The Evolving Role of Universities in Entrepreneurship: Building Not Just Ideas, But Resilience
Over the past decade, entrepreneurial activity in Türkiye has gained momentum. However, the data point to a serious challenge regarding the sustainability of new ventures. According to figures from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), nearly 384,000 new companies were established in the country between 2015 and 2024. In the same period, more than 80,000 businesses closed down. As of 2024, one company shuts down for every four newly established businesses.
Current TÜİK reports show that only 41.6% of new ventures survive beyond their fifth year. In other words, six out of ten startups cease operations within five years. The early stages are particularly fragile—43% of startups fail within the first two years. This trend poses a direct challenge to the development of a strong entrepreneurial culture and the broader economic vitality of the country.
Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Turan: “There Are Ideas, But the Systemic Framework Is Missing”
Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Turan, Director of the Technology Transfer Office at Yeditepe University, offers the following assessment:
“There is no shortage of bright ideas in our country, and universities hold significant potential in this regard. However, the structured systems needed to turn those ideas into startups—and to keep them alive—are often lacking. Entrepreneurs tend to be technically strong, but they face difficulties in marketing, financial planning, team building, and developing viable business models.”
Where Do Entrepreneurs Struggle the Most?
According to Assoc. Prof. Turan, launching a venture requires more than just a good idea. Entrepreneurs often fall short in the following areas:
Weak Business Models: Many entrepreneurs are unsure how to turn their ideas into revenue-generating and sustainable ventures. There are major gaps in fundamental concepts such as product-market fit, pricing strategies, and customer segmentation.
Team Building and Management: Forming a diverse team with complementary skills is often overlooked. As a result, many startups operate with narrow, homogeneous teams, which limits their potential.
Lack of Financial Literacy: Entrepreneurs often delay seeking support in key areas like budget management, investment planning, and financial forecasting. Investor presentations tend to be poorly prepared, failing to gain investor confidence.
Psychological Resilience: Coping with rejection, uncertainty, and long-term motivation requires personal endurance. Without patience, adaptability, and the courage to try again, progress becomes difficult.
How Are Universities Responding to These Challenges?
The Technology Transfer Office at Yeditepe University offers a multi-layered approach to support entrepreneurs:
Mentoring and Business Development Support: One-on-one mentoring is provided at every stage—from product development to marketing strategy and investor engagement.
Cross-Disciplinary Team Formation: Students and faculty from different departments are encouraged to form diverse, well-rounded startup teams.
Guidance on Funding and Incentives: Entrepreneurs are supported in applying to national and international funding programs such as TÜBİTAK BİGG, Horizon Europe, and Erasmus+.
Entrepreneurship Training and Workshops: Practical workshops are held on topics including pitch preparation, business model design, MVP development, and financial management.
Internationalization Strategy: Startups emerging from the university are supported through accelerator programs, investor matchmaking, and online mentoring to expand into global markets.
Why Do Startups Fail? What Should Universities Do?
Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Turan stresses that universities should not limit themselves to idea generation alone:
“Timing mistakes, poor understanding of customer needs, and the lack of a sustainable business model are among the main reasons startups fail. Universities must go beyond providing knowledge—they should offer a structured ecosystem. Entrepreneurship is no longer an optional topic. It must be approached as an integrated system involving education, support, financing, and networking.”
Successful Ventures Start with Strong Universities
“In the entrepreneurship ecosystem, success should not be measured solely by the number of newly founded companies, but by how long those companies survive,” says Turan.
“Universities like Yeditepe with a strong and forward-looking vision, are among the key players in the entrepreneurship ecosystem thanks to their multi-layered support models. At Yeditepe University, we support entrepreneurship at every stage—from idea development to acceleration programs, advanced R&D infrastructure, patented technologies, and funding mechanisms. Our goal is to make this process sustainable.”
“Through our Technology Transfer Office, we have mentored 168 business ideas and 403 entrepreneurs so far—many of which have successfully become registered companies. As of 2024, we are proud to be ranked among the top 10 universities in Türkiye whose graduates have founded the highest number of startups.”
“With our motto ‘Entrepreneurship Is in Yeditepe’s DNA,’ we will continue to support the entrepreneurial spirit with the same commitment.”