ITU ARI Teknokent on Media
A Strategic Collaboration Between ITU ARI Teknokent and Marketing Türkiye
The New Phase of ITU ÇEKİRDEK'S “GROWTH PROGRAM” HAS BEGUN
Türkiye’s technology and innovation hub, ITU ARI Teknokent, aims to provide its entrepreneurs with acceleration support throughout the year on their journey from product to success under the ITU Çekirdek Growth Program, while also targeting to equip them with strategic competencies.
In the second year of the “Marketing Coaching” project, implemented in collaboration with Marketing Türkiye, 36 technology startups have begun receiving sector-specific coaching from 28 leading marketing executives (CMOs). Startups participating in the Growth Program have received over $206 million in investment to date.
Türkiye’s technology and innovation hub, ITU ARI Teknokent, provides acceleration support to its entrepreneurs throughout the year as part of the ITU Çekirdek Growth Program, aiming to help them on their journey from product to success while also equipping them with strategic competencies. The 36 startups accepted into the Growth Program operate in seven different verticals: Energy, Learning and Talent, Automotive and Mobility, Life Sciences, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, E-Commerce and Platforms, and ITU Seed (International Acceleration Program).
C-Level marketing support for technology startups
The “Marketing Coaching” project, launched for the first time last year as part of the program, brings together ITU Core Growth Program entrepreneurs and members of the Marketing Turkey C Level Club. As part of the project, leading Marketing Directors (CMOs) will take the stage at Turkey's largest entrepreneurship event, Big Bang Startup Challenge, and provide marketing coaching for one year to 36 startups selected for the 2026 Growth program.
The “Marketing Coaching Project,” which aims to enhance startups' marketing capabilities, enables them to gain strategic advantages in reaching wider audiences with their projects. Going beyond a traditional training process, the project features an interactive platform based on mutual learning, where startups have the opportunity to work directly with leading marketing professionals in the industry to strengthen their position in the market.
Mutual learning model in the entrepreneurship ecosystem
Commenting on the subject, Prof. Attila Dikbaş, General Manager of ITU ARI Teknokent, stated that this structure aims to help start-ups develop their marketing skills, position their brands correctly and communicate more effectively with their target audiences. He added that it deepens the strategic vision of the ITU Çekirdek Growth Programme.
Prof. Dikbaş emphasised that the coaching process, which brings together entrepreneurs and marketing leaders, is not limited to the transfer of knowledge. He stated that this structure progresses through mutual learning, experience sharing and joint value creation. Prof. Dikbaş said: 'We do not want to limit Turkey's technology exports to technical expertise alone. We want startups with strong marketing competencies to achieve a much more effective position in the global arena. Our goal is to create value while doing our job. When you do the job right and add value, the ecosystem grows and all stakeholders win. This project offers a powerful meeting ground for innovative ideas to flourish, for both entrepreneurs and marketing professionals. I have personally witnessed the enthusiasm that our start-ups have for this coaching process. I would like to thank all our coaches who contribute to this and put in the effort.
Marketing Türkiye Editor-in-Chief Günseli Özen commented on the collaboration, stating: 'Today, marketing is far more than just the art of storytelling. It sits at the intersection of strategic thinking, intuition and bold decision-making. For start-ups to secure a strong position in global competition, they need technology, of course, but they also need the right positioning, insight and storytelling skills. That is why I find the Marketing Coaching project that we launched as part of the ITU Çekirdek Growth Programme so valuable. It brings together experience and youthful energy, creating lasting value for the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the world of marketing. At Marketing Türkiye, we will always support projects that share knowledge, increase impact, and build the future together.”
Startups participating in the Growth Programme received $206 million in investment.
Designed by ITU ARI Teknokent for advanced-stage entrepreneurs, the ITU Çekirdek Growth Programme continues to strengthen its position at the heart of Turkey's entrepreneurial ecosystem year on year. Having supported 270 start-ups and 530 entrepreneurs to date, the programme provides comprehensive technical and strategic support to help start-ups establish a more effective market presence.
Startups that have joined the Growth Programme after succeeding at Turkey's largest entrepreneurship event, the Big Bang Startup Challenge, have raised over $206 million to date. The programme's contribution is not limited to financial results; it also paves the way for long-term, sustainable growth by offering strategic insights into startup market entry and scaling processes.
