28/09/2026
Launched in collabor9ation with Akbank and Sabancı University SUCool, the eight-week hybrid program offers women business owners a hands-on development journey spanning sales, artificial intelligence, brand positioning, and investment readiness.
The Akbank Women SME Accelerator Program, launched in collaboration with Akbank and Sabancı University SUCool, kicked off with an opening event held at the SUCool Entrepreneurship and Incubation Center on Sabancı University’s Tuzla Campus. Bringing together 90 women entrepreneurs who aim to grow their companies and expand into new markets, the program will continue for eight weeks in a hybrid format through a series of training and mentoring sessions.
The Akbank Women SME Accelerator Program was designed to contribute directly to participating businesses’ sales, operations, and financing processes. The program covers a wide range of critical topics, from effective sales approaches and brand storytelling to the integration of artificial intelligence into business processes and digital transformation. Participants also gain insights into financial management, financing readiness, and access to TÜBİTAK R&D funding opportunities.
“Women’s entrepreneurship plays a critical role in building a more inclusive, innovative, and competitive economy.”
Speaking about the program, Ziya Alpay, General Manager of Sabancı University Inovent, said: “Sabancı University, which has played a pioneering role in laying the academic and technological foundations of Türkiye’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, has placed entrepreneurship at the heart of its approach since its establishment, guided by its vision of ‘creating and developing together.’ One of our University’s strategic priorities is to further strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Inovent, established as Türkiye’s first university technology commercialization company, has for many years provided guidance not only in technology transfer and R&D, but also to every entrepreneur seeking to transform an idea into a value-added business model.
The fact that 40% of the ventures supported to date under Inovent and our University’s incubation center, SUCool, have women among their founding partners is no coincidence. This figure is one of the clearest indicators of how Sabancı University and Inovent place equal opportunity and women’s leadership at the center of their efforts to connect academia with industry and innovative ideas with investment.”
Entrepreneurs Introduced Their Companies in One Minute
As part of the opening program, participants took the stage during the “Me and My Company in One Minute” session to introduce their businesses, the solutions they offer, and their growth ambitions. These short presentations gave the women entrepreneurs an opportunity to introduce themselves and establish initial connections that may lead to future collaborations throughout the program.
At the end of the eight-week program, each participant will receive a customized Development Report tailored to her business. In addition, during the Closing Event and Demo Day, participants will have the opportunity to present their companies to business leaders and potential investors.
