The application process for the Mastercard Lighthouse Türkiye, an innovative start-up acceleration program that aims to bring fintech startups to international standards, has started. The program enables start-ups to connect with business partners and investors through the Mastercard global network, while accelerating their scaling process through an intensive training program with Mastercard and industry experts.

Mastercard Turkey, have launched the Lighthouse Turkish Chapter, which previously has achieved successful results in the Nordics and Baltics. The program focuses on 8 main pillars: payment systems, cyber security and risk, financial support and investment, sustainability and inclusion, marketing technologies, efficiency, data and analytics, and SME solutions. Mastercard Lighthouse provides program-specific support to start-ups through partnerships with Türkiye’s leading organizations in operational development, financial institution and investor contacts.

PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS STARTED

Applications for the program will be made through the Mastercard Lighthouse turkiyelighthouse.com website between August and September, and the start-ups to be selected at the end of the evaluation process will be presented to the jury. The start-ups selected as a result of the jury evaluation will be accepted to the program and will be officially announced.

Muin Öztop, Senior Vice President of Mastercard Advisory Services EEMEA Region, said: “As Mastercard, we aim to grow Türkiye’s fintech ecosystem with our strategic initiatives. The Lighthouse program is designed as a core element of this strategy and is designed to take local fintech startups to new heights on the international stage. Within Lighthouse, which is much more than just an accelerator program; we will share our critical knowledge and solutions in the field of payments by increasing access to stakeholders such as banks, investors, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship consultants in our extensive network and provide support with our team of advisors. In addition to our various applications and products that support digital transformation and innovation globally, we believe that this program will contribute to Turkey's innovation journey and ensure a leading position in the global fintech industry.”

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Mastercard Lighthouse program stands out with the various benefits it offers to entrepreneurs. Aiming to bring fintech startups in Turkey to international standards, Mastercard offers participants the opportunity to work with Mastercard's senior strategic mentors and experts, participate in various training programs and benefit from operational support. The program enables startups to connect with global and local business partners and aims to develop business partnerships. The opportunity to connect with international networks and markets will allow startups to expand globally and explore new areas. The program also facilitates access to investors, speeding up fundraising processes and providing advantages for entrepreneurs seeking financial support. It also plays an active role in their faster and more effective growth by providing the opportunity to work one-on-one with Mastercard's senior strategic mentors and industry experts.

Launched in 2018 in the Nordic and Baltic regions, the Mastercard Lighthouse program, which has grown with more than 150 partnerships and over EUR 280 million in investments, and has produced unicorn startups from program graduates, aims to bring Türkiye’s innovative fintech startups to the global stage.