Local start-up financial assistance or Sustainable Business
Our university provides several financial assistance programs to the local community, assisting with the start-up of sustainable businesses. The entrepreneurs applying to the TÜBİTAK BİGG (Individual Young Entrepreneurship) Program for a business grant are accompanied by expert trainers and mentors from ITU Cekirdek in the work plan preparation process. Additionally, the start-ups admitted to ITUÇEKİRDEK can use the 800 m2 open office located in ARI 3 (Technocity in İTÜ) building in Maslak, free of charge as a work office. They also benefit from special opportunities such as discounts, subscriptions, or free use in many areas that will facilitate their business processes, such as cloud systems, payment systems, accounting, or social life support. With Express, which is positioned as a faster pre-incubation period, in addition to the ITU Cekirdek pre-incubation opportunities, entrepreneurs can meet ITU Cekirdek stakeholder institutions and organizations faster, meet with investors earlier, and give fewer share options for pre-incubation services.
BİGG Program
Within the scope of the program, entrepreneurs deemed eligible by TÜBİTAK are provided with an investment of up to 900,000 TL through the TÜBİTAK BİGG Fund in exchange for a 3% equity share.
TÜBİTAK BİGG (Individual Young Entrepreneurship) Program is a grant program that supports the activities of entrepreneurs from the idea stage to the market so that they can implement their technology and innovation-oriented business ideas. Within the scope of the program, 200.000 TL non-refundable grant support is provided by TUBITAK to successful entrepreneurs.
ITU Çekirdek - Incubation Center
Founded in 2011 with the visionary approach of ITU and ARI Teknokent, ITU Çekirdek has supported technological startups in different sectors since its establishment, aiming to make them fast-growing with scalable business models startups. Celebrating its 10th year and ranked the number one university-linked incubation center in the world by UBI Global, İTÜ Çekirdek provides technology entrepreneurs at different stages with inspiration and contributes to their market success.
300 MILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENTS RECEIVED BY STARTUPS (434 STARTUPS)
300 MILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL REVENUE OF STARTUPS
Big Bang Startup Challenge
Big Bang Startup Challenge is organized by İTÜ Çekirdek, which was established by İTÜ ARI Teknokent to support technology startups and selected as the “World’s Best University Incubation Center” by UBI Global. The Big Bang Startup Challenge brings startups together with the business and investment world. In this way, entrepreneurs become the focus of investors and funds and meet potential customers by meeting with their initial capital.
ITU ARI Teknokent
Active in ITU Ayazağa Campus, ITU ARI Teknokent has been founded on an area of 1,655,000 m2 with 10 buildings with more than 380 technology companies built. It employs more than 8,000 R&D personnel and has completed more than 5,800+ successful R&D projects, with a total of 11+ billion dollars R&D income with its companies; It has realized a total export of 1+ billion dollars.
Success Stories
Local start-ups of financially and socially sustainable businesses assisted by ITU Çekirdek:
Algae Biodisesel
Algae Biodiesel produces biofuels and chemicals from microalgae by purifying wastewater and flue gases to reduce global warming.
Biriktir
Biriktir, a gamified app that develops sustainable environmental technologies to combat the climate crisis, helps individuals and corporate employees develop sustainable green habits, preventing and measuring carbon footprints. It also creates a two-way benefit by offering users various rewards for completing green tasks within the app and encouraging them to participate in social responsibility projects.
Bluearf
Bluearf enables companies to perform calculations, analysis and reporting without the need for complex tasks, expertise and pre-calculations, thanks to its AI-powered sustainability management platform.
Pfister
It is an aerator design that allows saving 350-400 tons of water per year in a tap.
GreenFi
AI software for ESG due-diligence and risk management for banks and businesses
Laska
It obtains valuable raw materials and electrical energy from rubber-based waste by thermo-chemical method.
MYCONOM
It is the design and production of composite materials that can be completely degraded in nature in a short time using mushroom micelles in order to reduce the use of petroleum-based materials that cause environmental pollution and carbon emissions.
Nanomik
Nanomik develops natural preservatives that keep food and agricultural products as fresh as the first day without spoiling.
YUGEN
By upcycling waste pomegranate peels, POMECO offers a plant-based, leather-alternative, durable bio-material that can be used in the fashion, automotive and furniture sectors.
REPG
RePG is a 100% domestic patented deep technology initiative that produces energy (electricity, heating and cooling) and water by using the humidity and temperature differences in the environment (air, water, gas, geothermal, etc.).
WASTE LOG
Contributing to the sustainability goals of institutions and facilitating waste management through digital transformation, Waste Log optimizes waste processes by combining transparency and effective tracking.
Lingify
This innovative startup, founded by twin siblings at ITU Arı Teknokent, develops science-based and AI-powered digital health solutions to improve the quality of life for individuals with speech and language disorders.
The siblings, one a Speech and Language Therapist and the other a Psychology and Nutrition and Dietetics graduate, combine their expertise from different disciplines to transform science into a solution that improves people's quality of life.
