1.4.2 Local start-up financial assistance

Our university provides several financial assistance to the local community assisting 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 ITUCekirdek stakeholder institutions and organizations faster, meet with investors earlier and give less share options for pre-incubation services.

BİGG Program

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.

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.

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