Social

Entrepreneurship

As an institution founded 30 years ago by four partners — with entrepreneurship embedded in our DNA — we see entrepreneurship not merely as an idea, but as a journey driven by courage, vision, and the ambition to create sustainable impact.

We believe that sustainable development is only possible within an ecosystem where new ideas are boldly supported. For this reason, we run comprehensive programs to ensure that women and young people become more visible, more equipped, and more empowered throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.

The Women Entrepreneurs Academy, launched in 2016, was our first step designed to enable women to take a more active role in business life. We expanded this initiative in 2023 under the Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy (WTEA) in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Foundation (GİRVAK). We provide technical training, mentorship, and investor access to women entrepreneurs who wish to operate in fields such as technology, artificial intelligence, health, and sustainability.

Additionally, through our memberships and collaborations with ecosystem-leading institutions such as TÜSİAD, YPO, GİRVAK, and Yenibirlider, we share experience and help disseminate best practices across the entrepreneurship landscape.

For us, entrepreneurship is not only a means of creating economic value — it is also one of the most important tools for building a more equal, innovative, and inclusive future.

Supporting Women’s Employment

Since our establishment, we have encouraged the participation of women in professional life across all our group companies and continue our efforts to support women in every field and increase awareness on this issue

We believe that sustainable growth and societal prosperity require strengthening women’s presence in economic life. In this respect, since 2016 we have been a signatory of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and a supporter of the “HeForShe” initiative, helping women participate across all sectors and at all levels of life. We are also one of the first seven companies to draft and sign the 30% Club declaration—hosted by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum—aimed at increasing women’s representation on company boards and in senior leadership roles.

As a result of our commitment to increasing the number of women in leadership positions within the company, ÜNLÜ Yatırım Holding today maintains 50% women representation on its Board of Directors and 49.5% women employees across the group — reinforcing our leadership in this area within the sector.

Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy

We support women entrepreneurs in overcoming gender-based barriers and contribute to transforming ideas into sustainable business models.
Launched in 2016 in collaboration with Endeavor and the Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation, the ÜNLÜ & Co Women Entrepreneurs Academy has been refocused on the technology sector as of 2022.
Through the ÜNLÜ & Co Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy, we provide women entrepreneurs with training—particularly in financial literacy—along with investor-focused mentorship and networking opportunities.

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Education

At ÜNLÜ & Co, we position the promotion of financial literacy and supporting young people throughout their education and career journeys among our core priorities.

Through projects such as the Koç University Anatolian Scholars Program and the Robert College Scholarship Program, we provide support to successful yet financially disadvantaged students, enabling them to continue their educational paths. By offering institutional support to the Şevket Sabancı “First Chance” Program, we help young graduates access employment opportunities and gain experience in the civil society sector.

For more than 10 years, we have continued our Management Trainee (MT) programs to attract young talent to our organization and support their career development, providing them with the opportunity to make a strong start in their professional journeys.

In line with our corporate social responsibility approach, we value supporting education not only for our employees but for individuals from all segments of society. Accordingly, through our YouTube channel “ÜNLÜ THE CLUB,” we contribute to advancing financial literacy by sharing comprehensive finance content, market outlook assessments from our Research Department, monthly investment recommendations, and updates on the financial agenda.

Art

We view art as an integral part of social development and cultural sustainability, and we consider our support for the arts as an essential component of our corporate culture.

By supporting initiatives such as the “I-You-Them” exhibition highlighting the works of women artists, as well as collaborations with Contemporary Istanbul and the SAHA Association, we help make the unifying power of art more visible. Through our long-standing support for institutions like İKSV and the Istanbul Biennial, we contribute to strengthening contemporary art in Türkiye, while integrating art into our workspaces as a natural extension of our environment.

We believe that art — as a source of inspiration that enriches our perspective — and every field nourished by creativity bring individuals, institutions, and society together, helping move them forward.

NGO Collaborations

Türkiye Entrepreneurship Foundation (GİRVAK)

Through the Türkiye Entrepreneurship Foundation (GİRVAK), where ÜNLÜ & Co Board Member Şebnem Kalyoncuoğlu Ünlü serves on both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors, we provide guidance to women entrepreneurs and young people. We share our experience through initiatives such as GİRVAK FellowUp inspiration meetings and the Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy.

Endeavor Association

Founded in 1997 in New York and active in Türkiye since 2007, Endeavor is a pioneering organization that supports fast-growing entrepreneurs in emerging markets and leads the global “High-Impact Entrepreneurship” movement. ÜNLÜ & Co launched its first women entrepreneurship support program in collaboration with the Endeavor Association.

Women Entrepreneurs Association of Türkiye (KAGİDER)

KAGİDER is a civil society organization that aims to empower women through entrepreneurship and supports women not only economically but also politically and socially. Its goal is to help transform the unequal and disadvantaged social status of women by promoting women’s entrepreneurship. At ÜNLÜ & Co, we have maintained our long-standing representation within KAGİDER and continue to support various KAGİDER events at the senior management level.

Koç University Anatolian Scholar Program

Launched by Koç University in 2011, the Anatolian Scholar Program supports successful students who face financial barriers in continuing their education. As ÜNLÜ & Co, we contribute to this program to help young people access high-quality education.

Robert College Scholarship Program

The Robert College Scholarship Program was established with contributions from Robert College alumni and volunteers to provide educational support to students. Since 2014, ÜNLÜ & Co has supported young people in receiving a high-quality education and becoming individuals who contribute to society and their country. As part of this effort, we have allocated a lifelong scholarship to Robert College on behalf of ÜNLÜ & Co. We also actively participate in career days and special events to support students’ development.

Yenibirlider Association – LEAD21 Fellowship Program

The Yenibirlider Association builds a leadership ecosystem for Türkiye’s young leaders, aiming to develop their 21st-century leadership competencies. The LEAD21 Fellowship Program brings together 21 university students with the highest leadership potential for an intensive year-long development process. Our Founder and Chairman of the Board, Mahmut L. Ünlü, serves as a mentor in the LEAD21 Program, contributing to young people’s leadership journeys and professional growth.

The Duke of Edinburgh Fellowship Program

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Fellowship is a personal development program for young people, designed to equip them with the skills that help them make a difference in their communities and the world. Launched in 1987, the program has 400 active donors and members from 42 countries. As ÜNLÜ & Co, we have supported the Award Fellowship Program since 2015 by providing a lifelong scholarship.

HeForShe

Initiated in partnership with the UN Global Compact and UN Women in 2010, the Women’s Empowerment Principles aim to strengthen women to ensure their full participation across all sectors and at all levels of life. Since 2016, we have been among the supporters of the UN Women “HeForShe” initiative, with the goal of increasing women’s economic participation for sustainable growth and societal well-being.

30% Club Türkiye

We are among the first seven companies to draft and sign the 30% Club Türkiye declaration, hosted by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum, which aims to increase women’s representation on corporate boards and in senior leadership roles.

Esas Sosyal – Şevket Sabancı “First Chance” Program

As ÜNLÜ & Co, we have supported the Şevket Sabancı “First Chance” Program since 2020. The program provides a solution model for educated youth unemployment in Türkiye, enabling young graduates to gain their first work experience after completing university.