The Techxtile Start-Up Challenge, organized by Uludağ Textile Exporters Union with the aim of increasing value-added exports with new technologies and methods in the textile industry, was held at Bursa Merinos Atatürk Congress and Culture Centre from 22 to 23 October. The event, supported by several important institutions and organizations, ended successfully with the award ceremony held on the last day.
“Process itself was the reward”
In her evaluations about the competition, UTİB President Pınar Taşdelen Engin stated that she had the chance to observe the development of entrepreneur candidates closely during the competition and the biggest award was this development. “The process itself was the award,” said Taşdelen Engin; “I think this was a process that everybody profited either be the winners, those who could not win, or those who could not qualify for the finals in the previous stages. It is not easy to make subject limitation in such competitions. But I think we were successful. I hope that we will experience a more successful process with a growing Techxtile Start-Up Challenge in the coming years. From the very beginning, we acted together with all stakeholders. Therefore, I would like to thank everyone who contributed”.
13 projects competed in the final of the Techxtile Start-Up Challenge
After the intensive evaluation process carried out by the Evaluation Board; 13 start-up projects that were finalized competed in the final. Important names of the industry take part in the jury under the moderator-ship of Ufuk Batum, Ventures & Mentors League CEO and Project Coordinator, and Pınar Taşdelen Engin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of UTİB. Ümmü Gülsüm Torman and Şeyma Kaya reached the first place in the exciting competition with the ‘Sleep Apnea Preventing Pillow’ project; and the second place was shared by Ahmet Yellice with the ‘Nemflora’ project; and Bülent Kula with the ‘Domestic Design ORC for Flue Gas Treatment Systems with Zero Waste Approach’ project. In addition, 3 R&D Centres received project creation training awards.
The winners received their awards from UTİB President Pınar Taşdelen Engin, BTSO President İbrahim Burkay, Bursa Uludağ University Rector. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saim Kılavuz and Ventures & Mentors League CEO and Project Coordinator Ufuk Batum.
The winners of the competition received many awards. The first 6 finalists will receive training and mentorship from Uludağ University Technology Transfer Office; with one-year consultancy and mentorship and 1 year of consultancy and mentorship, patent application support, establishment of company; and one-year accounting support from Bursa Technical University Incubation Centre. The second and third of the project will be given the right to participate in the Techtextil Frankfurt Textile Fair in Germany; and the project first runner will have the right to participate in the 10-day Incubation and Accelerator Program in Milan. In addition, 13 entrepreneurs who presented on the stage in the final will receive mentoring support for a year from Ufuk Batum, Ventures & Mentors League CEO and Project Coordinator.