Darko Mandich has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the BEAM Circular Accelerator powered by gener8tor, a program dedicated to advancing innovation in the circular bioeconomy and supporting startups that transform agricultural waste into valuable products.
Following the successful launch of its inaugural cohort in February 2025, the accelerator is now accepting applications for its next cohort, with a deadline of Jan.11, 2026. The BEAM Circular Accelerator is a collaborative initiative between BEAM Circular, a nonprofit building a vibrant regional ecosystem for the circular bioeconomy in California's agricultural heartland, and gener8tor, a global venture firm and accelerator network.
As Managing Director, Mandich will lead the BEAM Circular Accelerator in supporting early to mid-stage companies developing groundbreaking solutions in biomanufacturing, waste transformation, and circular solutions in agriculture and natural resources. His expertise as an experienced bioeconomy leader and his commitment to fostering innovation in the circular economy make him an ideal fit for this role.
"Darko's proven track record in building and scaling bioeconomy ventures makes him the ideal leader to guide our accelerator through its next phase of growth," said Karen Warner, CEO at BEAM Circular. "His deep understanding of both the entrepreneurial journey and the circular economy ecosystem will be invaluable to the startups we support. We're excited to have him help us realize our vision of making the San Joaquin Valley a global hub for circular bioeconomy innovation."
Mandich brings extensive experience as a bioeconomy leader who has successfully built and exited a venture-backed bioeconomy company and founded a bioeconomy accelerator in Europe backed by the European Union. In his new role, Mandich will focus on connecting startups with strategic partners from BEAM's extensive network spanning corporate, academic, and science partners, while helping founders secure funding and accelerate their growth.
"I'm thrilled to join the gener8tor - BEAM Circular Accelerator at such an exciting time for the San Joaquin Valley," said Mandich. "This region is America's agricultural heartland, and I believe the next wave of groundbreaking innovation will emerge from entrepreneurs who recognize the incredible opportunity here. Our mission is to ensure that the value created through this tech-driven innovation stays in the region and benefits the local communities. We're starting locally to build something globally sustainable — transforming the way we think about agriculture, waste, and manufacturing to create a truly circular economy."
Applications now open for next cohort
The BEAM Circular Accelerator is now accepting applications for its next cohort, with a deadline of Jan. 11, 2026. The 12-week hybrid program, based in Modesto, Calif., invests in five startups per cohort and offers comprehensive support for circular bioeconomy innovators.
Selected startups will receive $100K in total support from BEAM Circular:
- $15,000 non-dilutive grant – disbursed at program start
- $35,000 investment – disbursed at program completion
- $50,000 in California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus credits
In addition to funding, participants receive:
- gener8tor's 12-week concierge accelerator program – with world-class mentors to prepare startups’ go-to-market strategy, strategic partnerships, and investment readiness
- Strategic network access – connections to leading bioeconomy companies, organizations, and academic and science institutions, as well as BEAM Circular's innovation ecosystem
- Startup deals and perks – from partners including AWS, IBM Cloud, Microsoft, PayPal, Zendesk, and HubSpot
- Showcase event – pitch to an exclusive audience of investors, entrepreneurs, and community leaders
Throughout the program, startups receive individualized coaching during bi-weekly one-on-one meetings and benefit from 100+ connections to serial entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors. Participants also gain access to lab and office space in the region.
The San Joaquin Valley is uniquely positioned to support circular bioeconomy innovation due to its combination of large-scale agriculture and abundant feedstocks, heavy concentration of manufacturing activities with relevant workforce and supply chain infrastructure, and proximity to world-leading centers of biotechnology innovation and venture capital resources in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Founders developing solutions in sustainable agriculture, renewable bioresources, circular manufacturing, waste reduction, and other areas of the circular bioeconomy are encouraged to apply at www.gener8tor.com/investment-accelerators/beam-circular.