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Startup Incubation Program

INGEV GDM/ESS Startup Incubation Program is a business development program that provides financial and moral support for selected entrepreneurs to implement their business ideas and complete the development of the product and business models of early-stage startups.

About Startup Incubation Program

Within the scope of INGEV GDM/ESS Startup Incubation Program, 1171 entrepreneurs and start-ups have received training and capacity building support and 125 entrepreneurs and start-ups have received grant support since 2020.

For entrepreneurs and startups selected for the incubation program, the process starts with a Needs Analysis.

The process starts with a needs assessment, continues with a customized entrepreneurship training program, one-on-one work with mentors in the same or similar sectors, the establishment of a company and obtaining a work permit where necessary, and start-up financing for the realization of the business idea. This entire process takes between 4 and 6 months.

INGEV GDM/ESS meets with the graduates of the Startup Incubation Program at regular meetings at the end of the incubation process within the scope of the “We Are Following” Program; listens to their needs, provides them with additional services, and provides business connections.

Startup Needs Analysis

Structured interviews are conducted with the entrepreneurs to determine their current capacities, market and competitive information, and their short- and medium-term training, operational and financial needs. Within the framework of these interviews, necessary modifications are made on sectoral examples and WSs of INGEV GDM/ESS standard entrepreneurship training program.

Entrepreneurship Training

Entrepreneurship training runs for a total of 36 hours. After the needs analysis, the course topics can be supported with some additional capacity building trainings. Trainings are delivered through online or face-to-face classes. The trainings given by expert trainers bring real-life applications to the course with examples from the industry and/or WS of sector representatives.

Performance-Oriented One-on-One Mentoring

For 3 months, one-to-one mentoring services are provided by experienced mentors in Marketing, Sales and Business Development, Accounting & Finance, Law, Digital fields with at least 6 face-to-face or online meetings. Our mentors are selected among our valuable experts in the INGEV GDM/ESS mentor pool by considering sectoral suitability.

Access to Start-up Finance through Grants

INGEV GDM/ESS distributes the grants provided by program partners to entrepreneurs and startups to cover costs such as the purchase of necessary fixtures, initial raw material / product supply, company establishment costs in order to support startup capital. Entrepreneurs and startups whose business plans are evaluated by the “demoday” or “jury” after the training are entitled to benefit from this grant.

Regular Communication & Networking with “We are following”

INGEV GDM/ESS consultants and INGEV GDM/ESS graduate startups come together and share their current situation, developments, additional needs and questions, if any, through “We are Following” meetings held face-to-face or online at selected locations several times a year. Startups have the advantage of strengthening the network among themselves and turning it into a business relationship with “We are Following”.