Portfolio Company Founder Spotlight: Julia Minici

Name: Julia Minici
Company: Afterwind
Role: CEO & Founder

Turner MIINT Milestone: Winner of the $50,000 Moelis Family Prize, 2024 

About: Afterwind® exists to preserve natural resources for future generations by recycling glass fiber assets into circular advanced materials with full traceability.

They help asset owners and industrial manufacturers in Advanced Materials, Renewable Energy, and Construction recover and reuse end-of-life and byproduct materials without compromising their original properties, including glass and carbon fibers, PET and PVC foams, and resin powders.

Q: What was your experience like working with Turner MIINT students?

A: Working with Zeib Khwaja, Yen Tran, and Shahvir Pooniwala from the London Business School was a real highlight. They were sharp, well-prepared, and extremely committed. They understood our business quickly and asked thoughtful, strategic questions. When they pitched us, they did it with clarity and confidence. What impressed me most was that they believed in our potential even before we fully saw it ourselves. That outside conviction gave us energy at an important moment.

Q: Have any of those relationships continued beyond the competition?

A: Yes, and that is one of the most valuable outcomes. They stayed involved as our Next Gen Advisory Board. Through them, we also welcomed Malvika Nagarkoti to the board. Today, we continue to involve them in discussions about how to future-proof the company — from strategy and governance to long-term growth and impact. They challenge us in the right way and help us think ahead.

Q: How did the Turner MIINT program and investment affect your company?

A: The program came at exactly the right time. It increased our visibility and credibility when we needed it most. It helped us attract our first professional capital investment beyond founder funding and positioned us on a global stage. It was more than funding — it was validation of our company.

Q: How has your company achieved impact post-MIINT investment? 

A: Since Turner MIINT, we have moved decisively into scale-up, signing development and offtake agreements, and closing our seed round while expanding the team and building our full industrial recycling line in Sweden. We also have gone on to win competitive EU programs such as WomenTechEU and Supernovas, strengthened our IP position, and took leadership roles in European circular economy initiatives. The momentum from the Turner MIINT program translated into capital, revenue, contracts, infrastructure, and strong strategic positioning for long-term growth.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about this experience?

A: If students approach you to present your company at Turner MIINT — say yes. Whether you win or not, the strategic thinking, structured analysis, and fresh perspective the student teams bring are extremely valuable. The investor memo they created for us is still being shared and read by VCs today. That alone shows the long-term value of the program. Give them time, trust, and access — and you will gain much more than you expect.