İzmir NIC Accelerate İzmir Programme’s Second Demo Day Event was held on June 21, 2023 at IZTECH Convention Centre. 30 companies that grew with the Accelerate İzmir Programme and focused on international growth from İzmir came together at the Demo Day after a 4-month Accelerate Izmir journey and met with jury member investors and guests.
The opening speeches within the scope of the Demo Day were made by İzmir NIC Project Team Leader David Tee, Teknopark İzmir General Manager and İzmir NIC Senior Manager Prof. Dr. Metin Tanoğlu, Ministry of Industry and Technology Project Manager Serhat Uğur, IZTECH Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Serdar Kale. In the opening speeches, the importance of the Accelerate İzmir Programme for the city of İzmir and Teknopark and the gains provided by the project were emphasized.
Following the opening speeches, İzmir NIC Coordinator Efsa Sabit and Technical Assistance Team Commercialization Expert Gökhan Çelebi conducted their presentations under the topic of Accelerate İzmir Impact and Results. Ms. Sabit and Mr. Çelebi also made an overview of the Project and the Accelerate İzmir process, and shared the numerical outcomes of the Project impacts with the guests.
The morning session of the Demo Day continued with the presentations delivered by expert speakers under the topic of “Unleashing Explosive Growth: Entrepreneurial, Investment, and Corporate Perspectives on Scaling Up”. In this context, Yancep Co-Founder Hilmi Kaya talked about the topic of “From Startup to Scale-Up: Tips for Successfully Navigating the Transition”. DOMINO Ventures Investment and Strategy Manager Emre Sezgin, and Vestel Ventures Group Manager Utku Gökkaya shared their presentations with the guests on “Business Scaling” and “Scaling-up for Success”.
In the continuation of the event, 30 Accelerate İzmir companies shared their 3-minute pitches with the jury member investors and guests. After the pitches, Kuika Software was entitled to receive the “Most Interesting Technology”, Hekimanne was entitled to receive the “Best Presentation”, and Salty Energy was entitled to receive the “Highest Potential to Grow” awards. The awards were presented to the three successful companies by Teknopark İzmir General Manager and Izmir NIC Senior Manager Prof. Dr. Metin Tanoğlu, Ministry of Industry and Technology Financial Management Department Coordinator Özlem Sever and Project Team Leader David Tee. In addition, 30 Accelerate İzmir programme participant companies were entitled to receive a certificate of programme participation.
İzmir NIC – İzmir Network and Innovation Centre Project
İzmir Network and Innovation Centre (İzmir NIC) Project, is implemented by Teknopark İzmir within the scope of the Ministry of Industry and Technology Competitive Sectors Programme, realised with the financial support of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, aiming to enhance the commercialisation and internationalisation of innovative products, by fostering networks and strategic partnership among relevant stakeholders. The project, focusing on ICT and RE sectors, which are among the pioneers of economic development; aims to increase the capacities of innovation ecosystem actors (SME, Start-up, TTO, TGB, R&D Centres, etc.) in İzmir through training, Acceleration programmes, mentoring support, and networking activities.
The project, implemented with partners İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE) and the Software Industrialists Association (YASAD), will run for 3 years.
