Başakşehir Living Lab

What Başakşehir Living Lab does

Başakşehir Living Lab (BLL) is a municipal innovation and technology center established in 2012 by Başakşehir Belediyesi (Başakşehir Municipality) in Istanbul, Turkey, and self-described as Turkey's first Living Lab. It is a member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) and participates in European cooperation projects including METABUILDING LABS. The organization operates as a free public service rather than a commercial venture, funded through municipal appropriation.

BLL's core offering is an integrated startup incubation stack delivered through a physical innovation center in Başakşehir, Istanbul, comprising: an incubation center (Kuluçka Merkezi) with co-working space and internet infrastructure; investor matchmaking (Yatırımcı ile Buluşturma) connecting prototype/MVP-stage startups to early-stage and angel investors; one-on-one mentorship and business development support; network development through institutional ecosystems; a "real experience environment" for testing products with authentic users; laboratory support covering electronics prototyping, 3D printing, and design workshop facilities; design support services; and entrepreneurship education. Adjacent offerings include the Base Espor Merkezi (esports sub-brand) and a Digital Certificate Verification Center for credential issuance. Supporting digital infrastructure includes an online application portal and social/digital channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, newsletter).

The business model is a managed-services/public-good construct: services are provided at no direct cost to entrepreneurs, students, and community members, with the center functioning as a free public service under municipal ownership rather than a fee- or equity-generating entity. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led, with over 2000 events conducted, 1000+ program participants engaged, 1000 graduates, 25 training programs, and 33+ startups in the current portfolio across technology, healthcare, translation, automotive, gaming, and energy verticals. Customer segments span entrepreneurs and startup founders (primary), students and young people, women entrepreneurs, teachers and educators, and the general public.

Name

Başakşehir Living Lab

Legal name

Başakşehir Living Lab İnovasyon Merkezi

Website

https://basaksehir-livinglab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Başakşehir Living Lab is a municipally-owned innovation center in Istanbul that delivers free startup incubation, prototyping, mentorship, and investor matchmaking, plus training events for students, teachers, and community members as a free public service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Innovation Center Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC), Virtual Labs, Remote Labs & Hands-On Practice Tools (EDAFABAH), Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Innovation lab programs
• Entrepreneurship training workshops
• Product prototyping laboratories
• Technology education events

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Operates as a public innovation center funded by Başakşehir Municipality. Services appear to be provided free of charge to entrepreneurs and participants as a public good.
2. Startup Investment Facilitation: Connects promising startups with early-stage investors and angel investor networks, but does not take equity or fees directly from these introductions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Başakşehir Living Lab operates a public Living Lab innovation and technology center providing startup incubation services (co-working space, electronics and 3D printing labs, design support), one-on-one mentorship and business development, investor matchmaking with Turkish early-stage and angel investors, and real-environment product testing with real users. It also runs entrepreneurship, technology, and digital skills education programs for students, teachers, women entrepreneurs, and the general public, alongside the Base Espor Merkezi (esports center) and a Digital Certificate Verification platform for training certificates.

Product overview

Başakşehir Living Lab is Turkey's first Living Lab (established 2012), an innovation and technology center operated by Başakşehir Municipality and member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). The center provides an integrated portfolio of startup incubation services including: Kuluçka Merkezi (Incubation Center) with co-working space and laboratory facilities; Yatırımcı ile Buluşturma (Investor Matchmaking); Mentörlük ve İş Geliştirme Desteği (Mentorship and Business Development); İlişki Ağı Geliştirme (Network Development); Gerçek Deneyim Ortamı (Real Experience Environment) for user testing; Laboratuvar Desteği (Laboratory Support) with electronics and 3D printing; Tasarım Desteği (Design Support); Girişimcilik Eğitimi (Entrepreneurship Education); and Base Espor Merkezi (Base Esports Center). Digital services include the Dijital Sertifika Doğrulama Merkezi (Digital Certificate Verification Center) for training certificates. The Living Lab has supported 25 training programs, 1000 graduates, 2000 events, and 1000 participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Base Espor Merkezi: Esports center operated under Başakşehir Living Lab.

Products and services

• Kuluçka Merkezi (Incubation Center) Incubation center providing co-working desks, internet infrastructure, electronics equipment, 3D printers, and meeting rooms for early-stage entrepreneurs and startup founders.
• Yatırımcı ile Buluşturma (Investor Matchmaking) Service connecting innovative startups at prototype/MVP stage or with high commercial potential to early-stage investors and angel investment networks in Turkey's ecosystem.
• Mentörlük ve İş Geliştirme Desteği (Mentorship and Business Development Support) One-on-one mentorship delivered by professional in-house staff to help entrepreneurs accelerate their projects and adapt them to the market.
• İlişki Ağı Geliştirme (Network Development) Service leveraging the broad ecosystem of partner institutions and organizations to provide entrepreneurs with the network relationships they need.
• Gerçek Deneyim Ortamı (Real Experience Environment) Living Lab environment enabling testing of products and services with real users in real settings, from idea stage through implementation.
• Laboratuvar Desteği (Laboratory Support) Laboratory facilities including Electronics Laboratory, 3D printing capabilities, and Design Workshop enabling entrepreneurs to develop prototype products.
• Tasarım Desteği (Design Support) Design support services including interface design, announcements, and graphic design provided by the Design Workshop staff.
• Girişimcilik Eğitimi (Entrepreneurship Education) Various training programs offered throughout the year to help entrepreneurs work more effectively.
• Base Espor Merkezi (Base Esports Center) Dedicated esports center operated under Başakşehir Living Lab for gaming and esports-related activities and training.
• Dijital Sertifika Doğrulama Merkezi (Digital Certificate Verification Center) Email-verified platform allowing participants to view and download certificates earned from Başakşehir Living Lab trainings and events as PDF.
• Sertifika Sorgula (Certificate Verification Service) Public-facing certificate verification service on the Digital Certificate Center platform enabling third parties to validate certificates issued by Başakşehir Living Lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000 graduates from training and incubation programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Başakşehir Living Lab is a member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), collaborating with the European Union. This membership provides international recognition, cross-border collaboration opportunities, and access to a network of living labs across Europe. The organization participates in European projects including METABUILDING LABS.
• Başakşehir Belediyesi (Başakşehir Municipality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaşakşehir Living Lab operates as an innovation and technology center under Başakşehir Municipality. The municipality provides funding, institutional support, and access to its broader network and resources. The center is a key component of Başakşehir's technology and innovation ecosystem.
• METABUILDING LABScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cooperation project in which Başakşehir Living Lab participates. The 6th General Assembly was held in Hungary. The project focuses on building connections and collaboration among living labs and innovation centers across Europe.
• Özdemir Bayraktar Bilim Kültür ve Yaşam MerkeziminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner science and culture center where Başakşehir Living Lab conducts events and workshops, including astronomy observations and science programs.
• Bilim Başakşehir (Science Başakşehir)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience park operated by Başakşehir Municipality where Living Lab conducts workshops, training programs, and educational activities for children and families.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL): International federation of Living Labs that BLL belongs to. Comparable as a network of innovation centers using real-environment user testing methodology — directly relevant as BLL's institutional counterpart at the European level.
• Fab Foundation: Global non-profit supporting the Fab Lab network of digital fabrication labs. Comparable as a makerspace/innovation lab operator with shared focus on electronics, 3D printing, and community-led prototyping — though operating globally rather than locally.

Regional players

• Habitat Association: Turkish non-profit focused on youth entrepreneurship and technology education programs. Comparable as a Turkish organization running training programs and entrepreneurship support, though with a broader development focus rather than makerspace infrastructure.
• Teknopark Istanbul: Large-scale Istanbul-based technopark operated with public university partnership providing incubation, accelerator, and lab facilities. Comparable as a major Turkish innovation center, though anchored to a university rather than a municipality.
• ITU ARI Teknokent: Istanbul Technical University's technology development zone hosting hundreds of startups with lab infrastructure and university research access. Comparable as a Turkish innovation/incubation hub with laboratory facilities and academic partnership advantages.
• ODTÜ Teknokent (METU Technopolis): Ankara-based university-affiliated technopark supporting technology startups with R&D infrastructure. Comparable as a Turkish innovation hub offering workspace, lab access, and incubation — though based in a different region than BLL.

Direct peers

• Impact Hub Istanbul: Part of the global Impact Hub network, this Istanbul hub provides incubation, co-working, and accelerator programs for impact-driven entrepreneurs. Directly comparable as a community-led innovation center serving founders with mentorship and workspace.
• ATÖLYE: Istanbul-based creative and innovation community and coworking space that offers prototyping, maker infrastructure, and corporate innovation programs. Directly comparable as a Turkish innovation hub operating in the same city with overlapping startup incubation and design-driven services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blivinglab
• Facebookfacebook.com/BasaksehirLivingLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ba-ak-ehirlivinglab

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 Başakşehir Living Lab