Nicole Toole

Post-pitch story

Nicole Toole pitched ECGO in November 2023 on the episode "Turning Trash Into Treasure With AI." Her company used AI to make recycling smarter, starting with consumers and the question of what can actually go in the bin. ECGO has since moved up the supply chain. In March 2026, Toole launched a new brand and website that reposition the company around data insights for brands and the wider materials value chain. The idea is that the information gathered from how packaging is thrown away is more valuable to the companies making the packaging. The industry noticed: in January 2026, Toole was honored as a Future Leader at Paris Packaging Week, one of the sector's biggest events. We haven't found a public funding announcement since the show, so the growth here is in direction and credibility rather than a headline round. Still, ECGO is a clear example of a founder following the data to a bigger customer.