Refurbed founder Kilian Kaminski on circular tech and growth
In a recent episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Kilian Kaminski, co-founder of the refurbished electronics marketplace Refurbed, shared how his company is turning the circular economy into a scalable business model across Europe. Speaking about the early days, Kaminski described how frustration with short product lifecycles and mounting electronic waste led him to build a platform focused on high-quality, renewed devices.
Building trust in refurbished electronics
Kaminski emphasized that the biggest barrier for refurbished products is consumer trust. To address this, Refurbed imposes strict quality controls, long-term warranties and transparent grading standards on its sellers. According to Kaminski, these measures are essential to convince mainstream buyers that refurbished smartphones, laptops and tablets can match new devices in performance while significantly lowering their environmental footprint.
He noted that the platform’s growth is closely tied to rising awareness of e-waste and the climate impact of hardware production. By extending the lifecycle of electronics, Refurbed aims to reduce both emissions and raw material consumption, positioning itself at the intersection of technology and sustainability.
Scaling a sustainable marketplace across Europe
Operational discipline and market expansion
Discussing expansion, Kaminski highlighted the operational complexity behind a pan-European marketplace. Local regulations, logistics and after-sales service all need to be aligned to maintain a consistent customer experience. The company focuses on data-driven processes and strong partnerships with professional refurbishers to keep defect rates low and margins sustainable.
Investor interest and long-term vision
Investor appetite for climate-focused marketplaces has helped fuel the firm’s growth, but Kaminski stressed that profitability and responsible scaling remain core priorities. He argued that sustainable business models must be commercially competitive, not just mission-driven, if they are to transform mass-market consumer behavior.
Looking ahead, Kaminski sees refurbished electronics moving from niche to default choice for many European consumers, driven by economic pressure, regulatory support for the circular economy and shifting attitudes toward ownership and waste.