İTÜ Çekirdek Incubation Center is the right place for entrepreneurs and startups with technological and innovative business ideas, who believe their concepts can be transformed into innovative and commercial ventures!
Ranked as the “World’s Best Incubator” in the toughest and largest category by UBI Global, which compares data on services, performance, and outcomes from over 1.895 incubators and accelerators across 94 countries, İTÜ Çekirdek supports entrepreneurs aiming to turn their ideas into marketable products or services. At İTÜ Çekirdek, entrepreneurs are provided with everything they need, including open office space, mini MBA/entrepreneurship training, technical infrastructure support, and access to laboratories.
Since 2011, İTÜ Çekirdek has worked with thousands of startups, hundreds of institutions, mentors, and investors from Turkey and around the world to promote tech entrepreneurship, support entrepreneurs, and contribute to the development of technologies that impact society.
Every year, thousands of entrepreneurial teams apply to İTÜ Çekirdek. Applications come from 76 different countries, including the UK, the US, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, and France, as well as all 81 provinces of Türkiye.
Since its inception, İTÜ Çekirdek has supported more than 4.700 startups and 11.000 entrepreneurs. These startups have attracted over 270 million USD in investments, with a total valuation exceeding 3 billion USD and combined revenues of over 200 million USD. More than 11.500 jobs have been created, and 1.600 companies have been established.
Where Investments Thrive: İTÜ Çekirdek
As ITU ARI Teknokent’s Incubation Center and Türkiye’s hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, İTÜ Çekirdek continues to attract significant investments. In 2023 alone, İTÜ Çekirdek startups received a total of 1.24 billion TL in funding.
İTÜ Çekirdek Application Process
Applications to İTÜ Çekirdek can be submitted online via the website: https://basvuru.itucekirdek.com
There are 3 main categories at İTÜ Çekirdek: Pre-Incubation, Express, and BİGG | İTÜ Çekirdek.
- BİGG | İTÜ Çekirdek: For entrepreneurs with a product at the prototype stage or soon to hit the market, seeking to join TÜBİTAK 1812 and receive a grant of 900.000 TL.
- Pre-Incubation: For entrepreneurs at the prototype/product development stage or recently entered the market, looking to make their first sales, validate their market, and connect with investors and corporate firms for growth.
- Express: For entrepreneurs with a market-validated product, established company, and existing sales, aiming to increase sales and quickly connect with investors and corporate firms.
ITU Çekirdek 2022 by the Numbers
Big Bang | Startup Challenge
One of the world’s leading entrepreneurship events, the Big Bang Startup Challenge, has been organized by İTÜ Çekirdek since 2012, showcasing the best new startups each year. This event connects entrepreneurs with the business and investment world, helping them attract attention from investors and funds, secure initial capital, and meet potential customers.
As Türkiye’s largest entrepreneurship stage, the Big Bang Startup Challenge introduces entrepreneurs to investors and funds, provides financial support during the incorporation stage, and helps them meet potential customers. So far, a prize pool exceeding 1.28 billion TL, including cash and investments, has been made available to entrepreneurs.
Among the startups developing at İTÜ Çekirdek, those closest to the market are selected to present at the Big Bang stage, where potential entrepreneurs and investors in the audience can discover innovative ideas and business models and connect with rising startups.
The 50 startups selected to present on the Big Bang stage, along with an additional 50 startups in the exhibition area, had the chance to introduce themselves to the media, stakeholders, business partners, investors, and potential customers. Furthermore, the most successful startups chosen by İTÜ ARI Teknokent were accepted into İTÜ Çekirdek’s year-long incubation program. All 50 startups presenting on stage were also provided with office space at ITU ARI Teknokent for one year.
Big Bang 2023 Overview