A university technology incubator at Istanbul Technical University supporting early-stage Turkish founders.
- Location:
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Equity:
- ~3%
What you need to qualify
- At least 18 years old and holding at least a high school diploma
- All university students and graduates are eligible
- Acceleration is for startups still in prototype or product development, or newly launched in the market, and does not require an incorporated company
- Acceleration Express requires an already registered company that is invoicing, with a product validated in the market and existing sales
- BiGG is for prototype stage projects seeking public R&D funding to reach a final product
- İTÜ Çekirdek takes a stock option valid for 3 years in exchange for the support it provides
Eligibility
- Eligible stages
- All stages
- Countries
- Global, subject to the provider’s eligibility and approval
How to apply
- 1
Pick the track that matches your stage
BiGG for a prototype stage project seeking public R&D funding, Acceleration for a product you believe is innovative and commercialisable, Acceleration Express when the business model is ready and you already have customers.
- 2
Create an account on the application portal
Applications are made at basvuru.itucekirdek.com, which opens with a Giriş Yap / Kayıt Ol (log in or register) step, so the form is only reachable after registering.
- 3
Submit the application for the chosen track
The three open calls on the portal are BiGG, Acceleration and Express, and the portal asks you to select the category most suitable for your startup. The form itself sits behind the login, so its questions are not recorded here.
- 4
Agree the stock option before taking a place
Acceleration takes a 3 percent stock option and Acceleration Express a 1 percent stock option, in both cases valid for 3 years, in exchange for the programme's support and services.