Istanbul | Turkey

Enabling entrepreneurs to build sustainable, high-growth startup companies

Girişim Fabrikası (Fit Startup Factory) is a technology accelerator program designed to enable tech entrepreneurs in Turkey, Eastern Europe and MENA to create high potential, sustainable businesses, taking them from the idea stage to launch.

We seek to close the knowledge and resource gap experienced by promising young entrepreneurs as they embark on their startup adventure.

Turkey is in the midst of an uprising. Young

people, united and empowered by technology,

are pounding at the gates of the old order and

demanding that their country's elites make

room for their new ideas.

Opportunity

“ “

Rob Salkowitz Fast Company, March 2011

“

Who are these entrepreneurs?

Abdullah (28) Uğur (25) Dilfer (27)

• Engineers with MSc. degrees • National Business Plan

Competition Winners • 1-2 years professional experience • Using internet technologies to

solve societal and business issues… in the classroom, on the design floor, etc.

• Lack of Structured Training • Insufficient and Opaque Sector Information • Low Level of Resources in own Networks

PAINS

• More PR, More Coverage, More WOM • Meet Like-Minded, Like-Motivated Young

Entrepreneurs, i.e. a Startup Community GAINS

What are they looking for? Feedback and Advise on Business Idea

Learn to build innovative business models Access to pre-seed financing Focus on Code & Customers

(rather than office space, legal terms, accounting mumbo-jumbo)

Selection Our primary focus is on team rather than business plans. We seek teams who embody the core functions for startup success, while exhibiting an openness to learn and ability to pivot their idea. We know that Plan A is almost never the winning formula, so we want entrepreneurs who can 'Get Out of the Building', test & experiment, and then move to Plan B based on validated learning.

Our Acceleration Process 6 Months to the Finish Line

bootcamp (2 weeks)

prototype development

(3 weeks)

product & biz development (4 months)

move to market

(1 month)

Fit Startup Canvas develop and validate sustainable & investable business models using an in-house model canvas* + badge-driven gamification process

GF Business Plan Competition

GF Virtual Open Lecture

Academic Programs

Social Media, Web Presence

Partnership Activities & Events

* a blend of current entrepreneurial thinking, inspired by the work of Steve Blank, Alex Osterwalder, Eric Ries, & Ash Maurya

The Fit Startup Program is built around the assumption that great entrepreneurs are raised, but game-changing ideas (and likewise startups) are the collaborative efforts of founders, mentors, and customers. We simply endeavor to create a platform for those elements to come and work together.

İhsan Elgin, Director & Entrepreneur

Our success is defined by the collaborative skills and know-how of our team, bridging live experience in startups together with academic entrepreneurship methodologies and an international network, which we utilize to develop an intense training and mentoring program in order to catalyze business model innovation and the formation of sustainable startups.

Murat Tortopoğlu, Supervisor

Jason Lau, Supervisor & Lecturer

Acceleration Services

• Office Space • Legal & Accounting Consultancy • Tech Support • Access to University Resources

• Comprehensive Mentoring Program

– internal mentors on a bi-weekly basis – external mentor network (local angel investors and VCs, serial entrepreneurs,

experienced developers and corporate representatives) on a needs basis – external consultants (HR, marketing & branding, etc.) for short, issue-focused

consultations – Board of Directors monthly for updates

Government Support

Non-Profit & Incubators

Angel Investors Venture Capitalists

Founders Sponsors

Our Ecosystem

Turkish culture is progressively opening up to

entrepreneurship. Following impressive economic growth,

Turkey has developed politically and institutionally,

accommodating itself better to entrepreneurship.

80% of entrepreneurs say

that Turkish culture encourages business.

Entrepreneurs Speak Out The Nice Côte d’Azur 2011

Entrepreneurship Barometer

The Market

Turkey

In Europe, 3rd in online engagement

(32.7 hours online per month)

1st in content consumption

(3,706 pages per month)

5th in Facebook penetration

8th in Twitter penetration

3rd in Foursquare usage

72 million people

50% under 30

35 million online

13th internet economy

engaged hungry socially networked

8.8% economic expansion

57% increase in e-commerce

Competitors

Girişim Fabrikası (Fit Startup Factory)

• Acceleration through Lean Startup Methodology and Mentor Network

• Business Model Innovation through Fit Startup Canvas

• Pre Seed Capital, Legal & Accounting Services

University Incubators • Focus on Business Plan, not Model • Deliver Incubation Services Only

Private Incubators • Professional Software Development Support • Seed & Angel Capital • Focused only on e-commerce

GSM Operators Incubation Programs

• Strong Network, Ready Customer Base • No Seed Capital Provided • Lack of Professional Services

Other Startup Programs

• Strong Local and Global Network • Established processes for selection & mentoring • Some imported formal training programs • Lack of Physical Space

Results: 18 months

727 Applications

74 Camp Participants

18 Selected

1,415,000 TL

530,000 TL

Angel Investment

Raised (TL)

Government Support

Received (TL)

40

People Employed

10 startups

6 R&D

2 Failed

Some of our startups:

Investment Opportunities

Sponsor the Factory and play an integral role in the growth of the program as well as benefiting from GF’s central position in the Turkish entrepreneurial ecosystem

Join our Investor Network and get early networking and investment opportunities with our dynamic startups

Contact Information

girisimfabrikasi.com

girisimfabrikasi@ozyegin.edu.tr

facebook.com/GirisimFabrikasi

@girisimfabrika