İKMİB and Fonbulucu Join Forces

Turkey's fund-raising platform that introduced equity-based crowdfunding joined forces with the Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters' Association (İKMİB). Under the signed protocol, with the approval of the Ministry of Commerce and support from TÜBİTAK, 36 startups selected within the framework of the R&D Project Marketplace organised by İKMİB since 2011 will have the opportunity to meet with investors, and if deemed suitable, will receive the necessary support to launch an investment round through equity-based crowdfunding on the platform. Within the scope of the cooperation, each startup deemed suitable to launch an investment round by the Investment Committee to be established will receive training on the system and campaign operations from fonbulucu founder and CEO Hakan Yıldız and other experts. Additionally, fonbulucu will take shares as a qualified investor from the 'fonbulucu Venture Capital Investment Fund' from the shares offered to support the commercialisation of startups. During the campaigns of selected startups, entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to meet with national and international investors to secure the necessary financing. Startups and fonbulucu campaigns, campaign execution and all finalisation phases shall be subject to the provisions of the Equity-Based Crowdfunding Circular issued and implemented by the Capital Markets Board (CMB) and relevant CMB regulations. The R&D Project Marketplace in the chemical substances and products sector is organised to contribute to the spread of R&D and innovation culture and to increase high-value-added production and consequently exports through university-industry-public-entrepreneur collaboration. The event, to which applications can be made in six categories—"Pharmaceuticals", "Medical Devices", "Paints and Adhesives", "Plastics and Rubber", "Cosmetics, Soap and Cleaning Products" and "Basic Chemicals"—has received over 1,100 project applications over the past nine years and distributed TRY 1,756,000 in total awards.

Application Deadline 15 October

fonbulucu founder and CEO Hakan Yıldız stated that the cooperation with İKMİB represents a great opportunity for entrepreneurs operating in the chemistry sector, and that the equity-based crowdfunding system will provide easier access to financing that these startups need. Emphasising the importance of work carried out particularly on commercialisation and exports, Yıldız said: "Entrepreneurs can apply via www.kimyaargeprojepazari.com until 15 October 2021. Following the evaluation work to be conducted meticulously by İKMİB, the selected startups will be announced by İKMİB on 27 November 2021." Source: New deputy general manager appointed to TSKB (dunya.com)