The eighth period of Turkey’s leading information and communication technologies company Türk Telekom’s PILOT venture acceleration program has produced new startup graduates.

Based in multiple areas, including crypto exchanges, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, health, big data and the internet of things (IoT), the eight startups have taken their first steps on their global journey.

Türk Telekom, whose PILOT program is Turkey's first corporate startup acceleration program and was launched in 2013, continues to raise technology-oriented startups.

The eight startups took the stage at PILOT Demo Day, which was held online for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The graduation ceremony took place on Nov. 25. Each of the startups was granted TL 150,000 ($19,000) in cash support.

TL 5 million in support

"Türk Telekom has undertaken a very important mission on the way it set out to expand the entrepreneurship ecosystem in our country and to bring valuable stakeholders to our industry," Türk Telekom CEO Ümit Önal said in his speech at the event.

The PILOT program has produced 73 graduate startups so far, 30 of which have raised their innovative business ideas by receiving investments, Önal said.

"Some 350 people were employed last year alone, achieving a turnover of TL 41 million. As Türk Telekom, we invested in four startups, including PILOT graduates, through our corporate venture capital company TT Ventures. We have provided more than TL 5 million in cash support to PILOT graduate startups, and we will further increase our investments," he noted.

Önal stressed that seven years ago, they embarked on a journey with the goal of expanding the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey, bringing valuable stakeholders to the industry and contributing to the economy.

"As the pioneer of the industry, with all our knowledge and financial support, we focused on achieving the position of a technology-exporting country while accelerating initiatives," he said.