ITU Çekirdek Acceleration
Technological and innovative startups from different sectors and at various stages are accepted into the İTÜ Çekirdek Acceleration Program. The acceleration process provides startups with diverse and comprehensive support to help them build scalable, profitable, fast-growing, and repeatable business models.
Applications to the Acceleration Program are open throughout the year, and startups can join the program in two different ways: Acceleration and Acceleration Express.
You can apply to the Acceleration process.
At the beginning of the process, startups benefit from specially designed Entrepreneurship Trainings, covering topics such as business model, strategy, and finance. In parallel with the training process, they also participate in specialized seminars and workshops on sales, marketing, team development, legal matters, and investment processes.
In addition, startups can use the İTÜ Çekirdek office located within İTÜ ARI Teknokent on the İTÜ Maslak campus free of charge, benefit from the prototyping workshop, have one-on-one meetings with hundreds of expert mentors, connect with İTÜ Çekirdek’s corporate and investor stakeholders, access the İTÜ ARI Teknokent network, and take advantage of a wide range of products—from cloud support to payment systems—at no cost.
Supports We Provide to ITU Çekirdek Startups
Fully Equipped Working Environment
Startups and their teams are given the right to use the open office until the Big Bang Start-up Challenge.
ITU Çekirdek Entrepreneurship Education
The Entrepreneurship Training Program, inspired by the entrepreneurship courses given at Berkeley University and Stanford University, is offered to startups by İTÜ Çekirdek trainers.
Mentor Pool for Entrepreneurs
With more than 500 mentors who are experts in their fields and an approach that closely recognizes the unique talents, capacities and goals of entrepreneurs, they are assisted in many different areas in the process of achieving success.
Investor Meetings
Meetings with Turkey’s leading investors are organized for entrepreneurs, with the aim of enhancing the investment opportunities of entrepreneurs and expanding their networks.
Meetings With Corporate Companies
Sales-oriented Demo Days are organized with more than 40 stakeholder institutions as well as many corporate companies, and entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to meet with industry-specific companies and hold sales meetings.
Special Opportunities For Itu Numbers
Entrepreneurs benefit from more than 41 exclusive opportunities that they may need both individually and for their ventures, free of charge or with certain discount rates.
One-To-One Follow-Up Interviews
One-on-one follow-up meetings are organized with entrepreneurs throughout the process and meetings are held regarding the steps of their projects.
Prototyping Laboratory
Basic engineering equipment is provided in the ITU Çekirdek Prototyping Laboratory to support the process of implementing their projects.
Network
Robust and extensive network is offered to entrepreneurs in the information flow environment provided by the presence of strong academic staff in the ITU campus and with the advantage of being located in the region where ITU ARI Teknokent accomodates advanced technology R&D companies.
Central Location In Istanbul Business Life
In Maslak, which is the heart of Istanbul’s business life, and on the campus of Istanbul Technical University, where a strong technical and scientific environment is experienced, entrepreneurs are provided with an important location advantage.
Press & Pr & Communication Consultancy
Support and professional communication consultancy services are provided for the visibility of entrepreneurs in the national press (newspaper, magazine, television, etc.) and digital media for promotional activities.
Industrial Design Support
ITU Çekirdek; By providing professional support to entrepreneurs in the process of developing their products, the ease of use of products or prototypes, aesthetics, production, material selection, etc. Mentoring and design support are provided by industry professionals who are experts in their fields.
How Does the Acceleration Process Proceed?
Successful startups that benefit from ITU Çekirdek facilities and successfully complete the training process are eligible to take part in the Big Bang of that year, get on the radar of investors and funds, and have the chance to gain local and international recognition.
