1812 Investment-Based Entrepreneurship Support Program (BiGG Investment) aims to support entrepreneurs in transforming their technology and innovation-oriented business ideas into enterprises with high potential for creating value-added and qualified employment. By supporting activities from the idea stage to the market, the program encourages qualified entrepreneurship and aims to establish technology-based startups capable of competing in international markets and developing innovative, high-tech products and processes.
The program also aims to scale financial support for research, technology development, and innovation projects through the return of investments made by the funds.
This program consists of three stages aimed at converting innovative business ideas into commercial products, processes, or services:
Acceleration Program Phase (Phase 1): Entrepreneurs submit business ideas to acceleration programs. Implementing Agencies evaluate these ideas and provide services such as training, mentorship, and incubation for those with high potential to become successful business plans. During this stage, commercial validation of the idea is conducted. Implementing Agencies are expected to collect and evaluate applications within specified thematic areas and support the preparation of business plans for potential successful ventures. Agencies for the 2026-2028 period have already been determined.
b) Pre-Seed Investment Phase (Phase 2): Business plans awarded the Seal of Excellence are required by TÜBİTAK to establish a company. The startup enters into an investment agreement with the TÜBİTAK BiGG Fund for a maximum 5% stake in exchange for the support amount. The Board of Directors may set a lower fixed rate. Investment may consist of equity partnership, convertible debt, or both. The fund may join during registration or through a subsequent capital increase, but it cannot purchase shares from existing partners. Phase 2 covers activities like conceptual design, technical/economic feasibility, and prototype development.
c) Seed Investment Phase (Phase 3): This stage invests in startups that received pre-seed funds in Phase 2 or completed projects under the TÜBİTAK 1512 program to accelerate their growth. Seed investment funds (where TÜBİTAK or its privileged partners are investors) conduct detailed reviews of business plans. Startups enter an agreement for a maximum 10% stake. Similar to Phase 2, investment can be equity, convertible debt, or both, and the fund cannot purchase shares from existing partners.
Support Duration
a) In Phase 1, the duration of the activities to be carried out by the implementing organization with the support provided under the TÜBİTAK Support Program for Capacity Building in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is specified in the call for determining the implementing organization.
b) In Phase 2, the support duration for project activities related to business plans, including any extensions, is a maximum of eighteen (18) months.
c) For projects to be supported under Phase 3, Completed upon fund transfer and registration of shares. The support period for research and innovation activities is 36 months following the month investment is completed.
Total Budget Covered Under the Seal of Excellence Support
For Phase 1, the provisions of the TÜBİTAK Support Program for Capacity Building in Innovation and Entrepreneurship are applicable, and the amount and content of the support to be provided to the implementing organizations are specified in the call for determining the implementing organization.
For Phases 2 and 3, investment upper limits are determined by the Board of Directors and announced in the call.
Documents for TÜBİTAK BİGG Fund Investment Processes:
Within the scope of the program, individuals who meet the qualifications specified in the call may apply to the acceleration programs via PRODİS. Eligible applicants include those who, as of the application date to the acceleration program calls, are enrolled in any associate, undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral program at a university, or have graduated from any such program.
Individuals who have previously received support under the Ministry of Industry and Technology's Technological Entrepreneurship Capital Support or TÜBİTAK 1512 or 1812 Programs (Phase 2), or who, as of the date of acceptance to the acceleration program, are shareholders in the ownership structure of any capital company or sole proprietorship, are not eligible to apply. Shareholdings in publicly traded companies and shares acquired through equity crowdfunding platforms are exempt from this rule.
Under Phase 3, applications to the 2025–1 BİGG+ Seed Investment Call may be submitted by Türkiye-based incorporated companies established after the date specified in the relevant seed investment call, provided that they have received pre-seed investment under the 1812 Investment-Based Entrepreneurship Support Program and completed their project, or have completed their project supported under the 1512 Entrepreneurship Support Program.
In Phase 1 of the Program, business idea applications are submitted to the Implementing Organizations designated under the 1601 Program call. The organizations selected to carry out Phase 1 activities will launch their own calls for acceleration programs via the Project Evaluation and Monitoring System (PRODİS) available at http://eteydeb.tubitak.gov.tr. Entrepreneurs will be able to apply to these acceleration programs through PRODİS.
Entrepreneurs who successfully complete the acceleration programs and become eligible to apply for Phase 2 may submit their business plans to TÜBİTAK via PRODİS. The business plan prepared by the entrepreneur under Phase 2 must be approved by the implementing organization in terms of format and content before being submitted to TÜBİTAK.
It may be beneficial to prepare draft versions of the Phase 2 and Phase 3 business plan application documents in advance of submission.
AGY112 Business Plan (To be used as a preliminary information form during the call process and for draft work before the online application.)
Applications to Phase 1 of the Program are submitted via PRODİS (http://eteydeb.tubitak.gov.tr). Information regarding the application process is available on the PRODİS platform at the web address provided above.
Business plans submitted to Phase 2 are evaluated by the panel method. The following three dimensions (with equal weight) are considered in the panel evaluation of the business plan:
a) The technological level and innovative aspects of the business plan,
b) The suitability and feasibility of the business plan,
c) The commercialization potential of the business plan.
Under Phase 1, implementing organizations will evaluate business idea applications submitted by entrepreneurs according to the following criteria:
a) Content and quality of the business idea
b) Market status of the product or service
c) Competence and cohesion of the project team
d) Adequacy of preliminary preparation work
A business idea application to be accepted into the acceleration program must receive a minimum score of 7 out of 10 for each criterion.
Within the scope of the acceleration program, entrepreneurs are provided with comprehensive and integrated support to commercially validate their technology-based business ideas and transform them into investment-ready business plans. Upon completion of the acceleration program, it is expected that the business ideas will have matured systematically and evolved into feasible business plans.
Following the acceleration program, implementing organizations will evaluate entrepreneurs’ business plans based on the following criteria:
a) Technological level and innovativeness of the business plan
b) Suitability and feasibility of the business plan
c) Commercialization potential of the business plan
A business plan deemed suitable for the pre-seed investment stage by the implementing organization must receive at least 6 points out of 10 for each criterion and a total score of at least 20.
Within the framework of Phase 2 and Phase 3, business plan proposals submitted to TÜBİTAK are evaluated through a panel process. Business plans are assessed in panels determined by TÜBİTAK, with the participation of at least three panelists. In addition to the panelists, a moderator is assigned by TÜBİTAK for each panel. During the panel, evaluations are collected from all panelists based on the criteria specified in the “Criteria” section, and after discussions are completed, a panel opinion is formed and a Panel Consensus Report is prepared.
Projects are monitored and supported by an evaluator in six-month periods. In the final period of the project, the organization submits a final project report.
The entrepreneur submits Business Plan Progress Reports (AGY312), which include the activities carried out during each reporting period of the business plan, to TÜBİTAK no later than the end of the second (2nd) month following the relevant period.
TÜBİTAK evaluates the AGY312 report with the evaluator when necessary. The evaluator prepares an evaluation report that includes opinions and recommendations regarding the progress, outcomes, and similar aspects of the business plan, based on the AGY312, the Business Plan (AGY112), notes provided by TÜBİTAK, and an on-site visit to the organization. The evaluator’s assessment is finalized through this report following the on-site visit.
Completion of the Project Monitoring Process and Commercialization Process
The outcomes of commercialization activities carried out during the final period of the monitoring phase and within the commercialization monitoring period of projects supported under the program are tracked and evaluated. The commercialization performance is then taken into account in the evaluation of subsequent project applications. The methodology for using qualitative and/or quantitative results from the commercialization monitoring process in future project evaluations is determined by the President of TÜBİTAK and published on the TEYDEB website.
The business plan progress reports (AGY312) are subject to a preliminary evaluation by the TEYDEB project technical expert in accordance with the Business Plan (AGY112), Project Monitoring Agreement, and the Seal of Excellence letter.
The monitor's evaluation is obtained through AGY412, which will be prepared after the monitor's on-site visit to the organization.
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In Phase 2, the project budget determined during the panel evaluation of the business plan that qualifies for the Seal of Excellence will be transferred to the company as an investment by the pre-seed investment fund in which TÜBİTAK is an investor. The equity share ratio and the investment amount will be specified in the relevant calls.