchable place to...

What have we learned so far this season about the realities of rental and product-as-a-service models, and where does technology really make the difference?

In this special mid-season reflection of HappyPorch Radio, hosts Barry O’Kane, Jo Weston and Tandi Tuakli look back at the conversations so far, drawing out the common themes, challenges and opportunities from entrepreneurs, academics and technology providers working at the forefront of circularity.

We revisit highlights from:

• Refulfil – Danai Osmond explained how smart reverse logistics and return flows can unlock circular commerce, reduce waste, and make reuse systems viable at scale
• Baboodle – Katie Hanton-Parr explored rental models for children’s products and family life, showing how convenience and flexibility can drive adoption alongside sustainability goals
• Black Winch – Yann Toutant brought insights from circular business strategy and advisory work, highlighting the organisational and financial challenges of scaling circular models
• Supercycle – Ryan Atkins discussed tackling e-bike refurbishment and how service-based models can support both sustainable transport and profitable growth
• Circularity.fm – Patrick Hypscher highlighted product-as-a-service models and the importance of building flexible, modular tech stacks that enable iteration and long-term resilience
• Leah Pollen – emphasised that circularity alone doesn’t automatically solve issues like waste or planned obsolescence, but that models such as device leasing can align incentives and create meaningful opportunities for reuse and longer product life
• Lucy Wishart – explored how reducing “consumer work” through seamless services like delivery, setup, and return can make rental experiences more attractive, and how community engagement can amplify the reach and impact of circular models

✨ In this episode:

• We reflect on the wider context, including why global circularity has fallen to just 6.9%
• We explore insights from guests tackling logistics, finance, customer experience and design for durability
• We hear how service excellence and reducing “consumer work” are proving key to rental adoption
• We discuss the role of technology, from scrappy spreadsheets to IoT and APIs, and why flexibility matters
• We highlight the importance of ecosystems, partnerships and mindset shifts inside organisations
• We share our takeaways so far, and what we’re excited to explore in the rest of the season

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

Refulfil: https://refulfil.com | Danai Osmond on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaiosmond/

Baboodle: https://www.baboodle.co.uk | Katie Hanton-Parr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiehanton/

Black Winch: https://www.blackwinch.com | Yann Toutant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asaservicebyyanntoutant/

Supercycle: https://www.supercycle.shop | Ryan Atkins on...

How to Build Circular Commerce Infrastructure with Bob Jansen

What makes a rental or product-as-a-service (PaaS) business model work, and what role does technology really play in making that happen?

In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Bob Jansen, founder of Firmhouse, a recurring commerce platform enabling subscription, rental and PaaS business models. Bob shares lessons from his journey, from building MVPs as an agency to helping major brands like Philips pilot rental models and now supporting a wide range of circular and subscription businesses across Europe.

We explore the operational complexity of rental and PaaS businesses, the ongoing challenge of accessing capital, and why convenience and service are often bigger customer drivers than sustainability alone.

✨ In this episode:

• Bob reflects on the financing challenges that continue to block scale for circular rental models
• We hear examples of real-world companies using Firmhouse, from kids’ bike subscriptions to coffee and consumables
• Bob explains how hybrid models like revenue sharing are emerging to address financial barriers
• We discuss how Firmhouse is using AI to both speed up internal development and enable smarter, simpler features for users
• Bob shares how the team is building “digital teammates” that help customers operate more efficiently and with fewer resources
• We explore the nuts and bolts of the Firmhouse platform, from logistics and localisation to return management and ID checks
• Bob talks about building toward “planet positive” business infrastructure and what progress, not perfection, looks like in circularity

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

Firmhouse: https://firmhouse.com

Bikeflip: https://bikeflip.com/

Tiny Library: https://tinylibrary.nl/en

Baboodle: https://www.baboodle.co.uk

The Good Roll: https://thegoodroll.nl/

Boldking: https://www.boldking.com/en

Coolblue (NL): https://www.coolblue.nl/en

Ayden: https://www.adyen.com/

Swapfiets: https://swapfiets.com/

Mollie:https://www.mollie.com/gb/

👤 About our guest:

Bob Jansen is the founder of Firmhouse, a recurring commerce platform supporting circular and subscription models across Europe. He brings a decade of experience building digital products and enabling sustainable business models. Firmhouse powers rental and subscription businesses in durable and consumable categories, offering tools for checkouts, logistics, ID verification and more.

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobjansen

Learn more about Firmhouse: https://firmhouse.com

🌍 About HappyPorch:

HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. We believe technology plays a vital role in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss.

If you're working on circular economy solutions, we’d love to support your journey, whether through fractional CTO services, full product teams or practical guidance.

Learn more at...

How Tech Enables Circular Innovation – with Patrick Hypscher

What does it really take to build circular business models — and how can technology accelerate that transformation?

In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Patrick Hypscher, a circular business strategist, advisor, and the voice behind Circularity.fm. Patrick brings unique insights from working at the intersection of digital innovation and the circular economy — from launching a software startup to building BlueMovement, a home appliance subscription service inside Bosch Siemens Home Appliances (BSH).

We explore the vital role of technology in enabling, scaling, and adapting circular models, particularly product-as-a-service (PaaS). Patrick shares honest reflections on what worked, what didn’t, and how thoughtful use of digital tools can remove friction, support iteration, and accelerate progress.

In this episode:

Patrick explains why building in-house tech is often unnecessary — and even risky — for early-stage PaaS ventures.

We discuss how SaaS tools, APIs, and no-code platforms offer the flexibility needed to support fast iteration and growth.

Patrick explores the enabling role of IoT and remote condition monitoring in rental and performance-based models.

He shares real-world examples, including cooling-as-a-service from Kaer, pay-per-part manufacturing at Trumpf, HP Instant Ink, and Hilti subscriptions.

We reflect on organisational culture, channel conflict, and internal buy-in — and how to navigate these in large businesses.

Finally, we explore the importance of iteration, adaptability, and learning cycles when piloting circular models.

This episode offers practical insights for anyone working at the intersection of digital systems and circular design.

Mentioned in this episode:

BlueMovement (BSH): https://www.bluemovement.com/nl-en

Kaer – Cooling-as-a-Service: https://www.kaer.com/

Trumpf – Pay-per-Part Manufacturing: https://www.trumpf.com/en_INT/

HP Instant Ink: https://instantink.hpconnected.com/uk/en/l/v2

Hilti Tool Subscriptions: https://www.hilti.co.uk/content/hilti/E1/GB/en/support/support/faqs/subscription-portal/general-subscription-portal.html

About our guest:

Patrick Hypscher is a circular strategist and the host of Circularity.fm, where he interviews founders and practitioners building real-world circular business models. With a background in economics, philosophy, and entrepreneurship, Patrick brings a systems-thinking lens to his work.

He previously led the