What is an incubation center and how does it work? In fact, it is the Turkish equivalent of the concept of incubation centers, Incubator. concept. These centers target entrepreneurs who are at the beginning of their journey. Since these initiatives, called startups, have difficulty taking the first step, they try to expand their initiatives through incubation centers. But how does an incubation center work? Which major incubation centers are there in Turkey and how to apply?
What is an Incubation Center and how does it work? Turkey’s most important incubation centers
Turkey actually has incubation centers and similar structures that have been supporting entrepreneurs and helping them move forward for a long time. In this sense, it is possible to find an incubation center in almost every field, both with government incentives and in the private sector.
“How does an incubation center work?” The question is among the most curious questions. One of the details that needs to be known here is the stage at which the initiative is. In general, incubators prefer to support startups during the idea phase (UVP).
On the other hand, if your startup has developed a product (MVP), it also helps you meet with customers and investors. Again, if the developed product has been sold but you need capital to expand the venture (PoC), you can apply to these centers.
Incubation centers generally progress by taking equity shares from startups. In this sense, they offer certain services to startups, such as providing space, training, and job interviews. Incubation centers established by universities generally help projects take the first step without expecting anything in return.
Some incubation centers also have a structure as a pre-incubation center for startups that are at the idea stage. Startups that are not yet incorporated and are at the idea stage have the opportunity to mature their ideas thanks to these structures.
What kind of support do incubation centers provide to startups?
- Incubation centers primarily provide a physical office for startups. In this sense, the incubation center also provides all technological infrastructure opportunities of startups.
- One of the most important supports of these centers is mentoring support. It is especially important for the first step that leading managers in the industry or important trainers guide you in this process. In this sense, when choosing an incubation center, it is necessary to investigate the mentoring support it provides.
- “What is an incubation center?” One of the issues that people who ask the question are most curious about is the educational opportunities of these centers. First of all, all incubators, good or bad, offer entrepreneurship program training. Here it is possible to access training such as basic marketing techniques, company formation information and basic accounting information. In this sense, some incubation centers can also offer training programs with a much broader content and specific to your startup.
- One of the biggest contributors to the growth and development of entrepreneurs is your business network, that is, networking. In this sense, incubation centers enable you to come together with connections related to your startup project. It is important to establish and develop business networks to attract angel investors and get recommendations for your startup.
- Another answer to the question of what an incubation center is is that it offers marketing opportunities for your startup. Incubation centers become important marketing centers at the idea stage and during the transformation of the initiative into a successful startup project. If you are accepted to a well-known incubation center with sponsor support, these opportunities increase much more.
How to apply for an incubation center?
What you need to know before applying to an incubation center is that your startup must have something that will excite the investor. Incubators in particular prefer to accept projects that create excitement and attract investors. In this sense, incubation centers generally accept startup applications at certain periods.
If you have a good startup idea, it is important to first find the appropriate incubation center for your project. The other step is not to miss the application deadlines of this incubation center. Even though your project is at the idea stage, it is important to explain this idea well for incubation center applications. Again, incubation centers may prefer projects that are carried out by teams and have a distribution of tasks.
One of the most important things is that you need to have a good business plan. When applying for an incubation center, it is important that you give sincere and rational answers to questions such as the purpose of your project and what problems it solves. It is also important whether there are other initiatives in the field where our initiative provides a solution. Incubators especially want to know what you do differently from your competitors. Here too, if necessary, creating a better business plan by getting professional support can help you achieve results.
The main incubation centers in Turkey are:
- Technopark Istanbul (Istanbul)
- Etohum (Izmir)
- Aegean Technopark (Izmir)
- İTÜ Çekirdek (Istanbul-İTÜ)
- Türk Telekom Pilot (Istanbul)
- Enterprise Factory (Istanbul-Özyeğin University)
- DreamBU (Istanbul-Boğaziçi University)
- Ebiltem TTO (Izmir-Ege University)
- Viveka (Ankara)
- Inovent (Istanbul-Sabancı University)
- Bilkent CyberPark (Ankara-Bilkent University)
- Acıbadem University Incubation Center (Istanbul)