FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Students, graduates, researchers, academicians, public or private sector employees, aspiring entrepreneurs, innovation-driven teams, start-up owners or founders, and private company owners or founders who are either Turkish citizens or foreign nationals aged 18 and above can participate in the "TechXtile Challenge" individually or as a team.

No, this program is not an R&D project competition. Individuals or teams with innovative ideas can compete with their projects in one of two categories: the idea stage or the product/service stage. Anyone with the potential to provide value and contribute to the textile industry can apply. We recommend checking the "What are we looking for solutions to?" section on our website for focus areas.

TechXtile Challenge accepts applications in two main categories: the Idea Stage Entrepreneur Category (Level-Up) and the Product & Service Development Entrepreneur Category (Scale-Up). Therefore, competitors who have established a company, moved beyond the idea stage, and developed a product or service with commercialization and scaling potential can apply under the Scale-Up section. Additionally, competitors who are still in the idea stage can also participate in our event and upload their projects under the Level-Up section.

Anyone aged 18 or older can participate in the competition individually or as a team.

All applicants will be eligible to receive "General Entrepreneurship Training." Candidates who pass the preliminary selection and subsequently the finalists will be entitled to receive various training and mentorship sessions throughout the process.

Our goal is to provide participants with the training support they may need, offer mentorship opportunities, and help them expand their networks to support their development. It is an important outcome of our program that participants commercialize their projects in a way that adds value to the economy (and through different business models).

The primary goal of the institutions developing, implementing, and supporting this competition is to assist participants and facilitate collaboration and synergy between contestants and major textile companies, which are key players in the industry. The organizing institutions will have no financial expectations or claims regarding the companies, sales, profits, commercialization, or intellectual property rights arising from the competition. The purpose is to encourage the development of innovative practices in the sector while contributing to Türkiye’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

The primary evaluation criteria can be summarized as follows: technical feasibility, market viability, scalability from an investor's perspective, technological and/or innovative depth, and a cohesive and balanced team approach. All evaluation criteria are clearly outlined in the TechXtile Challenge regulations, which participants are expected to complete.

One of the common concerns of participants involved in technology development and innovation is the fear of having their "unique idea or technological development" stolen. In practice, this is rarely the case, as ideas are often already being considered and worked on by many others. To ensure participants feel at ease, we, as the institutions managing and implementing the program, assure you that due care will be taken regarding intellectual property rights. However, we recommend expressing any critical information or development at a level you feel comfortable with.

It is not mandatory; however, entrepreneurial practice shows that entrepreneurship and innovation often require a team spirit that brings together various disciplines. In this sense, having a balanced team can yield positive results for participants. The application process is designed to accommodate both individual and team submissions. If the project is created by a team, please select the "Team Application" option during the application process.

One person from each of the top three selected projects in the Scale-Up category, eligible for awards, can benefit from the scholarship. This includes either the lead project manager or other project managers (if applicable) who hold a bachelor’s degree in industrial design/fashion design from a university. A total of three individuals can apply for the scholarship, provided they meet the requirements specified in the application (in the case of group participation, one person declared in Annex-3 Consent Form who meets the eligibility criteria). Applications for the International Design Scholarship can be made under Articles 5 and 6 of the General Communiqué on the Support for Overseas Education and Living Expenses in relation to the Design Organization Support of Decision No. 5973 on Export Supports, as outlined in the competition regulations.