Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi

What Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi does

Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi is a corporate startup accelerator founded in 2017 by Kuveyt Türk Katılım Bankası A.Ş. (Kuveyt Türk Participation Bank) and headquartered in Şişli, Istanbul. It operates as a wholly-owned, non-dilutive accelerator — it charges no fees and takes no equity — instead offering selected early-stage technology startups milestone-based cash grants (up to 400,000 TL in the 12th cohort, including an R&D bonus), co-working space, structured mentorship from a 44-mentor network, training, and direct access to the Kuveyt Türk banking ecosystem including its API Market and customer base.

The program operates three distinct tracks: the core Lonca Startup Acceleration Program (a 6-month intensive ending in a Demo Day), the Lonca Global Program (launched January 2026, focused on international market access through partnerships such as Slush 2026 and London Tech Week), and the Lonca BIGG Program (a TÜBİTAK BİGG co-funded investment-based entrepreneurship support program). Across 11 completed cohorts Lonca has graduated approximately 100 startups spanning fintech, AI, SaaS, insurtech, sustainability, and digital products; 35 alumni have collectively raised over 18 million USD in external investment, and Lonca has distributed more than 500,000 USD in cumulative grant funding.

Lonca is not itself a revenue-generating business. It is a strategic cost center for Kuveyt Türk, funded as part of the bank's Digital Banking and Payment Systems division and overseen by Executive Vice President Dr. Okan Acar. Its strategic logic is ecosystem-building: channeling startups into the bank's distribution, API, and capital ecosystem (Kuveyt Türk Portföy, Kuveyt Türk Yatırım, Architecht, Neova Sigorta, KT Bank AG in Germany) while sourcing deal flow and innovation pipelines for the parent bank. Its go-to-market is event-driven and cohort-based — startups apply year-round via loncagirisim.com, are evaluated on a rolling cohort cadence, and progress through milestone-based grant disbursements ending in a Demo Day presented to investors and corporate partners.

Name

Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi

Legal name

Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi

Website

https://loncagirisim.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi is the wholly-owned, fee- and equity-free corporate startup accelerator of Kuveyt Türk Participation Bank in Istanbul, offering cash grants, mentorship, API access, and banking-distribution partnerships to early-stage technology startups in fintech, AI, and digital products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Acceleration Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration programs
• Fintech incubator services
• Founder mentorship network
• Grant funding programs
• Technology entrepreneurship support

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Acceleration Program Services: Lonca provides acceleration program services including mentorship, training, office space, grants, and networking opportunities to technology startups at no cost. The program does not charge fees or take equity from participating startups. Funding comes from Kuveyt Türk as a corporate entrepreneurship initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi operates a technology startup acceleration program ecosystem offering 6-month programs with up to 400,000 TL in cash grants, expert mentorship (44+ mentors), training, office space at its Istanbul headquarters, and API access to Kuveyt Türk's banking infrastructure. Programs are offered at no cost and without equity to participating startups. The core offering is complemented by the Lonca Global Program for international expansion and the Lonca BIGG Program in partnership with TÜBİTAK.

Product overview

Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi is a technology startup accelerator established in 2017 by Kuveyt Türk Participation Bank, operating as a multi-program ecosystem rather than a single product. The core offering is the Lonca Startup Acceleration Program, a 6-month intensive program providing up to 400,000 TL in grant funding, expert mentorship, training, workspace access, and API infrastructure. This is complemented by the Lonca Global Program for international market expansion and the Lonca BIGG Program in partnership with TÜBİTAK for technology-focused ventures. The ecosystem also includes Kuveyt Türk API Market access for fintech integrations, a network of 44+ mentors, corporate partnership opportunities, and ongoing alumni support. Programs focus on fintech, artificial intelligence, and digital products with scalable business models.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lonca Startup Acceleration Program: Core acceleration program for early-stage technology startups providing mentorship, training, and grant funding.
• Lonca Global Program
• Lonca BIGG Program

Products and services

• Lonca Startup Acceleration Program Primary 6-month equity-free acceleration program for early-stage technology startups with up to 400,000 TL in milestone-based grant funding, 44+ expert mentors, training, co-working space at Istanbul HQ, and API access to Kuveyt Türk's banking infrastructure. Includes Demo Day graduation to investors and corporate partners. Currently recruiting its 12th cohort.
• Lonca Global Program International expansion track program supporting technology startups with scalable business models in accessing global markets, customer networks, and investor relations. Includes participation in international events such as Slush 2026 and London Tech Week.
• Lonca BIGG Program TÜBİTAK BİGG Investment-Based Entrepreneurship Support Program in collaboration with TÜBİTAK (Türkiye's scientific and technological research institution), supporting technology and innovation-oriented business ideas with grant funding up to 400,000 TL.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ startups graduated across 11 cohorts with 35 alumni raising external investment totaling 18+ million USD
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability18 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kuveyt TürkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKuveyt Türk Participation Bank founded Lonca in 2017 and provides ongoing support including API access, corporate partnership opportunities, PoC opportunities, and access to its customer base and banking ecosystem. Kuveyt Türk's 30+ years of banking experience is made available to Lonca startups.
• Kuveyt Türk API MarketcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides fintech startups with access to financial APIs in test environments under mentorship from the Kuveyt Türk API team. Startups can request specific API activations tailored to their needs.
• ArchitechtmajorTechnology or IntegrationKuveyt Türk subsidiary providing technology solutions. Offers mentorship and potential integration/partnership opportunities for fintech startups.
• Neova SigortaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance subsidiary of Kuveyt Türk offering potential partnership and pilot opportunities for insurance technology (insurtech) startups.
• DAC AkademimajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides educational content and training support for Lonca startups. DAC Akademi founder Halil Furkan Kesler also serves as a mentor in the program.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)majorTechnology or IntegrationCloud services partner providing technical infrastructure support and mentorship for startup technology development.
• Founders Hub (Microsoft for Startups)majorTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft's startup program providing technology tools, cloud services, and ecosystem support for Lonca startups.
• Mutlu Avukatlık OrtaklığıminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal advisory partner providing legal consultation services to Lonca startups through mentor Ümit Akkaya, Partner at Mutlu Law Firm.
• MükellefminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting and tax software partner offering discounted services for Lonca startups through a special partnership agreement.
• GamFedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGame development federation providing community and networking opportunities for gaming and gamification-related startups.
• KT BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKuveyt Türk's German subsidiary (KT Bank AG) potentially offering cross-border banking and expansion support for startups targeting European markets.
• WorkintonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-working space partner potentially offering additional workspace options for Lonca startups beyond the dedicated Lonca office.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Workup (Akbank): Akbank's corporate startup accelerator in Turkey. Direct competitor in the Turkish banking-led accelerator space, offering similar fintech-focused programs, mentorship, and corporate partnership pathways for early-stage startups.
• Hackquarters: Turkish corporate innovation and acceleration platform running programs with banks and corporates. Closely comparable to Lonca in targeting enterprise-startup collaboration and corporate venture programs in Turkey.
• StartersHub: Istanbul-based startup accelerator and early-stage VC. Directly comparable to Lonca in providing structured acceleration, mentorship, and follow-on investment to Turkish tech startups, with overlap in fintech and SaaS verticals.
• Garanti BBVA Partners / Garanti Innovation: Garanti BBVA's corporate innovation and fintech accelerator programs. Comparable Turkish banking-led accelerator offering fintech startups banking APIs, mentorship, and corporate partnership opportunities.

Regional players

• ITU ARI Teknokent: Turkey's leading university-affiliated technology development zone and incubator. Comparable as a Turkish tech startup support ecosystem providing incubation, mentorship, and corporate connections, though academic rather than bank-led.
• Endeavor Turkey: Turkish arm of global high-impact entrepreneurship support network. Comparable in selecting and supporting high-growth Turkish entrepreneurs with mentorship and global network access, though focused on later-stage scale-ups rather than early acceleration.

Broad incumbents

• Y Combinator: Global benchmark startup accelerator. Comparable in the cohort-based acceleration model, demo day structure, and standardized mentor/investor network, though much larger in scale and globally focused rather than Turkey-specific.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network with industry-specific programs. Comparable in structured mentorship, demo days, and corporate partner model, especially relevant where Techstars partners with banks or financial institutions.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator with strong fintech and emerging-market programs. Comparable in vertical-focused cohort acceleration, mentor networks, and corporate partner ecosystems, with European market overlap relevant to Lonca Global.
• 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Global venture firm and accelerator with emerging market focus. Comparable in running cohort-based acceleration programs with mentor networks and follow-on capital, including Turkey-relevant ecosystem activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/loncagirisim
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LoncaGirisim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/loncagirisim
• Instagraminstagram.com/loncagirisim
• Facebookfacebook.com/loncagirisim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments104 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lonca Girişimcilik Merkezi