The Selection Process for Women Entrepreneurs to Receive Grant Funding through the Alarko Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Program Has Been Completed

AWARD FROM ALARKO TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Awards were presented to women entrepreneurs who were entitled to receive grants for their creative business ideas and startups in different fields under the Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Program carried out jointly by Alarko Holding and Habitat Association.

The award ceremony of the Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Program, run by Alarko Holding together with Habitat Association, was held at Alarko's Holding Center in Ortaköy. In the second year of the program, a jury consisting of professionals from businesses and NGOs evaluated the startups and awarded grants to 12 of them. These startups, based in Istanbul, Hatay, Diyarbakır, Denizli, Ankara, and Rize, operate in a wide range of fields, including climate, machinery, technology, orthopedics, health, agriculture/food, mother-baby care, and recycled furniture.

As of the third year of the Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Program, a total of 1,700 women entrepreneurs have received a comprehensive 220 hours of training in six key areas: digital marketing, branding, design thinking, and financial literacy. Women entrepreneurs who participate in the program receive mentorship, grants to expand their businesses, and support to enhance their operational processes and strengthen their brands. The Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Program achieved a high score of 2.77 in the social return on investment in the social impact reports for the first two years. The program will expand its impact area with an increase in training topics and experience-sharing platforms in the new period that will start in 2025.

İzzet Garih: “The life cycle of businesses starts with entrepreneurship”
During his address to women entrepreneurs at the award ceremony, İzzet Garih, Chairman of the Board of Alarko Holding, discussed the life cycles of companies and shared the following message: “The life cycle of businesses starts with entrepreneurship. Business governance, procedures, financial competencies, and cash management are essential to reach maturity. It is equally important to have a team that is goal-oriented and hardworking. The diversity of your management team also adds value to your startup. In addition to entrepreneurs who possess the capacity to assume risks and managers who seek to mitigate such risks, coordinators who foster an atmosphere of peace - what we refer to as integrators - should also be included in these discussions. When you pay attention to these matters, your business will take firm steps from infancy to adolescence and then to prime time.”

Leyla Alaton: “Entrepreneurship is a matter of perseverance, persistence, and will.”
Leyla Alaton, a member of Alarko Holding's Board of Directors, delivered an inspirational speech at the event, drawing from her entrepreneurial journey. Her speech underscored the importance of persevering through challenges, particularly for women in entrepreneurship: “It is not easy to be an entrepreneur. However, none of the challenges you encounter will exceed the limits of your mind and determination. Entrepreneurship is a matter of perseverance, persistence, and will. In many respects, the world today presents more opportunities for entrepreneurship than ever before. There are now many more tools to follow the world and reach the customer. Moreover, with programs such as Pioneers of Entrepreneurship, you can access the training programs and mentoring support you need. But what matters most is your courage. You are the women who not only dreamed but dared to set out, and here you are today. My heartfelt congratulations to all of you for your success.” 

Ümit Nuri Yıldız: “We are working very hard to make gender equality the standard in our country.”  
Ümit Nuri Yıldız, CEO of the Alarko Group of Companies, delivered a speech at the Pioneers of Entrepreneurship award ceremony. In his speech, he highlighted the significance of women's involvement in business life for fostering economic growth: “As a group of companies with 70 years of experience in the Turkish economy, we recognize that equal inclusion of women in economic, scientific, social, and cultural production is essential for achieving a fair and sustainable future. As a group of companies with 70 years of experience in the Turkish economy, I am proud to say that we are working very hard to make gender equality the standard in our country. Studies indicate that companies with equal representation of women achieve notable gains in profitability, innovation, and sustainability performance. This translates into significant potential for global revenue. Our Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Program is designed to support women entrepreneurs in their integration into the digital world. The program focuses on enhancing their design thinking competencies, financial literacy, branding journey, and ability to establish collaborations. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this program, particularly the Habitat Association, and heartily congratulate our women entrepreneurs who successfully completed the jury evaluation and are deemed worthy of the award."

Bora Caldu: "We are entering the third year of our Pioneers of Entrepreneurship program with even greater goals."
During the ceremony, Bora Caldu, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat Association, highlighted the benefits of the Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Program for women entrepreneurs. “ Habitat Association is a non-governmental organization that has been working in the field of sustainable development for 30 years. Our objective is to implement social impact projects that focus on entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and inclusive and sustainable growth, to reach every segment of society. According to the latest TurkStat data, women's labor force participation rate has risen to 36.2%. However, women entrepreneurs represent only 17.4% of the entire entrepreneurial sector, indicating room for growth and development to achieve gender equality in entrepreneurship. Today, we are joined by 12 startups that have been selected to receive grants in the 2024 cycle of our Pioneers of Entrepreneurship program in collaboration with Alarko Holding. The stories of our women entrepreneurs illustrate the significant progress made in various sectors, including textiles, tourism, agriculture, food, cosmetics, IT, and e-commerce. As we are entering the third year of our Pioneers of Entrepreneurship program with even greater goals, I wish success to all women entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurs who were awarded grants in the Pioneers of Entrepreneurship Project 2024:

•    Gizem Uysal (Chemist, İstanbul) / Startup: HELİOS
She is aiming to produce preventive climate solutions by using a combination of engineering and technology to slow down global warming. She is developing carbon dioxide capture and recovery technologies from industrial flue gases through MOF, a special material she has developed.

•    İlknur Kayıkçı (Orthopedic Prosthetic Orthosis Technician, Hatay) / Startup: FULL Ortopedi
She is offering solutions for individuals with orthopedic problems to lead a healthy and quality life. The needs of people with orthosis and foot problems are diagnosed through gait analysis, and she is producing personalized insoles, special orthopedic boots, and standard medical products.

•    Özge Kartal (Business Manager, Istanbul) / Startup: Özge Makine
She is engaged in contract manufacturing, machining, and project-based production in Pendik, Istanbul. In addition to machine parts, she also manufactures and installs custom-designed machines. She is producing Wire Straightening Systems for sectors such as automotive, white goods, construction, and jewelry, which she developed with R&D studies, and sells them to Turkey and the world. 

•    Edanur Erçetin (Speech and Language Therapist, Istanbul) / Startup: Lingify
Her web platform offers innovative digital solutions for individuals with aphasia who require language and cognitive support following a stroke or neurogenic condition. Her objective is to enhance the quality of life for individuals requiring linguistic and cognitive support following a health condition, to assist in language proficiency, and to facilitate early intervention in the rehabilitation process.

•    Betül Karaca (Master Interior Architect, Istanbul) / Startup: Factory Of Us
She is designing and producing 100% recyclable furniture using 3D printers and biocomposites with agricultural waste additives. This initiative, which supports recycling, is creating benefits that will reduce the carbon footprint.

•    Aybüke Muratoğlu (Farmer, Ankara-Manisa) / Startup: Rainy
She brings her expertise in olive cultivation, a family business in Manisa, to the souvenir sector, offering a modern interpretation to enhance the value of olive oil. She is offering olive oil with complementary products and special designs.

•    Elif Çatıkkaş (Computer Engineer, Istanbul) -Yasemin Kırkağaçlıoğlu (Consultant, Istanbul) / Startup: Kokopelli Şehirde 
Kokopelli Şehirde is a social startup that encourages collective action to create greener and more sustainable cities by strengthening the human connection with nature. The initiative offers orchard kits to people who want to experience growing their own produce in cities. 

•    Esra Karakış (Designer, Istanbul) / Startup: Mumsy Natural
She is offering breastfeeding and baby care products made with clean and edible natural ingredients specifically for the delicate skin of babies. The brand's mission is to serve as a facilitator from the outset of the motherhood journey, aiming to enhance the overall experience for mothers by offering products that enhance their comfort. On the social project side, she organizes informative talks and seminars on the breastfeeding experience.

•    Nurcan Bozkurt ( Biotechnologist, Diyarbakır) / Startup: CIABO
In a world where access to additive-free food and natural products is becoming more difficult, she aims to bring people together with natural and healthy local products. She is producing healthy and natural products such as karakovan honey from Rezan village in Hakkari, tahini from local sesame seeds, pollen, lavender from Mesopotamian soil, and natural honey candles.

•    Seda Mahmutoğlu (Tourism Professional, Rize) / Startup: Mora Dükkân
She is reinterpreting traditional knitting products according to contemporary standards to ensure the survival of this craft. She is supporting the social and cultural inclusion of women artisans and the circular economy.

•    Emine Yılmaz (Farmer, Denizli) / Startup: Çal Women's Cooperative
She is playing a pivotal role in driving the social and economic advancement of women residing in rural Denizli through the cooperative. Guided by the principles of imece, she is fostering women's empowerment through production solidarity and offers consumers across the country access to the region's unique products. 

•    Aslı Akçay (Organizer, Hatay) / Startup: Derin Hobi ve Organizasyon
The startup in the hobby and organization sector, which is lacking in the Hatay region, is performing work that gives hope to the region. After the 6 February earthquake, Derin Hobby and Organization experienced a challenging time but became stronger again with the support of training and mentorship by participating in the Pioneers of Entrepreneurship project.