1. What is the Argela-WIN program?
Argela has initiated Argela-WIN as a program targeted solely for entrepreneurs. Through this program, Argela aims at motivating and aiding the Turkish and foreign entrepreneurs which operate in the areas of telecommunications and the Internet, to enter into the Turkish market. Argela commits to work with these companies throughout the lifecycle of the relationship. Argela is planning to help realize the ideas and products of the entrepreneurs in a short period of time by leveraging the entrepreneurial spirit and industry experience it possesses and it’s linkage to the ecosystem of Turk Telekom so that these new technologies reach its users rapidly and cost effectively.
2. What type of key benefits will the idea owners / entrepreneurs who receive Argela-WIN support obtain from this program?
In addition to the entrepreneurial experience that has given birth to Argela, they may obtain financial aid, infrastructure support, the chance to benefit from our experience in the identification of the market needs and the area of market analysis, or the opportunity to reach users.
3. Who may benefit from the Argela-WIN program?
The program targets entrepreneurs who develop software, services or systems for Telecommunications and the Internet. Furthermore, the projects directed towards Turk Telekom Group’s needs will be given priority.
4. How many projects are intended to be supported with Argela-WIN?
There is no hard limit to the number of projects that will be supported by the Argela-WIN program. The number will be determined during the screening process according to the level of priority and the resources Argela has allocated. Our aim is to support at least a few projects each year.
5. Why should the entrepreneurs and idea owners prefer Argela-WIN?
By virtue of this program, Argela aims at offering various means of Turk Telekom Group to entrepreneurs. Accordingly, entrepreneurs will find much more assistance than they would obtain from a venture capitalist. They will find the opportunity to use the resident start-up business, financial and marketing knowhow, as well as the engineering practices established over the years in Argela. When the competition in the market is intense (which is the case in the telecommunications market), the successful entrepreneurs need assistance and support over and above just capital. With the Argela-WIN program, it is possible to receive such level and variety of support.
6. What kind of an evaluation model will be applied during the selection phase of projects and ideas?
The Argela-WIN program at first expects entrepreneurs to get into contact with Argela by sending an e-mail to win@argela.com.tr including a short company presentation. The conditions for entrepreneurship have been issued at the website win.argela.com.tr. Suitable companies will be periodically chosen by the selection committee within Argela after a screening process. Business plan presentations will be requested from the owners of the chosen companies. Please note that samples of business plan presentations are included on the WIN web site. Assessing the business plan presentations, a group of creditable companies/projects will be invited to Argela and a phase with a more detailed oral presentation will commence. At this stage, a committee that consists of the technical and administrative personnel from Turk Telekom and Argela, and their consultants, will make the selection. At the final stage, the winning companies will be presented with a proposal describing the model to work together.
7. At which idea-stage can the idea owners take advantage of this program? (For new ideas and/or for more developed ideas)
Argela-WIN is open for entrepreneurs at all stages. Meaning, companies with brand new ideas, or those who have been developing products or have completed product development cycle may benefit from this program. Argela-WIN provides opportunities to work together at all stages.
8. In which main areas will those who prefer Argela-WIN get support?
The companies who prefer Argela-WIN will be able to receive support in many areas (over and above leveraging Argela’s start-up experience), some of which are capital and business planning, engineering services procurement, user/customer provisioning, market assessment, etc.
9. When did the Argela-WIN program start? Is there a time-frame for the applications?
The Argela-WIN program has started in April 2010. There is no hard deadline for the applications. An application can be made at any point in time. However, evaluations will only be performed for the applications to date in specific time intervals announced by Argela.
10. Are there other programs in Turkey analogous to Argela-WIN?
Besides Argela-WIN in Turkey, there are angel investors and venture capitalists. Also, there is a program similar to Argela-WIN called “Do you have an idea (Bir fikrin mi var)?” competition held by Özyeğin University, which aims at funding the winning company. What makes Argela-WIN program unique are (1) the variety of support types, and (2) there are no limitations on the number of winners.
11. What should I do in order to take advantage of this program?
To participate in the Argela-WIN program, entrepreneurs may send an e-mail to win@argela.com.tr with a short summary of their company/idea.
12. What kind of a revenue sharing model can be anticipated by those that will use the Argela-WIN program?
A value will be assigned to the idea/product of the entrepreneur and a revenue share model will be determined depending on the amount of contribution coming from Argela.
13. What are the confidentiality terms that Argela provides to the idea owners and investors?
If there is a conflict of interest, Argela-WIN will inform the applicant upfront and will not pursue the application. Also, it is the responsibility of the applicant to handle its intellectual property rights in Turkey and/or abroad.
