Applications for Mastercard Lighthouse Türkiye are now open

Applications for the third term of the Mastercard Lighthouse Türkiye Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program are now open. Startups working in the field of financial services and technology can apply at turkiyelighthouse.com until November 29, 2026.

The program supports startups to grow their businesses, meet corporate business partners and investors, and prepare for global markets. Startups that pass pre-selection and jury evaluation will take part in the program for 14 weeks.

Which startups can apply?

Startups operating in Türkiye or aiming to operate in Türkiye can apply. The areas the program focuses on are:

Payment systems Cybersecurity and risk management Financial support and investment Sustainability and inclusivity Marketing technologies Productivity, data and analytics SME solutions

What's in the program?

In the 14-week program, startups will work on their growth needs with experts in coaching sessions. In addition, workshops and meetings with the participation of industry professionals will be organized. Training topics include artificial intelligence, preparation for investor meetings and presentation skills. Startups will also be able to get to know Mastercard's solutions closely and evaluate possible areas of cooperation.

The program will end with the Demo Day event, where startups will share their solutions and the progress they have made throughout the program with the ecosystem.

Results of the first two periods

Mastercard Lighthouse Türkiye received over 200 applications in its first two terms. During these periods, over 170 coaching and expert sessions, over 60 one-on-one meetings and over 30 trainings and workshops were held. Approximately 100 corporate contacts were established, and proof of concept (PoC) studies were initiated with various business partners. The 2025 startup satisfaction rate announced by the company is 97 percent.

There is also news from graduate startups. Masraff, the winner of the 2024-2025 period, became the first startup from Türkiye to be selected for Mastercard's global startup program Start Path. Hardal completed its $1.55 million investment round under the leadership of Simya VC. Rudiq, one of the 2025 period startups, received an investment of 1 million dollars under the leadership of Simya VC and aims to grow in the USA, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Mastercard Eastern Europe Region Consultancy Services Senior Vice President Onur Doğan said that they started the program by believing that the solutions developed by startups in Türkiye would find response in international markets. Doğan stated that the success of graduate startups is their biggest motivation in the third term and invited entrepreneurs who want to expand their business to apply.