Mastercard Lighthouse Turkey's second phase is starting

launches in collaboration with EBRD Star Venture

·       Applications are now open for the second phase of the Mastercard Lighthouse Turkey Startup Acceleration Program. Applications can be submitted at www.turkiyelighthouse.com.

·       Unlike last year, this year, under the partnership established with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)'s Star Venture program, startups in Turkey will have access to many additional development opportunities.

Istanbul, Turkey; 17 October 2025: Applications are now open for the Mastercard Lighthouse Turkey x EBRD Star Venture Startup Acceleration Program, which aims to support Turkey's financial services ecosystem. The program, which attracted significant interest from innovative startups across the country last year, is open for applications at www.turkiyelighthouse.com.

Following the preliminary evaluation and jury assessments, the six startups accepted into the program will be officially announced on the Mastercard Lighthouse LinkedIn account in December. The program focuses on key sectors such as payment systems, cybersecurity and risk, financial support and investment, sustainability and inclusion, marketing technologies, productivity, data and analytics, and SME solutions. Participants will have the opportunity to benefit from a wide range of support programs that will enable them to operate globally and accelerate their growth.

Mastercard and EBRD collaborate to strengthen the financial ecosystem

Thanks to the Mastercard Lighthouse Turkey x EBRD Star Venture program, startups will have access to development opportunities such as one-on-one collaboration with Mastercard's senior executives and strategic partners, participation in various training programs, mentorship support, access to a broad network, and participation in important events. Selected startups, aiming to increase the global competitiveness of Turkish startups, will benefit from a comprehensive 18-month support program, consisting of a three-month Mastercard Lighthouse Turkey curriculum followed by an EBRD Star Venture curriculum lasting up to 15 months.

The program content, which will provide the necessary professional infrastructure for startups operating or aiming to operate in Turkey, will be further enriched by EBRD's investor ecosystem in addition to Mastercard Lighthouse Turkey's strong network. Furthermore, each selected startup will have access to a special €50,000 fund provided by the EBRD to carry out consulting projects and participate in international events.

Muin Öztop: "The Lighthouse Turkey program is starting its second year with a commitment to trust and reputation."

Muin Öztop, Senior Vice President of Mastercard Advisory Services EEMEA Region, who evaluated the program, said, "As one of the world's top 20 companies, the Lighthouse Turkey program, which we brought to our country with the goal of increasing the global competitiveness of our financial services ecosystem, is starting its second year in full swing. With our program, we offer our entrepreneurs a value that money cannot buy: a commitment to trust and reputation. Lighthouse Turkey goes far beyond an acceleration program, enabling access to over 30,000 stakeholders, including banks, investors, entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurship advisors. While sharing critical knowledge and solutions in the field of payments, we also provide support with our advisory team's strategic perspective and field experience. We believe that our program, which received great interest in its first term, will be just as successful in its second term with the integration of EBRD's Star Venture program, and we invite all entrepreneurs to join our program."

About the Mastercard Lighthouse Program:

Launched in 2018 in the Nordic and Baltic regions, the Mastercard Lighthouse program, which has facilitated over 300 partnerships and more than €1.2 billion in investments to date, and has produced unicorn startups from among its graduates, was launched in Turkey in 2024. The program aims to connect startups seeking financial support with local and global business partners, facilitate access to investors, and accelerate fundraising processes.

About the EBRD Star Venture Program:

The EBRD Star Venture Program was launched in 2019 to identify and scale high-potential startups in 26 markets. Star Venture provides advisory support, access to grant capital, and connections to local and international ecosystems for startups with high growth potential. It also works closely with local accelerators to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.