The “Pitch Day” was held in Istanbul on 26 July of the SDG Impact Accelerator programme that brings together entrepreneurs from all around the world who will develop solutions which may facilitate, through digital ID, access to basic services and means of livelihoods or technological solutions on clean water and sanitation for refugees and disadvantaged groups.
Under the SDG Impact Accelerator which took off with the Bootcamp on 6-11 July 2019 in Istanbul and Ankara, teams from all over the world have since been developing their initiatives relying on mentors’ support and experience derived in field trips. 20 teams shared their work on the “Pitch Day” on 26 July and those who qualify for the “Accelerator” round will be announced on 2 August.
During the “Accelerator” round, teams will be provided technical and business development support by mentors. Following the second field trip on 20-21 August, teams will present their pilot projects on 13 September at the “Impact Accelerator Demo Day”.
At the Bootcamp designed for global entrepreneurs from all around the world to set out their journey in Turkey with the highest-level support, entrepreneurs met with the national and international partners of the SDG Impact Accelerator early July, received advice from experts, and had the opportunity to exchange ideas and work with them. Entrepreneurs presented their technologies and solutions to Turkish and foreign investors and mentors from the social entrepreneurship ecosystems in Turkey and the world. They met with Mr. Faruk Kaymakcı, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and also visited the seasonal agriculture workers camp at Polatlı, Ankara, and the community centre in Altındağ, Ankara established by the Turkish Red Crescent for people under temporary protection.
Turkey’s first-ever international impact accelerating programme “SDG Impact Accelerator” is led by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Eczacıbaşı Holding, Limak Holding and UN World Food Programme (WFP).
The entrepreneurs under the program will receive financial support up to 14,000 USD, support from local and foreign mentors, field visits, opportunities for networking and partnering, finding partners from other countries, and up to 100,000 USD of impact investment facility.
Having started on 6 July with the Bootcamp, the process will continue until the “Impact Accelerator Demo Day” to be held on 13 September.
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