There is a pressing need to address environmental problems such as resource depletion, climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, etc. and transition to a more sustainable socio-technical system.To address the mentioned challenges the concept of the Circular Economy (CE) has recently gained significant importance. Central to this relatively new sustainability paradigm is the emphasis on new business models (BM).All over the world, mission-driven entrepreneurs are bringing fresh, disruptive innovations to market in response to some of these challenges. The potential is there, and many sustainability-oriented incubators are appearing, but this phenomenon is far from mainstream and not methodologically implemented. On the contrary, even some basic knowledge on how to reactively deal with environmental and social regulatory and societal demands is absent from the training offers and counselling many incubators offer to start-ups. The idea of CircularStart is grounded on the recognition that there is a lack of know-how and training of start-ups and entrepreneurs in the field of sustainability, CE and their opportunities. In order to be successful, this knowledge needs to be easily integrated into the business idea development and decision-making process, i.e. there is a need for training supported by practical tools that are compatible with well-known BM development methods like e.g. the Business Model Canvas.Therefore, the aim of this project is to develop an interactive guidance tool and related eLearning resources as well as a training program for incubators and consultants to support start-ups to understand, evaluate and improve sustainability issues related to their BM. They should offer a comprehensive guide over the whole BM design process, covering the Initiation, Ideation and Integration phase. The tool and training materials will be developed to be used in direct personal context (such as a classroom, a workshop or a counselling meeting) and as self-study-based eLearning resources.Accordingly, the consortium consists of nine partners representing universities and research centres that for many years have been working on sustainable products, services and businesses, and incubators/accelerators or organizations that represent them, from four distinct EU countries (Austria, Spain, Slovenia and Portugal). The partnership represents different socio-economic, regulatory and financial backgrounds which are essential to ensure that the project responds to the start-ups’ needs in a meaningful and reproducible way across the EU.In the long term, the project will promote and support the development of sustainable BMs across Europe and raise awareness among start-ups, their consultants and investors on the need for more sustainable products, solutions and businesses. Accessible, easy to use and internationally founded eLearning materials and competence building support this. Moreover, the implementation of the project results and their impact will directly or indirectly benefit, beyond the project, society (generating new jobs, new skills, international cooperation…), the economy (generating new business models, wealth sharing…) and the environment (extending the permanence of materials in the economy, optimizing the materials and reducing waste).The project is structured to develop three Intellectual Outputs:O1 - Guidance tool for integrating Circular Economy aspects into Business ModelsO2 - eLearning resources on integrating Circular Economy aspects into Business ModelsO3 - Circular Economy Business Model awarding schemeThe intellectual outputs will be developed through a number of activities:• Definition of the methodology for the guidance tool which integrates CE aspects into the development of BM. The structure of the well-known BM Canvas will be used as a reference and sustainability criteria will be integrated along its nine elements• Elaboration of training resources focused on the integration of sustainability in BMs• Definition of the specifications of the tool and eLearning resources and subsequent programming. The guidance tool and eLearning resources with other relevant content such as examples will be programmed and integrated in a web-platform• Testing the training materials. The eLearning resources and tools will be tested at two different levels: expert business coaches' level (internal and external) and start-up level• Development of criteria to evaluate the circularity of BM to identify the BMs with a higher sustainability impact besides other important business criteria• Evaluation of the circularity and sustainability of the BMs developed by start-ups based on the use of the CircularStart guidance tool and training materials• Definition of the award setting and implementation. National Award Ceremonies will take place in each country with the aim of disseminating the CircularStart project results and multiplying the methods and tools for further implementation.