The Social Impact Award is a global social impact program that supports young, early-stage social entrepreneurs to develop and implement innovative business solutions that tackle societal challenges. Since 2009, SIA has impacted thousands of young change agents in more than 25 countries. As Impact Hub Istanbul, we are happy to organize SIA in Turkey since 2019.
Social Impact Award
Application process has ended
Applications for the Social Impact Award Program ended on 10 June. If you are thinking of applying for the next round of the program, you can fill out the form below so that we can keep you informed.
Areas Of Impact
Education:
Our free and publicly accessible workshops, events and webinars allow young people to explore the field of entrepreneurship and start their journey as agents of change.
Awareness:
We inspire young people with the stories of thousands of local social entrepreneurs. We raise awareness of social entrepreneurship as a method for young people who are on a potential career path in civic engagement.
Community:
We build bridges for our global community of young social entrepreneurs, experts, partners and supporters to connect with each other and support them with special opportunities.
Support:
We support promising young social entrepreneurs with know-how, mentoring, access to networks and a pre-seed award. We also offer a wide range of offers to strengthen their resilience.
Who can apply?
Social Impact Award applicants must meet the following criteria:
- All team members of the initiatives applying to the programme must be under the age of 30.
- At least one team member of the enterprises applying to the program must have a residence in Turkey.
- Applicants must not have previously participated in the SIA incubation process with the same idea or won an SIA award.
- The project idea must not have received funding or generated revenue before 2 years.
- Ideas presented in previous years can be resubmitted in the SIA application.
![Adsız tasarım-3](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adsiz-tasarim-3-2.png)
Impact of the program
26 countries have hosted the Social Impact Award Program, which has been running since 2009. Within the scope of the program, more than 59,100 young people participated in workshops and events, while the total number of entrepreneurs selected for the incubation program and entitled to receive training and mentoring support reached 1163. Since 2019, SIA Turkey, which has been held under the roof of Impact Hub Istanbul, has received more than 400 applications so far and supported 37 entrepreneurs within the scope of the program.
59.100+
NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS AND
EVENT PARTICIPANTS SINCE 2009
26
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES
HOSTING SIA SINCE 2009
1163
TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTERPRISES
PARTICIPATING IN SIA INCUBATION PROGRAMS
SIA 2023 Winners
![_YGZ7294](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/YGZ7294-scaled.jpg)
Palgae
Palgae, brings industrial waste into the circular economy by producing algae-based bioplastic raw material with carbon capture technology.
![_YGZ7309](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/YGZ7309-scaled.jpg)
Craft Antakya
Craft Antakya, is a platform that will facilitate artisans in earthquake-affected Hatay to establish sustainable collaborations in order to ensure the continuity and visibility of their production.
![_YGZ7298](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/YGZ7298-scaled.jpg)
EKA Community
EKA Community, is a platform that brings together young professionals who are eager to make an impact and facilitates their collaboration and participation in employment.
![_YGZ7301](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/YGZ7301-scaled.jpg)
Innorare
Innorare, creates a community that collaborates to create innovations that will make the lives of individuals affected by rare diseases easier.
![SIA](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SIA.png)
Netflix Adaptation Lab
Netflix Adaptation Lab is a workshop and production program in collaboration with Netflix Turkey, Impact Hub istanbul and Tatino Films, aiming to develop the capacity of writers and producers to adapt different genres of works into series format and to create new adaptation projects.
With Netflix Adaptation Lab, we aim to increase the quality of series adaptations made in the world and in our country, and to facilitate producers and writers to produce at global standards in adaptation.
![_E4A6854 (1)](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/E4A6854-1-scaled.jpg)
Application process has ended
Netflix Adaptation Lab’s application process between 27 March – 12 April 2023 has ended. If you have any questions about the program or have a message for us, you can fill out the form below.
Participant Profile
The program accepted applications from two different categories:
1. Independent writers who want to gain experience in adaptation
This category welcomes applications from writers who do not have an adaptation project in development, but would like to develop their skills and experience by working in this field. It is not necessary to have worked on an adaptation project before, but professional writing experience is a prerequisite.
2. Creators or creative teams with an existing fiction adaptation project
This category was open to applications from authors and teams who had an adaptation project in development and wanted to take it to the next stages with the support of mentors. Authors and teams wishing to apply for this category should have decided on the work to be adapted, acquired the adaptation rights and developed their ideas on how to adapt the work.
About Mentors
Ludovica Rampoldi (Italy)
Ludovica Rampoldi is a screenwriter who has written for many TV series and feature films. In the field of adaptation, she drew attention with her adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel Slam for the film directed by Andrea Molaioli. He was also part of the script team for the film adaptation of Roberto Saviano’s novel Gomorrah, which was sold in 190 countries. He co-produced the 1992 and 1993 series for Sky, writing the screenplays for all episodes.
![4I4A7838](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4I4A7838.jpg)
Three episodes of the Israeli series In Treatment as part of the team that adapted the season for the Italian market. In 2022 he wrote 6 episodes of The Gymnasts, an adaptation of Ilaria Bernardini’s novel, for Paramount. His last work was the crime-comedy series The Bad Guy, which premiered on Amazon Prime in December 2022. Ludovica has worked with some of the greatest contemporary Italian filmmakers, including Bernardo Bertolucci and Marco Tullio Giordana. She recently collaborated twice with Marco Bellochio on the mini-series Exterior Night (Cannes 2022). He is a lecturer at the Rome Film School.
Lukasz M. Maciejewski (Poland)
Lukasz M. Maciejewski is the screenwriter of Marcin Koszalka’s first feature film, The Red Spider. His second feature film was The Getaway King, directed by Mateusz Rakowicz, which won the Best Screenplay Award at the Koszalin Film Festival. Broys, co-written with director Marcin Filipowicz, was his third feature film. He is the lead writer of the series based on Szczepan Twardoch’s acclaimed novel The King of Warsaw, directed by Jan P. Matuszynski and broadcast by Canal+.
Davide Serino (Italy)
Rome-based screenwriter Davide Serino began his professional career with the Sky original period dramas “1992” and “1993”. His latest projects include Marco Bellocchio’s first series project “Esterno Notte”, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, the feature film “Ti mangio il cuore”, which premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, and the Amazon original series “The Bad Guy”, which he co-created. He is currently preparing for the project “M. Son of the Century”, a series adaptation of the Premio Strega* award-winning novel about Mussolini. “M. Son of the Century” will be directed by Joe Wright. Davide is also developing series projects in France and Germany.
* The Strega Prize is the most prestigious Italian literary award.
Impact of the program
With Netflix Adaptation Lab, our impact focus is to ensure that the series developed in Turkey reach international standards in terms of technical skills and content, and to create a space for the creation and development of quality series in Turkey and abroad. Within the scope of the first programme, we received 200 applications from various parts of Turkey. We provided 10 selected writers with a 4-month training/mentorship process accompanied by international mentors.
200
NUMBER OF APPLICATION
4 months
TRAINING & MENTORING PERIOD
10
NUMBER OF SUPPORTED PROJECTS
![Netflix](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Netflix.png)
Creative Activism
KRE-AKT (Creative Activism) support program, which took place for the second time this year with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Turkey Office and the execution of Impact Hub Istanbul, aims to contribute to existing or new projects that can be developed within the framework of the main theme of reducing polarization and discrimination, to build impact-oriented and sustainable models through creative methods.
![DSCF3341](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSCF3341.jpg)
Application process has ended
The application period of the KRE-AKT Programme between 28 September – 15 October has ended. If you are interested in applying for the next round of the program, please fill out the form below so that we can keep you informed.
Focus Areas
The second phase of the program, aims to contribute to existing or new projects that can be developed within the framework of the main theme of reducing polarization and discrimination to build impact-oriented and sustainable models through creative methods.
In the first phase of the program, the focus was on supporting the potential of using digital tools for egalitarian and inclusive ideas against the use of digital tools in the production of content based on discrimination, marginalization, hatred, polarization, violence and abuse.
Offered supports
To 12 projects to be selected under the program,
– Trainings and workshops on developing creative impact models and advocacy activities
– 2-day physical bootcamp process where ideas will be projected and modeled
– Network development support: Opportunity to join the networks of Impact Hub Istanbul and Friedrich Naumann Foundation
– Visibility support (podcast channels etc.)
– Network support (bringing together people, organizations and experts who will increase the impact)
– Enterprise support for the implementation phase up to 50 thousand TL per project to 2 teams to be selected at the closing event.
![DSCF6301](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSCF6301.jpg)
Who can apply?
![Adsız tasarım-4](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Adsiz-tasarim-4.png)
The program is open to applications from all individuals or teams who are interested in making the problems of polarization and discrimination visible and what they can do to contribute to the solution of this problem.
The program is open to everyone however, it aims to reach,
✓ Employees of the media and communication sector,
✓ Workers in the creative field (independents, artists, etc.)
✓ To activists,
✓ Communities, initiatives,
✓ Civil society organizations.
Impact of the program
In its second term, KRE-AKT has received 180 applications and 22 projects have been supported so far. The 10 projects supported in the first phase of the program received training on developing advocacy and activism strategies in creative industries, communication and the use of digital communication tools within the framework of a social impact-oriented and participatory approach within a 3-week training process.
180
NUMBER OF APPLICATION
17
NUMBER OF SUPPORTED PROJECTS
First Term Winners
![2](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2.png)
UBIQ Collective, aims to contribute to the formation of the memory of the movement by conveying the history of struggle, culture and language of the LGBTI+ movement in the context of LGBTI+ rights and freedom of expression through a board game.
![1](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1.png)
Kız Başına Art Gallery, utilizes the power of art to contribute to ending gender inequality in the art world and to draw attention to other areas of inequality.
![KRE-AKT](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/KRE-AKT.png)
İbrahim Bodur Social Entrepreneurship Program
İbrahim Bodur Social Entrepreneurship Program not only brings together social entrepreneurs who adopt social benefit as a principle and take action with determination and courage, but also is a large ecosystem where social entrepreneurs who feel responsible towards the world and the environment in the light of the principle of multiplying the positive impact created by social entrepreneurs, and where social benefit is at the forefront.
![Adsız tasarım-5](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adsiz-tasarim-5.png)
Application process has ended
Applications for the İbrahim Bodur Social Entrepreneurship Program ended on 10 April. If you are interested in applying for the next round of the programme, please fill out the form below so that we can keep you informed.
Who can apply?
İbrahim Bodur Social Entrepreneurship Program, which includes all applications in the Early Stage, Advanced Stage, Collaboration Categories without any subject limitation, also rewards young social entrepreneur candidates between the ages of 18-25 with a separate application category.
Methodology
The applications of all candidates who complete the application form on the website are evaluated by a pre-evaluation board consisting of Kale Group and Impact Hub Istanbul teams.
Candidates who successfully complete the pre-evaluation process are presented to the Selection Committee Members consisting of Turkey’s leading social entrepreneurs, civil society and business leaders. For the online or physical meeting, where participation is compulsory, certain documents may be requested from the candidates beforehand.
Winning nominees are announced at the award ceremony.
![2](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2-4.png)
Impact of the program
The İbrahim Bodur Social Entrepreneurship Program, which started in 2017 and has been supported by Impact Hub Istanbul since 2022, has received 1775 applications to date. According to the 5th year Impact Report, the programme reached 4 million people and provided an economic added value of 24.5 million TL to the ecosystem. In addition, 25 social enterprises won the award, and an average of 328 employment opportunities were realized with 20 finalists. Since 2022, the total amount of support provided to social enterprises has reached 2,000,000 TL.
2.000.000 TL
AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT SINCE 2022
25
AWARD WINNER
24,5 MILLION
ECONOMIC ADDED VALUE TO ECOSYSTEM
7th Year Winners
![11](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11.png)
Mimbiosis
Mimbiosis transforms textile and industrial agricultural wastes with nature’s technology mycelium to produce carbon negative, 100% biodegradable, sustainable new generation biomaterials for use in packaging, construction and automotive sectors.
![13](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/13.png)
PoiLabs
PoiLabs offers an indoor navigation technology that increases accessibility for the blind and partially sighted to participate more equally in life.
![14](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/14.png)
SistersLab & Adesso Turkey
The Disaster Solidarity Mentorship Programme, carried out by SistersLab in cooperation with Adesso Turkey, aims to contribute to the entry into business and professional life of 150 university students interested in software and affected by the earthquakes that occurred on 6 February 2023 and after.
![12](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/12.png)
Milu
Milu is a social media application where individuals, companies, associations and municipalities together solve problems in the neighborhood.
![İbrahim Bodur](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Ibrahim-Bodur.png)
Borusan Sustainable Benefit Program
Borusan Sustainable Benefit Programme, organized for the second time by Borusan in cooperation with Impact Hub Istanbul, is a capacity building programme developed in parallel with Borusan Holding’s social benefit and sustainability priorities, supporting projects that are set out to influence and mobilize target audiences, use innovative methods and have high impact potential.
![HKYS8072](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/HKYS8072-scaled.jpg)
Application process has ended
The application period for the Borusan Sustainable Benefit Programme between 17 July – 27 August has ended. If you are interested in applying for the next round of the program, you can fill out the form below so that we can keep you informed.
Focus Areas
The disaster-focused second phase of the program, aims to increase the impact of existing or new projects intended to solve social and environmental issues in the earthquake zone, to transform projects into a concrete output and to contribute to the reconstruction process in the medium and long term. The focus areas of the program include providing quality education support, reducing inequalities, creating livelihoods and job opportunities, and finding solutions to environmental and ecological problems.
In the first period of the program, projects that mediate social transformations in combating the climate crisis and reducing inequalities by using innovative methods with a focus on social innovation and social benefit for building a sustainable world were selected and teams were provided with tailor-made capacity building support.
Who can apply?
The period of the program focusing on the disaster zone is open to individual or team/group applications who want to work in the earthquake focus, who are affected by the earthquake, who continue to live in the earthquake zone or who have left the region and moved to different provinces.
✓ Civil actors and civil society organizations,
✓ Activists,
✓ Communities, initiatives and cooperatives,
✓ New initiatives emerging as a solution to problems in the region or social entrepreneurs with new earthquake-focused project ideas can apply to the program.
![2](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2-1-scaled.jpg)
Impact of the program
Within the scope of the Borusan Sustainable Benefit Programme, which is in its second term, we have received 263 applications from 63 cities so far. In the first term of the program, we supported 3 selected projects with a total of 600,000 TL in addition to capacity building, mentor/expert, network development, visibility and community building support. In the new term of the program, grant support of up to 300,000 TL is waiting for the selected projects.
263
NUMBER OF APPLICATION
600.000 TL
TOTAL AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
3
NUMBER OF SUPPORTED PROJECTS
Experience of program alumni
![3](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3.png)
“Borusan Sustainable Benefit Programme provided financial support for our short film, which enabled it to be made under the conditions it deserves. The programme also provided training and mentoring support in the areas we needed. ”
Nesra Gürbüz & Gülşah Özdemir Koryürek
Zaman Yolcusu Kreta
![1](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1.png)
“The support of the Borusan Sustainable Benefit Programme enabled us to reach more deaf and hearing impaired women, as well as to better explain the project to the public. This is very valuable for the sustainability of the project.”
Ayşe Damla İşeri & Diclehan Sönmezoğlu
Sağır ve İşitme Engelli Kadın Hakları Eğitim Platformu
![2](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2.png)
“Thanks to Borusan Sustainable Benefit Programme, Pina awareness was initiated. We received vital contributions that were not included in the project budget, such as documentary filming, creating a communication strategy and designing visual materials.”
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sarı
Umut Pina Projesi
![Borusan](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Borusan.png)
Netflix Series Lab
Netflix Series Lab is a creative writing program, done in partnership with Netflix Turkey, Tatino Films, and Impact Hub Istanbul.The program focuses on enhancing the skills of Turkish screenwriters in series writing through a two-stage application process. Tatino Films leads the educational content design, offering a comprehensive bootcamp, while Impact Hub Istanbul oversees program design and implementation. This initiative provides aspiring writers with mentoring from internationally experienced professionals, fostering growth and creativity in Turkey’s storytelling landscape.
![5](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/5.png)
Application process has ended
The application period for Netflix Series Lab, which ran from September 5 to September 25, 2022, has concluded. Should you have any inquiries about the program or wish to convey a message, please feel free to complete the form below.
Participant Profile
To be eligible for the program, candidates should:
Aspire to advance their career in TV series writing.
Demonstrate the ability to collaborate and co-create with diverse writers.
Possess prior experience in writing, be it in the form of short films, theater plays, movies, TV series, or as a writer’s assistant.
Exhibit proficiency in English, enabling comfortable self-expression and professional communication.
Supports
✓ Mentoring Support: Guidance from prominent figures in the European TV series and film industry.
✓ Global Series Development Methods: Opportunity to apply internationally recognized series development techniques within the Turkish context.
✓ Development Training: Focus on dramaturgy and narrative strategies to enhance writing skills.
✓ Netflix Türkiye Production Insights: Gain insights into the production processes of Netflix Türkiye.
✓ Practical Application: Translate theoretical knowledge into practical skills by developing your own projects.
✓ Project Presentation to Netflix Managers: Showcase your projects to Netflix managers, opening doors for potential collaborations and opportunities.
![6](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6.png)
Impact of the program
Our focus at Netflix Series Lab is to ensure that TV series developed in Turkey meet international standards in both technical skills and content quality, fostering the creation and development of high-caliber TV series at home and abroad. In our inaugural program, we received 234 applications from various parts of Turkey. We provided a 3-month training/mentoring process to 7 selected writers, accompanied by international mentors.
234
NUMBER OF APPLICATION
3 months
TRAINING & MENTORING PERIOD
7
NUMBER OF SUPPORTED PROJECTS
Program Alumni
Alya Öztanyel, a bestselling author and musician, emphasizes the significance of storytelling across diverse sectors, shaping her successful career through versatility and creativity.
Elif Danyal, an editor in numerous television series since 2014, has also contributed as a script assistant in various projects over the past year.
Elif Özsüt, with a background in directing, writing, and acting in film and theater, has been a screenwriter in television series since 2015.
Emre Ünaylı, the sole child of the single-channel era, transitions from creating countless television commercials to crafting new stories for this steadfast companion.
Melisa Üneri, born and raised in Finland, and a graduate of the screenwriting department in England, serves as a director and screenwriter in Istanbul.
Nadir Sönmez, an actor, writer, and director, is a creative force at the intersection of theatre, cinema, and contemporary art.
Zümra Dilşah Öksüz, driven by a passion for storytelling, continues to write with the aspiration of nurturing her talent and making a positive impact on society.
![Netflix](https://istanbul.impacthub.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Netflix-1.png)