“BUSİNESS LEADERS OF THE FUTURE” KUTSO ENTREPRENEURSHİP ACCELERATİON PROGRAMME DEMO DAY FİNAL HELD

The “Business Leaders of the Future” KUTSO Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme and R&D Project Market, implemented under the leadership of the Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KUTSO) with the support of TÜBİTAK and in cooperation with Kütahya Health Sciences University (KSBÜ), concluded with the Demo Day Final and award ceremony.

The programme was attended by Air Brigadier General Mustafa Baş, Commander of the Air Private Training Brigade and Garrison; Deputy Mayor of Kütahya Himmet Sarıyar; Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Gendarmerie Senior Colonel Vedat Kültür; Rector of KSBÜ Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tekin; Acting Rector of Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. Ayhan Kahraman; President of the Turkish Health Institutes Prof. Dr. Ümit Kervan; KOSGEB Kütahya Provincial Director Fatih Mehmet Kılıç; Chairman of the Board of Directors of KUTSO Esin Güral Argat and Board Members, together with members of the provincial protocol.

The grand finale, organised in partnership with KOSGEB, Zafer Development Agency, Kütahya Design Technopark Management Inc., and Destek Patent Inc., was hosted by Tuğba Katırcı, Coordinator of the KUTSO Entrepreneurship Office.

Delivering the opening speech following the moment of silence and the National Anthem, Chairman of the Board of Directors Esin Güral Argat emphasised the strategic importance of the entrepreneurship ecosystem for the future of cities and expressed her satisfaction with the development of technology and innovation-oriented projects by young people in Kütahya.

In her speech, Esin Güral Argat stated that 140 entrepreneurial applications had been submitted to the programme, a significant proportion of which were made by students. She noted that remarkable projects had been developed in fields such as healthcare and medical technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainability, agricultural technologies, and defence industry applications. She also stated that finalist entrepreneurs had completed mentoring and bootcamp processes and had been prepared for investor presentations.

Esin Güral Argat further noted that KUTSO had assumed not only the role of organiser but also that of an umbrella institution bringing together universities, technoparks, development agencies, patent organisations, and the private sector on a common platform, adding: “Our young people have once again demonstrated that world-class ideas can be produced in Kütahya.”

In his speech, Rector of KSBÜ Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tekin underlined the importance of cooperation between universities, public institutions, and industry for Türkiye’s production capacity, stating that young people are now becoming involved in technology development processes at much earlier stages. He also highlighted the need to enhance activities in the fields of production, science, and technology in order for Türkiye to attain a strong position in the new global order. Furthermore, he stated that entrepreneurship programmes strengthen the courage and motivation of young people to produce and innovate.

President of the Turkish Health Institutes Prof. Dr. Ümit Kervan also addressed the audience, referring to efforts aimed at increasing Türkiye’s domestic and national production capacity in healthcare technologies and emphasising the critical importance of collaboration among investors, universities, and industry. He stated that projects developed in the healthcare field should not remain solely at the academic level and noted that projects transformed into production would make significant contributions to Türkiye’s economic and technological development. He also stressed the importance of strengthening ecosystems that support the ideas of young entrepreneurs.

Following the opening speeches, KUTSO Secretary General Hüseyin Feyyaz Ebeoğlugil delivered an infographic presentation titled “Ecosystem Anatomy and Impact Report”, containing programme outputs and statistical data.

As part of the event, a panel titled “Start-up Ecosystem: Investor and Entrepreneur Perspective” was held under the moderation of KUTSO Board Member Responsible for Entrepreneurship Semra Tozaraydın. The panel featured Sadık Köseoğlu, Director of Şirket Ortağım Angel Investment Network; Angel Investor Kağan Sırdar; and Mert Demirel, Founder of GÖRSENTAM, as guest speakers. Discussions focused on the dynamics of the investment world and the transformation of the new-generation start-up ecosystem. Following the panel, commemorative plaques were presented to the speakers.

The programme also welcomed Selin Karabıçak, Artificial Intelligence Specialist at Boğaziçi Ventures, and Arda Sezen, Senior Specialist in Business Development and Portfolio Management at APY Ventures, as guest participants contributing to the entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem.

Following a special video presentation showcasing the entrepreneurs’ months-long journey, the programme proceeded to the Pitch Stage presentations. Within a three-minute time limit, participating teams presented their projects to the jury under the categories of Health-Medical-Wellness Technologies, Industry 4.0 and Deep Technology, EdTech, Defence and Aviation, and AgriTech. Winners were subsequently determined through a live digital scoring system.

Prior to the grand awards ceremony, plaques of appreciation were presented to jury members, mentors, trainers, and sponsors who contributed materially and morally to the ecosystem, including Gürok Tourism and Mining Inc., Özçınarlar Petroleum, Ajans Zero, Ölçerler Textile, Sayman Real Estate, My Beton Technical Flooring & Alberello Hotel Construction, Sinan Crane, Fabet Landscape, Ukar Office Furniture, BSD Design, and Kırdar Bilgiören College.

Grand Awards Presented to the Top Five Start-ups

As a result of the jury’s digital evaluations, the top five entrepreneurial projects entitled to receive cash awards were announced:

• Şükran Günaydın won first place and a cash award of 75,000 TL with the project titled “BorOx Patch – Boron-Based, Non-Invasive, Artificial Intelligence-Supported Wearable Metabolic Health Platform Conducting Multi-Biomarker Analysis”. The award was presented by KUTSO Chairman of the Board of Directors Esin Güral Argat.
• Sudem Ünle received the second-place award of 50,000 TL with the project “Myola BioSense”. The award was presented by KSBÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tekin.
• Talha Yasir Yıldız was awarded third place and 35,000 TL for the project “Göz Macerası”. The award was presented by KOSGEB Kütahya Provincial Director Fatih Mehmet Kılıç.
• Muhammed Alperen Taş received the fourth-place award of 20,000 TL with the project “ColonFresh – A Microbiome-Regulating and Odour-Reducing Bowel Preparation Compound for Colonoscopy”. The award was presented by Cemil Başpınar, Executive Board Member of Destek Patent Inc.
• Zeynep Kaya won the fifth-place award of 20,000 TL with the project “Borbant – Boron-Based pH-Sensitive Smart Wound Dressing”. The award was presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Durmuş Özdemir, General Manager of Kütahya Design Technopark Management Inc.

In addition to the cash awards, all entrepreneurs ranked within the top ten of the jury evaluation were granted complimentary trademark and patent support awards.

The programme concluded with strong networking opportunities established for future projects and a collective commemorative photograph.

News: KUTSO Press