First steps in entrepreneurship taken with Step By Medipol

Istanbul Medipol University’s Technology Transfer Office launched the Step By Medipol Early-Stage Acceleration Program to strengthen the University’s entrepreneurial culture and bring together participants from different disciplines around collaborative projects.

The opening event, held at the Technology Transfer Office, was attended by Prof. Yasemin Yüksel Durmaz, Vice President of Istanbul Medipol University; Dr. Selim Serkan Say, General Manager of the TTO; Assoc. Prof. Tuba Işık, Director of the Career Center; and Ahmet Kerim Nalbant, Co-Founder and CEO of Exper Capital TR, alongside mentors and entrepreneurs.

The program addressed the importance of team building in entrepreneurship, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the processes involved in developing business ideas. Explaining how the program would operate, Fatma Gizem Ak, Senior Entrepreneurship Specialist at Istanbul Medipol University’s TTO, stated that participants would go through a development process ranging from testing their ideas with real users and developing prototypes to financial planning.

Encouraging participants to share their ideas and form teams, Ak said, “We see ourselves as your partners throughout this journey.”

PROF. DURMAZ: NEEDS, TEAM, AND TIMING MUST BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER
Prof. Yasemin Yüksel Durmaz, Vice President of Istanbul Medipol University, emphasized the importance of transforming knowledge and technology produced at universities into social value through entrepreneurship. Stating that Step By Medipol was developed to advance the University’s entrepreneurial culture, Durmaz noted that the University’s academic expertise, research infrastructure, and the TTO’s experience could provide valuable support to participants.

Emphasizing that every venture operates under different conditions and follows its own development timeline, Durmaz said, “You need to be patient and continue with perseverance.” Durmaz explained that identifying a genuine need, building the right team, and choosing the right timing should be considered together when developing a business idea.

“If you build the right teams, develop a sound business model, and use the support available here to take the necessary steps, you may be able to make your entrepreneurial story more visible.” she said. Durmaz also highlighted the importance of marketing activities and financial sustainability, noting that legally protecting business ideas is a key factor in ensuring the long-term viability of a venture.

DR. SAY: WE AIM TO ESTABLISH STEP BY MEDIPOL AS A LASTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP BRAND
Dr. Selim Serkan Say, General Manager of the TTO, stated that the program was designed in response to students’ perspectives on entrepreneurship and their expectations of the University. Explaining that the program welcomes not only students with business ideas but also those who are curious about entrepreneurship, Say emphasized the importance of bringing together individuals with different skills around a shared purpose.

He noted that the University’s diverse disciplines, ranging from health sciences to engineering, offer significant potential for developing collaborative projects. Say added that the program aims to channel this interdisciplinary expertise into entrepreneurial initiatives.

Announcing that the program had received more than 200 applications, Say stated: “Our goal is for the program to evolve beyond an initiative limited to certain weeks of the year and become a strong, lasting brand that students can turn to whenever they want to bring their ideas to life.”

NALBANT: BUILDING A TEAM BEGINS WITH KNOWING YOURSELF
Ahmet Kerim Nalbant, Co-Founder and CEO of Exper Capital TR, discussed the importance of building a team capable of turning an entrepreneurial idea into reality.

Highlighting the roles of curiosity, motivation, determination, patience, adaptability, and continuous learning in entrepreneurship, Nalbant emphasized the need to remain open to feedback and establish clear boundaries regarding acceptable risks.

He also noted that innovation can emerge not only in the product itself but also in the methods used to develop and deliver it.

Comparing team building to assembling the pieces of a puzzle, Nalbant encouraged participants to begin by identifying their own strengths and areas for improvement. Emphasizing the importance of bringing together people with complementary skills around a common goal, he said, “The point is not to feel the same way or agree on everything.” Nalbant concluded by explaining that a team’s needs may change as a venture develops and that new members can be brought on board to meet those evolving requirements.