While working for a private equity fund that invested in large waste management plants, Javier Rojo found himself wondering if there wasn’t a more efficient approach to waste management.

Using his expertise in engineering and private equity, he set out to develop a technology to make waste management more local and more environmentally friendly.

Quantum Waste started in 2011 in Javier’s backyard, where the technology was tested on food waste from neighbours. By 2012, Imperial College agreed to implement the technology.

Today, Quantum Waste is beginning to gain traction in the private sector, working with companies like Crossrail and Fareshare, and aspires to grow into the public sector.

Q&A with Javier Rojo, co-founder of Quantum Waste

We asked him about his experience and reflections on starting up.

Is competition with big corporates an issue for you?

They say that nobody ever got fired for hiring IBM, right? You just choose a big company and you are set. Nobody can blame you for choosing the big waste management company. If you choose Quantum Waste and something goes wrong people may turn to you and say, “Why did you go with these small guys?” So we have to build our reputation little by little and this is going to be a long-term effort.

What types of challenges is Quantum Waste facing at the moment?

Something that I am finding quite difficult is recruitment and I think it’s a combination of factors, but the main one probably is that people have a bad image of waste management and its prospects for career development. We want to convince people that waste management is a way to create local jobs for local people. It offers long-term opportunities without the need for subsidies and tax payers’ money to support big companies and current practices.

How helpful was your corporate career in building up Quantum Waste?

Very helpful, as I had a good understanding of the different corporate functions, regulations, and business development stages. Funding was probably the easiest part for us, because of my private equity background. I know what investors are looking for, I am able to talk their language, so that they could understand what it is that we’re trying to do.