Youth Start-Up Challenge Started in KOSGEB Coordinatorship
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WriterKOSGEB, responsible for the national coordination of SME (COSME) Component within the European Union Single Market Programme, announced the details of a new program that will support young entrepreneurs on the international scale. "Youth Start-Up Challenge 2026", considered one of the most strategic foots of European SME Week 2026, opened the application of young visioners with innovative start-ups ideas across Turkey.
KOSGEB is a critical bridge task to integrate the local projects of young entrepreneurs into the European ecosystem. The contest offers a strategic visibility opportunity to open the young entrepreneur pool in Turkey beyond being only a reward program and develop cross-border business associations. In this context, it is aimed to reveal visionary ideas that will represent Turkey in the competition of global scale.
Themes Search by Global Transformation Center
The competition aims to bold initiatives that produce sustainable solution to structural, environmental and economic challenge readings that are facing today’s world. It was reported that the inspection processes to be performed by the Evaluation committee will be given priority to projects under the following three main titles:
Green and Digital Transformation:
Sustainable environmental technologies, innovations to reduce carbon footprint, renewable energy solutions and software or hardware projects to strengthen digital infrastructure. Hybrid ideas that protect both ecological balance and behind the speed of digitalization will be kept in the forefront.
Social Inclusion:
Social initiative models that create opportunities equality and provide innovative solutions to the socio-economic life integration of disadvantaged groups. Projects that create social benefit-oriented and measurable impact will be evaluated in this category.
Economic Durability:
Flexible and sustainable new generation work models that can resist global market fluctuations, supply chain disruptions, logistic crises and possible macroeconomic shocks that can live in the future.
What are the Evaluation and Selection Criteria of the Jury?
Projects will be meticulously reviewed by independent expert jury across Europe. The three basic selection criteria, which will be decisive in the success of the applications, are explained as follows:
Creativity:
How new, original and innovative the business idea offered will be tested.
Originality:
The project will measure the potential to attract the attention of the public and bring concrete, feasible solutions to real world problems.
Contact:
It will look at how clear, clear and persuasive language the idea of the entrepreneur.
Application Process For 18-25 Age Group
The contest is held openly for participation of all young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from 18-25 years. The application conditions of the competition, which focuses on the potential and enforceability of the idea directly by keeping the organizational processes in the minimum, consist of two basic stages:
2 Minute Video Presentation:
The project is a short promotional video that conveys the specific problem, how to bring an innovative solution and why it should be supported.
Short Business Plan Document:
A compact business plan that summarizes the target audience, market share potential, income model and operational steps for the future.
The official application process for projects that will be carefully evaluated by independent experts throughout Europe will continue until September 2026. Applications to be made after this date will not be accepted to the system. Candidates who succeed in the competition will have the opportunity to provide projects in international platforms and provide direct access to global investor networks.
What Rewards and Wins are Expected?
The contest allows participants to access the top-end layers of global entrepreneurship ecosystem. Young visionaries participating in the program will achieve the following critical gains:
The opportunity to provide direct visibility between Europe’s leading policy makers, global investors and leading entrepreneurs.
The opportunity to build strong networks across the European business community (networking), international business associations and strategic connections.
Live Presentation in Dublin: The three finalists remaining in the final competition will be invited to offer their projects live in the SME and Cluster Meeting, which will be held in Dublin, between 2-4 November.
The Great Prize: The winner of the contest will be announced at the stage and the European innovations will gain a special invitation to the European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit 2027, one of the most important platforms for policymakers with investors.
Official Information and Application Channels
The candidates who want to bring their initiative ideas to the international platform to bring their project with fund providers across Europe and get a wide network within the European SME Week can reach detailed information through the official links below and perform their applications:
Program rules, participation details and scope guide for: Youth Start-Up Challenge You can visit the official information page.
For direct reference display, business plan and video upload panel: EU EUSurvey Application Portal You can visit.
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