Accelerate what’s next.
A four-month acceleration program for ambitious startups with a working product and clear growth potential—ready to strengthen their business, accelerate growth, and prepare for investment.
Want to support founders? Explore mentoring & expert opportunities
Startups supported
Over 70 startups have been supported through Core VentureLab’s entrepreneurship programs, incubation activities, mentorship, and ecosystem initiatives.
The startups below represent a selection from the broader community of founders and ventures we have worked with.
Build your next chapter with usA community built on ambition.
24 selected ventures from our wider network
Swipe or use the arrows to explore the community.
Built to help you make real progress
This is not a one-size-fits-all program. You start with your startup’s priorities, then work with mentors, experts, and the Core VentureLab network to turn those priorities into measurable progress.
A plan built around your startup
Identify your most important challenges and opportunities, then define clear priorities, KPIs, and milestones for the program.
Dedicated mentorship and expert support
Work closely with a core mentor throughout the program, with access to specialist experts when you need support in areas such as growth, product, finance, or fundraising.
Regular progress reviews
Track what is working, review your results, and adjust your priorities throughout the program so the support stays relevant to your needs.
Connections that can move your business forward
Access Core VentureLab’s network of founders, experts, partners, and investors, with relevant introductions based on your startup’s needs and progress.
Is your startup a fit?
We are looking for ambitious startups that have moved beyond the idea stage and are actively building, validating, and growing their business.
From recently launched ventures with promising early traction to more established startups with stronger customer, revenue, or market traction, what matters is real progress, growth potential, and clear areas where the accelerator can help you move faster.
This is a guide, not an eligibility test. You can apply at any time.
Plan your participation.
The essentials at a glance. Explore the support and program journey below.
CORE VENTURELAB / ACCELERATOR
- Duration
- 4 months
- One focused cohort
- 20 startups
Istanbul, Türkiye
Co-working space: Free, throughout the program
- Program fee
- Free
Built for startups with working product, market validation, and growth potential.
- Applications opened
- 16 September 2026
- Application deadline
- 5 October 2026
- Shortlisted startups notified
- 10 October 2026
- Selection bootcamp
- Mid-October 2026
- Program start
- Late October 2026
- Demo Day
- Late February 2027
- Weekly Accelerator Days
- One full day for all cohort startups
- Core mentor support
- ~24 hours per startup
- Specialist office hours
- Up to 6 hours per startup
Support you can put to work
From Weekly Accelerator Days and dedicated mentor time to investor introductions, here is what the program brings to your growth plan.
One day. Shared momentum. Every week a full Accelerator Day for all cohort startups.
Experience in your corner. ~24 hours of dedicated 1:1 mentor guidance.
A plan with your name on it. Your goals translated into priorities, KPIs, and milestones.
The right expertise, right on time. Up to 6 hours of specialist office hours.
Open the next door. Connections to relevant markets, partners, and the ecosystem.
Make your next raise count. Get ready with financials, a pitch, and an investment story.
Put your progress in the spotlight. Demo Day and investor introductions before the event.
From selection to Demo Day
One connected journey. A clear starting point, a plan built around your startup, and support at every step.
Application & Selection
Share your progress, meet the team, and demonstrate how the program can help you grow.
Onboarding & Baseline Assessment
Establish your starting point: business priorities, challenges, and current performance.
Individual Growth Plan
Define your priorities, KPIs, and milestones for the months ahead.
Mentor Matching
Connect with mentors whose experience fits your challenges and goals.
Acceleration & Growth
Put your plan into action with Weekly Accelerator Days, specialist support, and monthly progress reviews.
Investment Readiness
Strengthen your financial model, data room, pitch, and fundraising strategy.
Investor Matchmaking
Build relevant investor connections through targeted introductions ahead of Demo Day.
Demo Day
Showcase your progress and pitch to investors, partners, and the wider ecosystem.
A shared program. An individual plan.
Every startup enters the accelerator with different priorities. Alongside the core program, you receive targeted support based on your stage, challenges, and growth objectives.
- 01Assess your starting point
- 02Agree priorities and milestones
- 03Review progress and refine
Business Strategy
Put experience in your corner
Work directly with experienced founders, operators, industry specialists, investors, and business leaders who can help you solve real challenges and make better decisions.
- Your core mentor
- A continuing relationship to challenge your thinking, work through decisions, and review progress against your plan.
- Specialist office hours
- Focused conversations around a specific challenge. Bring the question, context, and work you want to improve.
- Investor conversations
- Prepare your investment story and connect through relevant introductions and Demo Day.
Have experience to share?
Support founders as a mentor or specialist expert.
Your progress starts the conversation.
Show us what you’re building. We’ll get to know the business, the team, and what we can achieve together.
05 steps to the cohort
From your first application to the final committee decision.
Start your applicationApplication
Submit your startup and team details through the online form.
Evaluation
Every eligible application is scored against our selection criteria.
Selection bootcamp
Shortlisted teams work through a live challenge with evaluators.
Founder interview
A 20–25 minute conversation with the selection panel.
Final selection
Committee review. 20 startups selected, reserve list maintained.
Make your progress tangible
The selection team considers these six areas. Use concrete examples of what you have built, learned, and achieved to help us understand your business.
Team and execution
Commitment, capability, complementary skills, and evidence of founder ownership.
Market opportunity
How important is the problem, how big is the opportunity, and can this business scale?
Product and validation
Quality of your solution and evidence that customers want what you're building.
Traction and progress
Users, revenue, pilots, partnerships — whatever meaningful progress looks like for your model.
Coachability
Willingness to learn, take feedback, and make evidence-based decisions.
Program fit
Can we meaningfully accelerate your startup's next stage of growth?
Before you apply
Answers on eligibility, participation, and what happens after you submit.
Eligibility
Startups beyond the idea stage with a working product or MVP, evidence of customer demand, a committed founding team, and clear potential to grow. We welcome both recently launched ventures and more established startups with meaningful traction.
Program participation
Application & selection
Need to clarify participation arrangements for your team? Talk to Core VentureLab
Ready to accelerate?
Take your startup to its next stage with focused support, experienced mentors, strategic connections, and investor access.
Around 12-15 minutes. Your progress is saved in this browser.
Help founders
move forward.
For investors and partners
Interested in startup access, program partnership, or collaboration?
Get in touch →