TÜBİTAK 1812 Investment Based Entrepreneurship Support Program (BiGG Investment)
TÜBİTAK 1812 BiGG Investment is a programme of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for students and graduates with technology-focused business ideas. For a venture awarded the Seal of Excellence, the TÜBİTAK BiGG Fund invests TRY 1,350,000 in return for a 3% stake.
- 100+ completed projectsFIX records
- End-to-end managementone team from eligibility to application
- TÜBİTAKprogramme application and follow-up
Who can apply?
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Students and graduates
Students enrolled in an associate degree, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programme at a university on the application date, or graduates of these programmes, can apply. -
Entrepreneurs who have not received Teknogirişim or BiGG support
People who have received Techno-Entrepreneurship Capital Support (Teknogirişim Sermayesi Desteği) or support from Stage 2 of TÜBİTAK 1512 or 1812 cannot apply. -
Entrepreneurs who will set up a company
For a business plan awarded the Seal of Excellence, TÜBİTAK asks entrepreneurs to set up a company that meets the definition of an eligible organisation. -
Capital companies for Stage 3
Capital companies (joint-stock or limited) established in Türkiye that received pre-seed investment in Stage 2 or completed their project under 1512 can apply for seed investment. Foreign founders and investors can take part through a company established in Türkiye.
Eligible cost items
| Support item | Scope |
|---|---|
Acceleration programme (Stage 1) |
You apply for Stage 1 to a BiGG implementing organisation. The organisation assesses your business idea and runs its commercial validation through training, mentoring and incubation. |
Pre-seed investment (Stage 2) |
Development work is supported from conceptual design to technical and economic feasibility, and on to a commercial prototype, demo or software algorithm. The maximum duration is 18 months. |
Seed investment (Stage 3) |
Investment goes to companies that have received Stage 2 investment or have previously completed a 1512 project, to accelerate their growth. The term is 36 months. The investment is made in return for a stake of up to 10%, and the amount is announced in the call. |
Support limits
The programme’s limit and support rate are shown below; current values are confirmed by the institution’s call announcement.
- Stage 2 pre-seed investment (for a 3% stake)TÜBİTAK TRY 1,350,000
- Follow-on investment during monitoringTÜBİTAK TRY 1,350,000
Source: current programme legislation of the relevant institutions. Limits may change under each institution’s current legislation; the exact amount is confirmed by the institution’s announcement during the application period.
- The TÜBİTAK BiGG Fund can invest through equity, convertible debt or a combination of the two.
- In Stage 2, an investment agreement is signed for up to 5% of the venture company’s shares; in the 2026-2 call the rate is 3%. In Stage 3, the limit is a 10% stake.
- For clean technology ventures, the first 3 ventures under UNIDO’s Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) receive TRY 2,250,000 in return for a 5% stake.
- In the 2026-2 call, Stage 2 applications opened on 31 August 2026 and close on 30 September 2026; support starts on 1 January 2027.
Source: TÜBİTAK: 1812 Investment Based Entrepreneurship Support Program (BiGG Investment) · Call announcement (PDF)
Application process
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We prepare your application and business idea pitch for the BiGG implementing organisation.
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We build the business plan around the technology, feasibility and commercialisation criteria the panel uses.
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We upload the business plan to the Project Evaluation and Monitoring System (PRODİS) via the implementing organisation and prepare you for the panel.
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We handle company formation, the investment agreement and monitoring reports together with you.
How is TÜBİTAK 1812 application consulting priced?
We set the fee based on the file scope the programme requires, the project budget and the workload during implementation.
Final eligibility and approval are the relevant institution’s decision. Our role is to prepare the file to the programme’s requirements and follow the process through. At the pre-assessment, we’ll hear about your situation and share a quote for your project.
If you’d first like to check for yourself which support you qualify for: Try the AIx® Incentive Robot for free (available in Turkish)
What is TÜBİTAK 1812 BiGG Investment?
TÜBİTAK 1812 BiGG Investment (Investment Based Entrepreneurship Support Program) is a programme of the Technology and Innovation Support Programmes Directorate (TEYDEB). It invests in ventures in return for equity.
Its aim is to turn technology and innovation-focused business ideas into companies that create added value and skilled jobs.
The programme has three stages: acceleration programmes run by implementing organisations (Stage 1), pre-seed investment by the TÜBİTAK BiGG Fund (Stage 2) and seed investment that accelerates growth (Stage 3).
How does 1512 BiGG differ from 1812?
The equity investment model is now run under 1812; 1512 is not listed as a separate programme in TÜBİTAK’s current programme list.
The support is not a non-repayable grant but an investment that takes a stake in your company.
Today, 1512 is referred to only for past support and as a Stage 3 condition. Companies that completed their project under 1512 can apply for 1812 Stage 3 seed investment.
Which criteria does the Stage 2 panel use?
The panel assesses the Stage 2 business plan under these five headings:
- The business plan’s technology level and innovative aspects
- The business plan’s suitability and feasibility
- The business plan’s commercialisation potential
- The organisation’s infrastructure and financial position
- The team’s quality and the organisation’s management capacity
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Grants and incentives
TÜBİTAK Consulting
We design and run your R&D and innovation projects under the TÜBİTAK programme that fits you.
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Grants and incentives
KOSGEB Consulting
We manage SME applications for start-up, capacity and digital transformation support.
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We prepare your R&D or design centre application and run the centre’s management once the certificate is issued.
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Grants and incentives
Investment Incentive Consulting
We place your investment in the right programme and manage the Investment Incentive Certificate.
Frequently asked questions
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Is TÜBİTAK 1812 BiGG Investment a grant?No. The support is not a non-repayable grant but an equity investment.
No. The support is not a non-repayable grant but an equity investment. In the 2026-2 call, the TÜBİTAK BiGG Fund invests TRY 1,350,000 in return for a 3% stake. -
Who can apply for 1812 BiGG Investment?People who are associate degree, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral students on the application…
People who are associate degree, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral students on the application date, and graduates of these programmes, can apply. People who have previously received support from Stage 2 of 1512 or 1812 cannot apply. -
Where do you apply?You apply through a BiGG implementing organisation.
You apply through a BiGG implementing organisation. In Stage 1 you apply to the organisation’s acceleration programme; the Stage 2 business plan is submitted to TÜBİTAK in PRODİS via the organisation. -
When do applications close in the 2026-2 call?In the 2026-2 call, Stage 2 applications close on 30 September 2026; support starts on 1 January 2027.
In the 2026-2 call, Stage 2 applications close on 30 September 2026; support starts on 1 January 2027. Only entrepreneurs who have completed the acceleration programme can apply for Stage 2; we plan your preparation for the next call together. -
I have received 1512 support before. Can I apply?No. If you received support in Stage 2 of 1512, you cannot apply for 1812 Stage 2. However…
No. If you received support in Stage 2 of 1512, you cannot apply for 1812 Stage 2. However, capital companies that completed their project under 1512 can apply for 1812 Stage 3 seed investment.