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From urban waste to circular value

At SPORO, we believe in closing local cycles and reducing CO₂ emissions and waste.
Whereas materials such as coffee grounds and brewer's grains are usually burned or fermented, we use them as the base of our circular mushroom substrates. Using our unique, energy-efficient sterilisation method, we produce high-quality substrates that are tailored to the needs of exotic and functional mushrooms.
This way, we offer a scalable and circular solution for urban organic waste streams.

Join our mission!
Florian and Mark
Vision

We believe in a future where urban waste regains its value. A future in which circular production, short supply chains, and social inclusion are no longer an exception, but the new norm.
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SPORO wants to be at the forefront of this transition. By upcycling urban waste locally, sharing knowledge, and stimulating cooperation, we are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

Close-up oyster mushroom.
Mission

At SPORO, it is our mission to upcycle urban waste streams into high-quality substrates for mushrooms. We aim to do so locally, efficiently and with social impact. This way, we want to show‍ that waste is not a problem, but a solution to food waste, polluting farming practices and a linear economy that depletes resources.

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SPORO's impact

Our team

At SPORO, we believe that real impact occurs when people with different backgrounds work together on a shared mission. Our team combines years of experience in the mushroom sector with technical, biological and business expertise. Together, we are building a circular future for urban waste streams.

mark
Mark Slegers
Founder & CEO

Mark is co-founder of SPORO, rotterzwam, Cafaberry and BlueCity. He has worked in the mushroom sector since 2013 and is a pioneer in the transition towards a circular and biobased economy. Through the power of entrepreneurship, he wants to create a more sustainable food system.

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Florian
Florian de Deugd
Founder & CTO

Florian is responsible for optimizing SPORO's circular substrate recipes and strategic developments. He has a background in Environmental Biology and has four years of practical experience in circular mushroom cultivation in Rotterzwam, with a strong focus on the valorisation of urban waste streams.

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Mattijs
Mattijs Balemans
Technical expert

Mattijs has a technical background and is responsible for the engineering and optimisation of the machines in our factory. He ensures that all technical processes run smoothly and that the installations remain efficient and reliable.

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Lisa
Lisa Buschman
Strategic advisor & impact coordinator

Lisa has a background in sustainability, business operations and societal transitions. At SPORO, she works on increasing our social impact and improving our internal processes. She also works on SPORO's marketing and funding, in addition to her role as a strategic advisor.

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Would you like to work with us?

Do you want to build a circular, local and inclusive production chain together? Feel free to contact us - we'd love to work together on impactful solutions.

Get in touch
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SPORO is supported by:

SPORO is building a demonstration plant in Rotterdam for the circular production of substrate for functional and exotic mushrooms. In our factory, we convert local urban waste streams into new valuable raw materials, with the aim of building local sustainable food chains and strengthening the circular economy. Our factory is made possible by our partners.

Municipality of Rotterdam logoEuropean Union logo with the text: co-funded by the European UnionGemeente Rotterdam logoRabo Foundation logo West logo opportunities
Contact us
010-3071923info@sporo.nl
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