BIGGINNER Startup Acceleration Program
Applications are now open for the “Innovative Entrepreneur's Roadmap (BIGGINNER)” program, implemented by Sabancı University Inovent Inc. under the TÜBİTAK Individual Young Entrepreneur Program (BİGG). The BİGG program is an entrepreneurship acceleration program that supports entrepreneurs in stages. Sabancı University Inovent Inc. is one of the implementing organizations running the first stage of the BİGG program, and the name of the program is BİGGINNER. Submitted business ideas must be related to the Priority Areas listed below. Entrepreneur candidates may apply to the program with only one business idea.
Program partners and supporters: https://www.bigginner.com/ortaklar
Priority Thematic Areas:
- Energy and Clean Environment Technologies
- Digital Technologies and IoT
- Smart Transportation and Smart Cities
- Health and Biotechnology
Deadline for applications: Friday, January 17, 2020.
Website: https://www.bigginner.com/
Online application form: https://www.bigginner.com/basvur
Who can apply?
Individuals who meet the following conditions:
| Condition | Detail |
| University student or graduate requirement | Students who are able to graduate from any undergraduate program at a university offering formal education within one year. |
| Master's or Doctoral students | |
| Individuals who have received a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree no more than 10 years prior to the application deadline. | |
| Not having received support before | Applicants must not have previously received capital support under the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology's Technopreneurship Capital Support Program or the TÜBİTAK 1512 Program Phase 2. |
| Not having a company already | Applicants must not be part of the ownership structure of any company as of the application date. However, it is possible to apply after withdrawing from the company's ownership structure prior to applying. |
Other considerations
- Graduates of Open Education Faculties are not eligible applicants.
- Foreign nationals can submit individual applications provided they meet the application criteria.
- Aspiring entrepreneurs can apply to the program with a single business idea.
Opportunities to be provided to participating aspiring entrepreneurs:
Facilities to be provided
Explanation
Infrastructure Support
- Utilizing the infrastructure of Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, KORDSA Composite Materials Excellence Center and Collaboration Space FabLab.
- Simulation and testing, pre-prototyping and MVP development are possible at Okan University Transportation Technologies Center and Electric Vehicles Laboratory.
- Utilizing the laboratory infrastructure of Okan University Faculty of Medicine
- Sabancı University gains access to the global business network of the European Business Network.
Office Space
- During the company's establishment, the office space... At Collective House %20 indirim.
SUCool Accelerator Boosters
- It started its operations in September 2013. Sabancı University SUCOOL, It is an acceleration program that offers early-stage technology entrepreneurs training, mentorship, access to investors and funding sources, and international business development camps.
- Of the 46 startup teams that participated in the SUCool Acceleration Program over the past 5 cycles, 23 are still active and continue to increase their revenue every month. Thirteen of these companies have received support from national and international investment and funding sources, and eleven are currently selling their products abroad.
- Educational topics:
- Basic Entrepreneurship Training
- Business Plan Preparation and R&D Project Writing Workshops
- Presentation Techniques Training
- Sales and Customer Presentation Preparation Training
- Mentor support:
- Sectoral and academic mentoring in thematic technology fields.
- Opportunity to work one-on-one with expert academics and researchers in the field.
- The chance to receive one-on-one support from industry professionals.
Customer and Business Network
- Direct access to Sabancı Holding group companies and İnovent A.Ş portfolio companies.
- Specifically in the energy sector, EIT-InnoEnergy has the opportunity to work with more than 180 corporate partners in 24 countries and to establish a collaboration with EnerjiSA in Türkiye.
- Joining the SUCool business and corporate network.
- Benefiting from the national and international business network of Sabancı University's Industry Relations and Licensing Office (ILO).
Access to International Markets
- Direct participation in the “PowerUp Startup Competition” event, which is held annually in 24 countries in collaboration with Inovent A.Ş and EIT-InnoEnergy.
- An opportunity to participate and have a booth at The Business Booster, Europe's largest energy-focused networking event.
- Inovent A.Ş. and SUCool collaborate to provide scholarship-funded participation in Business Development Camps held in entrepreneurship hubs such as London, San Francisco, Boston, and Berlin.
Customized Support for Priority Areas
Energy and Clean Environment Technologies
The opportunity to conduct a pilot study with ENERJİSA and gain market access, to receive investment from the Netherlands-based EIT-InnoEnergy, and to partner with international business partners.
Digital Transformation and IoT
The opportunity to work one-on-one with the Sabancı University SUCOOL team and benefit from a mentor pool, half of whom are investors.
Smart Transportation and Smart Cities
The opportunity to benefit from the academic expertise of Okan University's Transportation Technologies Center and to conduct simulation and testing studies in the Electric Vehicles Laboratory.
Health and Biotechnology
The opportunity to benefit from the academic mentorship and laboratory infrastructure of Sabancı University Nanotechnology Center and Okan University Faculty of Medicine.
TÜBİTAK Grants
Entrepreneurs who successfully advance from the first stage of the program to the second stage will receive a TÜBİTAK grant of 200,000 TL.
Outcomes to be provided for aspiring entrepreneurs participating in the program: The submission of outputs in English, in addition to Turkish, will be encouraged.
- Letter of Intent (customer letter of intent or first customer)
- Business Model Canvas
- Competitive Landscape (competitive analysis)
- Go-to-market strategy
- Roadmap
- Pitchdeck (investor presentation)
Evaluation criteria:
| Criterion | Explanation |
| The technological level and innovative aspects of the business plan. | The anticipated differences, advantages, and intellectual property protection of the product/service to be developed as a result of the business idea will be evaluated compared to similar products in domestic and international markets. |
| Suitability and feasibility of the business plan | The applicant's ability to work alone or as part of a team, and their possession of the necessary technical infrastructure to implement the business idea, will be assessed. The technological feasibility and current stage of the business idea will also be considered. |
| Commercialization potential of the business plan | The product/service to be developed will be evaluated in terms of market size and commercialization potential. |
Program Implementation Process:
- Orientation Trainings (after preliminary selection)
- Tour: January 25, 2020
- Tour: February 22, 2020
- Basic Entrepreneurship Training: March 7-8, 2020
- Mentoring and Client Meetings: March 2020
- BiGGinner Evaluation Jury (Selection of Entrepreneurs to be Referred to TÜBİTAK): March 11/12, 2020
- Business Plan Preparation Workshops: March 21-22, 2020
- Work on the Final Version of the Business Plan: March 23 – 30, 2020
- Deadline for submitting business plans to TÜBİTAK: March 31, 2020
TÜBİTAK Calendar:
- Phase 1 activities carried out by implementing organizations: January 2 – March 16, 2020
- Applications for Phase 2 will be accepted by TÜBİTAK between March 17 and March 31, 2020 (until 5:00 PM).
- The deadline for implementing organizations to submit entrepreneur-related documents to TÜBİTAK is April 6, 2020.
- Completion of missing application documents: April 13 – April 24, 2020
- Phase 2 panel evaluations: May – June 2020
- Announcement of entrepreneurs eligible for support: July 2020
- Company formation and contract signing: August 2020
- Support started: September 2020
