# İTÜ Çekirdek

> İTÜ Çekirdek is the technology startup incubation center established by Istanbul Technical University and İTÜ ARI Teknokent in 2011. It connects entrepreneurs with business training, mentors, prototyping facilities, corporate customers and investors through acceleration, BİGG, Growth, ITU SEED and the Big Bang Startup Challenge.

- **Founded:** 2011
- **Headquarters:** Istanbul, Turkey
- **Founders:** Istanbul Technical University (Institutional co-founder), İTÜ ARI Teknokent (Institutional co-founder and operator)
- **Products:** Acceleration, Acceleration Express, BİGG İTÜ Çekirdek, Big Bang Startup Challenge, Growth
- **Notable:** UBI Global named İTÜ Çekirdek the #1 university business incubator in 2023., March 2026 announcement reports over 5,500 supported ventures, 2,100 incorporated startups and $320 million collectively raised by supported startups., Big Bang 2025 announced over TL 1.74 billion in awards, cash and investment.

## Products & services

- **Acceleration** — Year-round route for prototype-stage startups seeking market validation and a first sale.
- **Acceleration Express** — Route for incorporated startups with validated products and existing sales.
- **BİGG İTÜ Çekirdek** — Free preparation and business-plan support as a TÜBİTAK implementing organization; the separate BİGG fund invests for equity.
- **Big Bang Startup Challenge** — Annual selected-startup showcase connecting founders with corporates, investors and award opportunities.
- **Growth** — One-year support for selected successful Big Bang startups, including sales and investment coaching.
- **ITU SEED** — Free, equity-free Türkiye market-entry and global-growth acceleration for international startups.
- **Automotive Program** — OIB-supported commercialization support for automotive and mobility ventures.
- **Dual-Use Acceleration** — Commercialization, PoC and market-entry support for technologies with civilian and defense applications.

## Achievements

- UBI Global named İTÜ Çekirdek the #1 university business incubator in 2023.
- March 2026 announcement reports over 5,500 supported ventures, 2,100 incorporated startups and $320 million collectively raised by supported startups.
- Big Bang 2025 announced over TL 1.74 billion in awards, cash and investment.
- OIB-backed automotive program reports over 530 supported startups and over $54 million raised by those startups.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — March 12 announcement describes Togg collaboration for AI and digital-health startups, including mobility pilots and technical validation.
- **2026-03** — March 6 announcement introduces the 2026–2028 BİGG consortium with Togg, Plug and Play and Düzce Teknopark.
- **2026-02** — February 27 launch of Dual-Use Studio Istanbul and the İTÜ Çekirdek Dual-Use Acceleration Program with InnotalentPlus.

## Links

- Website: https://itucekirdek.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/itucekirdek/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/itucekirdek
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/itucekirdek
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itucekirdek/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itucekirdek

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/i-t-ekirdek
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-07