What Sabanci University SUCool does

SUCool (Sabancı University Entrepreneurship and Incubation Center) is the official entrepreneurship and incubation center of Sabancı University, founded in 2013 and headquartered at the Tuzla Campus in Istanbul, Turkey. Operated as a non-profit, university-affiliated initiative with 1-10 employees, SUCool supports early-stage technology entrepreneurs across verticals including Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Material Technologies, Financial Technologies, Educational Technologies, Smart Cities, Digital Health, Data, and Cybersecurity. Since inception, the center has supported more than 300 startups through their incorporation and growth journey.

The core product offering is the 12-week SUCool Acceleration Program, which guides technology entrepreneurs from initial business idea to investor-ready scalable business model, producing validated problem-customer definitions, clear value propositions, working business models, and pitch decks. Complementary programs include BiGG Masters, a consortium with Sabancı University Inovent A.Ş. and Marmara Technopark that operates as the official implementing organization for TÜBİTAK's BiGG 1812 Investment-Based Entrepreneurship Support Program and provides 2 years of free office space at Marmara Technopark to incorporated graduates, and INOSPARK, an open innovation challenge program. Startups gain access to mentorship, Sabancı University's research infrastructure (SUNUM Nanotechnology Center, KORDSA Composite Materials Center, FabLab), Demo Days, investor introductions, and corporate pilot opportunities with Sabancı Group companies.

The business model is non-commercial: all programs, workspace, and post-incorporation support are provided at no cost to participating startups. SUCool is funded by Sabancı University and TÜBİTAK partnership channels, with go-to-market executed primarily through direct application (Airtable forms), hybrid in-person and online program delivery at the SU Altunizade Digital Campus, community-building events, LinkedIn and website content, and the Kommunity event platform. In 2023, the center opened a dedicated physical Incubation Center featuring workspace for 100 people and an event area for 250 people. The model functions as a public-good innovation infrastructure rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.

Name

Sabanci University SUCool

Legal name

SUCool - Sabancı Üniversitesi Girişimcilik ve İnovasyon Kuluçka Merkezi

Website

https://sucool.sabanciuniv.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SUCool is Sabancı University's non-profit startup incubation center in Istanbul, operating since 2013 to support early-stage technology entrepreneurs through a 12-week acceleration program, TÜBİTAK-linked BiGG Masters investment pathway, and INOSPARK open innovation challenges, having supported 300+ startups at no cost.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Entrepreneurship support programs
• Technology accelerator programs
• Pre-incubation support
• Open innovation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Incubation and Acceleration Services: SUCool provides free incubation center workspace, acceleration programs, mentorship, and training to early-stage technology startups. The programs are publicly funded through TÜBİTAK partnerships and university investment, with no direct revenue charged to startups. Post-incorporation, startups receive 2 years of free office space at Marmara Technopark.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SUCool operates as a university-affiliated startup incubator providing a 12-week intensive Acceleration Program that helps early-stage technology entrepreneurs transform innovative business ideas into investment-ready, scalable companies. The center also runs the BiGG Masters program as TÜBİTAK's official implementing organization for BiGG Investment support, INOSPARK open innovation challenges, and a physical Incubation Center at Sabancı University's Tuzla Campus with workspace for 100 people. All programs, workspace, and mentorship are provided at no cost to participating startups, funded by Sabancı University and TÜBİTAK partnerships.

Product overview

SUCool (Sabancı University Entrepreneurship and Incubation Center) is a startup incubator that supports innovation-based technology startups with a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Acceleration Program (12-week intensive business development), BiGG Masters (TÜBİTAK investment support for incorporated startups), and INOSPARK (open innovation challenge program). The center also provides physical incubation facilities, mentorship networks, and connections to Sabancı University's research infrastructure. Since 2013, SUCool has supported over 300 startups in categories including Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Material Technologies, Financial Technologies, Educational Technologies, Smart Cities, Digital Health, Data, and Cybersecurity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SUCool Acceleration Program A 12-week intensive acceleration program that helps early-stage technology entrepreneurs refine their business ideas, develop products, business models, and go-to-market strategies. Provides training, mentorship, networking, and investment-focused support, culminating in validated problem-customer definition, clear value proposition, working business model, and investor-ready pitch deck. Offered free of charge to qualifying technology startups.
• BiGG Masters An investment support program that provides TÜBİTAK BiGG 1812 Investment-Based Entrepreneurship Support Program access to technology entrepreneurs during company establishment. Operated as a consortium with Sabancı University Inovent A.Ş. (lead) and Marmara Technopark (partner). Technology startups that successfully complete the SUCool Acceleration Program gain the right to apply for TÜBİTAK BiGG Investment Support through BiGG Masters during the company establishment phase.
• INOSPARK An open innovation program series supporting creative ideas and ventures across various technology verticals. Participants work on focus areas provided by industry partners over two days, developing business ideas through training, mentorship, evaluation by a jury, and the opportunity to win cash prizes. Partners benefit from creative solutions developed by participants and access to innovative talent.
• Incubation Center (SUCool Kuluçka Merkezi) Physical incubation center at Sabancı University's Tuzla Campus opened in 2023, providing a free working environment with workspace for 100 people and an event area for 250 people. Supports startups in technology verticals including AI, Advanced Materials, FinTech, EdTech, Smart Cities, Digital Health, Data, and Cybersecurity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ startups supported to incorporation and growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sabancı University Inovent A.Ş.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInovent A.Ş. is Sabancı University's investment and technology transfer company. It serves as the lead organization for the BiGG Masters consortium and provides holistic support for company formation and investment processes. Works with SUCool on business plans, financial projections, and TÜBİTAK application documents.
• Marmara Teknokent (Marmara Technopark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarmara Teknokent is a partner in the BiGG Masters consortium. Provides 2 years of free office space for startups that incorporate through BiGG Masters after completing the SUCool program. Contributes laboratory infrastructure and technopark ecosystem for graduate startups.
• European Business NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational cooperation partner supporting global business development and international connections for SUCool startups through European business network collaborations.
• Inospark PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious industry partners provide focus areas and challenges for the Inospark open innovation programs. Partners benefit from creative solutions developed by participants and access to innovative talent.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yıldız Teknopark: Yıldız Technical University's technology development zone in Istanbul, hosting incubated and accelerated startups with research infrastructure access. Comparable as an Istanbul-based university incubator serving similar technology verticals.
• METU Teknokent (Middle East Technical University): METU's technology development zone and incubator in Ankara, hosting hundreds of startups across deep-tech verticals. Comparable as a long-established Turkish university-affiliated incubator/technopark with similar mandate of supporting tech entrepreneurship and access to TÜBİTAK programs.
• Bilkent Cyberpark: Bilkent University's technopark and incubation center in Ankara, supporting technology startups with office space, mentorship, and university research infrastructure access. Directly comparable to SUCool's university-affiliated incubation model.
• İTÜ Çekirdek (Istanbul Technical University): Istanbul Technical University's early-stage startup accelerator, offering pre-incubation and acceleration programs to technology entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to SUCool as a major Turkish university-based incubator competing for the same founder pool and TÜBİTAK BiGG funding allocations.
• Etohum (now Workup): One of Turkey's longest-running startup accelerator programs, supporting early-stage Turkish internet and software entrepreneurs with mentorship and investor introductions. Comparable as a Turkey-focused accelerator competing for similar early-stage technology founders.

Regional players

• Endeavor Turkey: Turkish arm of global high-impact entrepreneurship support organization providing mentorship, networks, and resources to growth-stage entrepreneurs. Comparable in supporting Turkish founder development and ecosystem building, though focused on later-stage scale-ups than SUCool's pre-seed focus.

Broad incumbents

• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator with industry-specific programs offering mentorship, office space, and seed funding to early-stage startups. Comparable as a structured international accelerator with similar mentorship-driven cohort model.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform running corporate-startup accelerator programs across verticals with strong industry partnership focus. Comparable through its corporate-open-innovation programs similar to SUCool's Inospark model.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running mentorship-driven 3-month programs for early-stage startups. Comparable as a benchmark accelerator model with mentor networks and Demo Day investor events, though operating at much larger international scale.

Emerging players

• Hackquarters: Turkey-based corporate innovation and startup acceleration platform partnering with corporates and universities to run open innovation and acceleration programs. Comparable in operating acceleration programs and corporate-startup matchmaking similar to SUCool's Inospark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sucool
• Xx.com/SUCool
• Facebookfacebook.com/sabancisucool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sabanci University SUCool