{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/62dfcddf4f4d8b00124d226a/69e8aff00b4baf3bf28d005c?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"How Retapp’s AI and design are revolutionising e-waste management","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62dfcddf4f4d8b00124d226a/1777305960091-a435bc54-fa6b-4d79-8a12-1cb82ec00b85.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>This episode of the Cambridge Tech Podcast tackled one of the industry's most overlooked crises: electronic waste. We spoke with Sonia Lange Ramontja, founder of Retapp, about building a sustainable business that's as profitable as it is purposeful.</p><p><br></p><p>Here's a sobering statistic: <strong>e-waste constitutes 70% of all toxic waste globally</strong>, yet it remains largely invisible in mainstream conversations. Sonia recognised this gap and built Retapp to address it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Retapp ran a successful pilot from July to September 2025, collecting <strong>860 kilos of electronics</strong> across five pop-up events in collaboration with Cambridge City Council. The product is now live on both App Store and Google Play.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Retapp's platform combines consumer-friendly design with intelligent automation:</p><ul><li>Users scan devices using the app (phones, laptops, toasters—anything with a plug or battery)</li><li>AI identifies categories, estimates weight, and calculates resale value or eco-points</li><li>Users choose drop-off or collection options</li><li>Optional data erasure certificates available for enhanced security</li><li>Sustainability metrics track environmental impact</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Retapp also provides detailed device insights to refurbishers and recyclers through a web portal, helping them manage the deluge of electronics without overwhelming their operations.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Currently fundraising their pre-seed round, Retapp is seeking investors who understand the circular economy and recognise this as a genuine business opportunity. With EU circular economy regulations tightening and extended producer responsibility (EPR) becoming mandatory, the timing couldn't be better.</p><p> </p><p>Listen to the full episode on the Cambridge Tech Podcast and subscribe for weekly updates on the region's most exciting founders and innovations.</p><p><br></p><p>Headline sponsor Holden Polestar</p><p>#CamTechPod</p>","author_name":"James Parton & Faye Holland"}