TOBB to Establish Start-Up Platform

TOBB Establishing Start-Up Platform The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) is establishing the Turkey Start-up Platform with support from Google.org. With Google.org's support, TOBB is launching the Turkey Start-up Platform to strengthen the Turkish start-up ecosystem and consolidate Turkey's "start-up power" under one roof. The platform will register start-ups operating in Turkey, track their development, increase their visibility, and connect them with investors and customers. Through the web-based application to be developed, start-ups will be able to declare their teams, showcase their products and services, and meet their needs for investment, customers, training and mentorship services offered under the platform.  

We will make Anatolia the center of new ideas

TOBB Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu made the following statement on the matter: "As we approach the 100th anniversary of our Republic, we have launched a new project to make this land the center of technology-focused entrepreneurs. We will register our country's start-ups, monitor their development, and support them when they need assistance. Just as a caterpillar needs a cocoon to transform into a butterfly, this platform will be the cocoon for start-ups as they grow into large enterprises. We will place each idea in a separate cocoon, prepare them for commercial life in that cocoon, and then wish for each of them to emerge and transform into major enterprises. We will bring new ideas to life, commercialize them, and together create new sources of wealth and employment. With the Turkey Start-up Platform, we will further strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem in our country. I expect all organizations, initiatives, and experts working in the start-up field to contribute to this project and participate actively."

Investors and large-scale companies will also have a place on the platform

Hisarcıklıoğlu, noting that investors play a crucial role in bringing ideas to life in today's world, stated: "In this project, important services will be provided to portfolio management, venture capital and investment companies, funds, financial institutions, and large enterprises. We will open the Turkey Start-up Platform, which will be the meeting point of the start-up ecosystem, to all parties in January 2023."

The future workforce will be nourished by innovation, entrepreneurship and innovation

Google Turkey Country Director Mehmet Keteloğlu said that the country's young population and entrepreneurial culture are increasing the number of technology and innovation-focused ventures day by day, and continued as follows: "Our country has tremendous potential in this area. Start-ups from Turkey gain visibility and attract investment globally. Nine percent of games downloaded worldwide are produced by gaming firms in Turkey. We are pleased to be making an important contribution to this ecosystem under TOBB's leadership. We have provided USD 500,000 in funding support through Google.org to bring the Turkey Startup Platform to life, which will encompass all actors in technology entrepreneurship. The Turkey Startup Platform, created to provide training and mentorship support to technology and innovation-focused initiatives in our country and to bring these initiatives together with investors and industrialists, will be an important facilitator in this field."

Policy action plan to be prepared

In the first phase of the project, the training and mentorship needs of start-ups will be identified and stakeholders in the ecosystem will be brought together to identify barriers to start-up development. Policy recommendations and action plans that will remove barriers before start-ups and support them will be created and shared with public institutions. Following the action plan, the platform will be opened to start-ups in January 2023.

Will be the meeting point of Turkey's start-up ecosystem

Start-ups will be able to meet many of their needs through the platform, including investors, customers, technical teams, innovation and acceleration programs, and training and mentorship services. Start-ups will also be able to communicate with each other and exchange ideas through the Metaverse meeting point to be created under the platform. Additionally, the project plans to create a start-up community with next-generation community management tools.