WasteFlow: The Venture Leader Cleantech improving recycling operations

29.09.2025 10:30, Rita Longobardi

Meet Théophile Agresti, CEO of WasteFlow. The Cleantech startup is streamlining recycling facilities by developing an AI-powered copilot that monitors operations and boosts efficiency, allowing operators to optimize performance without major new investments. In November, Théophile and the other nine Swiss National Cleantech Team members will travel to Munich on a business development and investor roadshow.

Name: Théophile Agresti
Location: Lausanne
Nationality: French
Graduated from: EPFL, ETH
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 11
Money raised: CHF 1.3M


Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
WasteFlow builds an AI copilot for waste-sorting and recycling facilities that uses RGB-D cameras and computer vision to quantify composition, estimate mass and volume, and detect dangerous objects like batteries in real time; the system translates insights into operational actions such as alerting, risk mitigation, and PLC-ready conveyor-speed control to cut downtime, increase yield, and improve safety.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Our beachhead market is European sorting facilities in Switzerland, France, and Germany, a large and fast-digitizing segment where we expand from paper and plastics lines to multi-line risk monitoring, energy optimization, and eventually full facility “digital twin” analytics; the long-term potential is a data layer that improves decisions across the circular-economy value chain.
 

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How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
At first, we were looking for industries where we could use our technical skills to have a positive impact. We looked into the concept of green premium to understand how to maximize our impact. The recycling industry popped as an industry that was behind in technologies, and where these unaddressed inefficiencies represented a huge impact on global emissions. We spent the first weeks understanding the facilities challenges, and after we signed the first contracts, we co-developed with our customers the exact product that they needed.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
Market validation in Germany, intros to pilot partners and strategic investors, and sharper GTM (positioning, pricing, channels). We also want feedback from industrial automation/OEM players and peer founders to accelerate partnerships and execution.
 

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What are your team’s key achievements to date?
>  Early PMF & proximity: MVP validated on production lines with first recurring customer deals; on-site co-development with operators to tie features to ROI and safety.

>  Go-to-market: Distributor agreement with Protun AG (Switzerland & Liechtenstein); live pilot with Retripa (Vernier) proving operational gains.

>  Pipeline & demand: High-value sales pipeline across CH/FR/DE with strong inbound interest and ongoing discussions with major European players in recycling and industrial automation (pilot scoping and rollout planning underway).

>  Product & R&D: Semi-automatic labeling pipeline, depth-based volume estimation R&D, and a lab test bench for PLC-connected conveyor-speed control.

>  Recognition & programs:  EU/CH proposal progress (WASTE2H2); Innosuisse SIP pathway aligned with our milestones. Discussion with the technology fund, CITEO, and ecoembes for future projects.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
Build with our customers is the most important principle, measure ROI, and put safety and trust first. Our core values are Purpose, Ingenuity, and Trust—practical solutions, transparent metrics, and long-term partnerships.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Product-market fit is earned through relentless customer proximity—sit by the conveyor, watch failures, price the pain in euros, co-design fixes, and kill anything that doesn’t move the KPI. Focus beats breadth. Solve real pain with data, ship small and iterate, document early (tech + governance), and keep ruthless prioritization to avoid distraction.

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
Notion as a single source of truth with lightweight templates (one-pagers, checklists); a daily “Top-3” to enforce prioritization; 1-hour time-boxed sprints to maintain momentum. We deliberately simplify: strip noise, focus on the few priorities that move the KPI, and execute as a team—clear owners, short feedback loops, and no need to tackle everything at once.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
Mountain guide—passed down by my father. It still shapes how I work: prepare well, move deliberately, and keep the team safe while pushing for the summit.