At ÜNLÜ & Co, we have structured our impact investments around three core focus areas: “supporting women in business,” “entrepreneurship,” and “education.” At the intersection of these areas, we established the ÜNLÜ & Co Women Entrepreneurs Academy in 2016 in collaboration with Endeavor and the Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation (GİRVAK).
We provided comprehensive training and mentorship—particularly in financial literacy—to help startups founded or co-founded by women evolve into sustainable business models.
In the 2022–2023 period, recognizing that women entrepreneurs, despite being highly productive in technology and innovation, face challenges in accessing funding and investment in these fields, we shifted our focus to technology-based startups and launched the ÜNLÜ & Co Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy in collaboration with GİRVAK.
For the past decade, we have been working to strengthen women’s leadership within the entrepreneurship ecosystem. In each term, we bring startups developing innovative solutions into a comprehensive nine-month growth journey, bringing together training, mentorship, and investor networks under one roof.
Throughout the Academy, ÜNLÜ & Co leaders act as companions on the entrepreneurial journey, while expert mentors provide support across a wide range of disciplines—from law and human resources to company valuation, branding, digital marketing, and finance. With more than 30 training sessions and inspirational talks, we contribute to entrepreneurs’ ability to develop sustainable and scalable business models.
In the 2024–2025 period, participating teams achieved an 89% increase in motivation and an 82% increase in self-confidence, and a USD 50,000 investment was provided to the top-ranked team.
In the 2025–2026 period, we received applications from over 100 startups across 23 cities and 8 countries.
With the ÜNLÜ & Co Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy, we continue to support womenfounded and women co-founded entrepreneurs developing technology-based innovative solutions.
Hear the journey of the ÜNLÜ & Co Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy through our graduates and witness the successes of the women entrepreneurs we support at ÜNLÜ & Co.
Our Graduates
The ÜNLÜ & Co Women Technology Entrepreneurs Academy is a program designed to provide women entrepreneurs with technology-focused business ideas the knowledge, skills, and network support they need. The program offers a wide range of opportunities, including advanced entrepreneurship training, mentoring sessions, and meetings with investors.
To apply, simply follow our application process. You can submit your application online through the application form page. For questions or feedback during the application phase, you can reach us at info.ktga@girisimcilikvakfi.org
Once the program begins, you may send your questions and feedback to unlucommunications@unluco.com
To apply to the KTGA program, your company must already be established and authorized to issue invoices. In addition, applicants must be women founders or co-founders.
You must apply as a team. Each team must include at least one woman founder or co-founder. Applying as a team will allow you to benefit more effectively from the program.
After applications are received, a selection process will be carried out to evaluate the potential of the ventures and their alignment with strategic focus areas. Selected teams will be assessed based on specific criteria and included in the program. You will be regularly informed about the status of your application throughout the process
For the 2025–26 term, a maximum of 18 teams will be accepted. These teams will consist of women entrepreneurs offering innovative solutions in strategic areas.
Participants must attend at least 70% of all program events. Teams with attendance below 70% will not be considered to have successfully completed the program and will not receive a graduation certificate. This requirement covers all trainings, mentoring sessions, and inspiration meetings.
The main communication channel during the program will be WhatsApp Community. All announcements, reminders, and updates will be shared through this platform.
The program will operate in a hybrid model. Some events will be held online via Zoom, while others will take place physically in Istanbul. This hybrid approach is designed to offer flexibility for entrepreneurs joining from different cities.
The main support offered during and after the program includes:
Advanced entrepreneurship training (business model, investment processes, growth strategies, etc.)
Mentorship support (one-on-one sessions with experienced business leaders and investors)
Networking events (opportunities to meet investors and business partners)
Participation in the alumni network and invitations to exclusive post-graduation events
First Prize: An investment of up to $50,000 provided by ÜNLÜ & Co