Cintia Nunes is the General Manager and Head of Asia of The Mills Fabrica. The Mills Fabrica provides a unique combination of capital, connections, and expertise to innovations within the techstyle and agrifood industries to create planet-positive impact.  

They work with young innovators, startups, VC funds, and brands and corporations that are building in or looking to work with the techstyle, agrifood, and sustainability space.

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👋🏼  How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

My role at The Mills Fabrica revolves around providing the necessary resources (venture capital, incubation support, and ecosystem connections) to bring sustainability tech innovations from idea, lab, to market, specifically in the areas of what we call ‘techstyle’ (textile and apparel) and agrifood tech.

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🧐  What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

There is a common belief that between environmental, social, and financial impact, one cannot have it all.

But through The Mills Fabrica, we’ve been able to demonstrate that we can balance profit and purpose with measurable planet-positive impact.

🏆  What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Seeing our portfolio companies get adopted and recognized!

Last year, Circ, a pioneer in hydrothermal processing technology, and Colorifix, the developer of a biological colorant, were shortlisted for the prestigious environmental award, The Earthshot Prize.

And several of our portfolio companies' technologies have been adopted by major brands such as Zara, Pangaia, and H&M. These achievements also validate the effectiveness of our role as a one-stop collaborative platform for sustainable tech startups.

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🔍  What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

This year, the cocoa industry is one of our subsector focuses under agrifood tech, presenting numerous opportunities.

Did you know that cocoa-free chocolate can be made from fava beans? Creating a more sustainable and resilient food system in the region is of utmost importance, as many people are unaware of the negative impact it can have on the planet.

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💼  What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Working in the impact industry, empathy and staying true to our own values can always guide us towards creating a better and more sustainable future.  

Players in our industry are very collaborative as well, as we understand that by working together, we can achieve win-win outcomes. After all, we share a common stakeholder–mother nature!

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🗣  What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

The future of education.

There is so much more we can do to cultivate empathy from a young age, and the impact of this crucial trait can ripple across every decision and action that makes the world a better place.

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🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Inside Out (can't wait to watch Inside Out 2)! It’s always been my favorite, but now that I’ve just become a mom, I’m finding more meaning in the story.

I look forward to watching it with my baby one day, and see the story through her lens!

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🍨  What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Strawberry cheesecake.

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Working with creative agrifood innovators who make food magic happen (think–chocolate without cocoa) means I am always in search of unexpected flavors. But I always need a scoop of strawberry cheesecake when I see it!