Başakşehir Municipality to Become the First Customer for Startups

The new acceleration programs and roadmap of the Başakşehir Living Lab Incubation Center, established 10 years ago under the Başakşehir Municipality, were announced on June 1st during a kick-off event held at the Living Lab building. The event brought together not only entrepreneurs but also mentors, corporate executives, investors, and representatives from various stakeholder institutions within the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Speakers and panelists included Başakşehir Mayor Yasin Kartoğlu, Gencay Karaman, Head of Financial Technologies at the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Finance Office, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Tunçalp, General Manager of 1773 ITU Technopark, and Dr. Hüseyin Güler, Global Business Planning and Innovation Director at Kastamonu Entegre.

2023 Acceleration Program Roadmap Unveiled

Başakşehir Living Lab will collaborate with in4startups as a strategic partner in its acceleration programs. By combining the financial and institutional support of Başakşehir Municipality with in4startups’ experience in startup acceleration and its extensive network of mentors, corporates, and investors, a strong synergy is expected to emerge.

According to the shared roadmap, 8 acceleration programs will be carried out by the end of 2023. These programs will be tailored to startups at different maturity levels—from idea stage to prototype and product stage. Special thematic focuses such as sustainability and smart urbanism will also be included. Additionally, global acceleration programs will be launched to support startups aiming for international expansion. A separate investment-focused acceleration program will be implemented to accelerate funding processes for startups in need of capital.

Municipality to Support Startups as First Customer and Investor

Başakşehir Municipality will provide additional financial support to startups that succeed in the acceleration programs. The municipality aims to become the first customer of successful startups whose services fall within the scope of municipal procurement. This initiative not only helps startups generate early revenue but also serves as a valuable reference for future clients.

Moreover, the municipality is interested in long-term collaboration and investment in successful startups that provide solutions aligned with its needs. So far, Başakşehir Municipality has already invested in three startups. With the new roadmap, the municipality once again emphasizes its commitment to investing in startups that excel in its programs.

Mayor Kartoğlu: “Entrepreneurs’ ideas empower us”

Expressing the municipality’s full support for the entrepreneurship ecosystem, Mayor Yasin Kartoğlu stated:
“We will launch acceleration programs throughout 2023 to support the growth of our entrepreneurs and startups in Başakşehir—one of Europe’s most innovative cities. As we step into the Century of Türkiye, we will stand by our national technology initiative. Today, we are not only a pioneering municipality in Türkiye, but also a model for local governments across Europe.”

Emphasizing their ongoing commitment to digital transformation through Başakşehir Living Lab, Kartoğlu added:
“Last year, we achieved historic success through our technology and innovation efforts across all areas of life. In this journey, our entrepreneurs are our greatest strength. Their ideas, efforts, and projects empower us. We will join forces and walk together toward ambitious goals for our country and nation. We are always by the side of our entrepreneurs. We aim to open new horizons by mobilizing all our resources to support them.”