Mastercard Lighthouse Türkiye partners with EBRD’s Star Venture Programme
· Mastercard Lighthouse Türkiye, an accelerator programme aimed at bringing fintech startups up to international standards, has merged with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) Star Venture programme.
· Through this merger, startups in Turkey will have developmental opportunities such as mentoring, access to a wider network, and participation in key events.
Istanbul, Türkiye; 20 May 2025: Mastercard, a global payments technology company, has partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) Star Venture programme with its Lighthouse Turkiye startup acceleration programme, which was launched to support the Turkish fintech ecosystem last year. With the new partnership, a joint acceleration program was launched aiming to help local fintechs and tech startups build stronger go-to-market strategies, forge real partnerships, and ultimately scale across the region.
Commenting on the collaboration, Yasemin Bedir, Mastercard Eastern Europe Division President, said: "Launched last year in Türkiye, Mastercard Lighthouse aims to bring fintech startups in our country up to international standards. By bringing this programme to our country to enhance the global competitiveness of our fintech ecosystem, we are committing to our entrepreneurs the value that money cannot buy: trust and credibility. It’s a strategic way for us to stay close to emerging technologies, unlock new business models, and co-create value with the ecosystem. Today marks a significant milestone for us as we launched a joint acceleration program with EBRD. This partnership is set to provide Turkish fintech startups with unparalleled access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. We’re incredibly excited about the new collaboration and believe it will empower startups to reach a wider audience, foster innovation, and contribute to building vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems.”
Benefits of Lighthouse programme for startups seeking financial support
The Lighthouse acceleration programme actually originated in the Nordic and Baltic countries in 2018, where cash is barely used and some of the most vibrant fintech ecosystems exist. Launched in 2024 with the aim of bringing Turkiye's innovative fintech startups to the global stage, the Mastercard Lighthouse Startup Acceleration Programme offers participants the opportunity to work one-on-one with Mastercard's top strategic mentors and experts, participate in various training programmes, and benefit from operational support to accelerate their growth. The programme enables startups to connect with over 30,000 partners who work directly with Mastercard, facilitates access to investors, and accelerates fundraising processes.
Over 350 start-ups and 36 accelerators supported
The EBRD Star Venture Programme was launched in 2019 to identify and scale high-potential startups in the Bank's regions of operations. Today, the programme has expanded to 26 markets and has become a key initiative for the Bank to support early-stage entrepreneurship in emerging markets. Star Venture provides these high-growth potential start-ups with advisory support, mentoring, access to grant capital and connections to local and international ecosystems. It also works closely with local accelerators to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. To date, the programme has supported over 350 startups and 36 accelerators across the EBRD regions.
Following the partnership of Mastercard and EBRD, the 6 fintechs on Mastercard's shortlist will participate in the EBRD's program for 3 months including opportunities such as consultancy, access to our extensive network, and presence at key events.
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