Challenges: Facing the Facts
- Difficulty in Accessing Capital and Financing
Finding investment for a new idea is perhaps the most critical point in entrepreneurship. The limited number of angel investors in Türkiye makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to access financing. Banks’ cautious approach towards young entrepreneurs can also slow down this process.
- Regulations and Bureaucratic Barriers
For someone wanting to start a new business, the length and complexity of procedures can be demoralizing. Tax obligations, company formation processes, and sectoral permits can be time-consuming and costly.
- Lack of Mentoring and Experience
Proper guidance and experience sharing are critically important, especially for young entrepreneurs in high school and college. However, it can be said that structured mentoring systems in this regard are still in the development stage in Türkiye.
- Market Saturation and Competition
With digitalization, entrepreneurship has become attractive in many sectors. However, this also means rapid market saturation and fierce competition. Generating original ideas and bringing them to life requires more creativity than ever before.
Opportunities: Bold One Will Win
- The Young and Digital Generation: Turkiye’s Advantage
Türkiye is one of Europe’s most dynamic countries in terms of its young population. This young generation also represents a demographic that actively uses technology, is open to new ideas, and is receptive to change. This creates a huge user base, especially for digital ventures.
- Government and NGO Support
Many institutions, such as KOSGEB, TÜBİTAK, Technoparks, and Development Agencies, offer grants and support programs to entrepreneurs. In addition, thematically focused foundations, such as the Zero Waste Foundation, fund and promote environmentally friendly ventures.
- Rising Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
The entrepreneurship ecosystem is growing stronger in cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Thanks to incubators, accelerator programs, and hackathon events, entrepreneurs can more easily connect with investors and each other.
- Think Globally, Start Locally
Now, even a small idea can make a global impact with the right strategy. It is possible to start a business in Türkiye and expand into global markets. Turkish entrepreneurs are competing with the world in areas such as software, game development, e-commerce, and digital content.
What Does It Mean for Young People?
As a high school student, embarking on an entrepreneurial journey is a great opportunity to discover your own potential and add value to society. There are challenges, of course, but every challenge also holds an opportunity. Today, we are all witnessing how ventures that started with a small idea are turning into tomorrow’s unicorns.
Remember: Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business; it’s about dreaming big and believing in that dream.
