Ebay expands Circular Fashion Fund into Switzerland

Ebay is expanding its Circular Fashion Fund in 2026 and opening applications to companies and start-ups in the EU, Switzerland and Canada for the first time. Eight selected companies will each receive USD 50,000 in funding and mentoring to develop innovative solutions that extend the life of clothing and reduce textile waste.

The annual program, which was first launched in 2022, supports entrepreneurs who are tackling the environmental footprint of the fashion and textile industry from production to end of life. One outstanding company is also named the «Global Winner» of the Circular Fashion Fund and receives the opportunity to receive an additional investment of USD 300,000 from Ebay Ventures.

Total funding amount reaches USD 1.9 million

With this expansion, Ebay's total global funding through the program is expected to reach USD 1.9 million by the end of 2026. In addition to this year's expansion into new markets, the Circular Fashion Fund is building on its established presence in the UK, Germany, Australia and the US. Applications for 2026 are open now in all markets until March 8, 2026.

Alexis Hoopes, Vice President and Global Head of Fashion at Ebay, said: «When we launched the Circular Fashion Fund, our goal was to support businesses that are moving from ambition to action in the circular economy. Over the past three years, we've seen promising solutions emerge in areas such as textile recycling, resale and repair, but these businesses need capital and support to grow. With this expansion, we are helping more founders build the infrastructure to make circular fashion a permanent part of the fashion industry.»

Focus on Swiss innovation culture

Paolo Levoni, General Manager Switzerland at Ebay, explains: «Switzerland has an incredibly strong culture of innovation and many creative minds who are committed to sustainability. That's why we are particularly pleased to be launching the Circular Fashion Fund here too. We are convinced that Swiss start-ups with their smart solutions have the potential to advance the circular economy in fashion not only locally, but also globally. I would like to invite all entrepreneurs to seize this opportunity and apply.»

Since 2022, Ebay's Circular Fashion Fund has supported over 25 companies with funding and mentoring. This helps to overcome one of the biggest challenges for fashion start-ups: access to the right partners, contacts and industry networks needed for growth.

Success story Refiberd

This is shown by the example of Refiberd: the company from California was named «Global Winner» in 2025 and received an additional investment of USD 300,000 from Ebay Ventures. With its AI technology, it can identify the exact fiber composition of clothing. This enables very precise recycling and helps the company to expand its business model more quickly.

The new participants will be advised by a jury of well-known industry experts. These include Marianne Perkovic (Chairwoman of the Australian Fashion Council), Steven Kolb (CEO of the CFDA) and Scott Lipinski (CEO of the Fashion Council Germany). A special highlight: Sarika Bajaj, the co-founder of Refiberd, is also a former winner on the jury.

«Ebay's support has been truly transformative for our company,» says Sarika Bajaj, co-founder of Refiberd. «The funding and mentorship has allowed us to scale our technology faster and expand our reach in the circular economy ecosystem. The program has also given us access to Ebay's expertise as a long-standing player in the industry and opened up new opportunities for collaboration and partnerships. All of this together allows us to offer our solution to a wider network of brands, recyclers and ultimately consumers who are committed to a more sustainable future for fashion.»