You Have an Idea. What Comes Next?

An idea can emerge from an everyday challenge, a need we notice around us or simply the thought that there must be a better way of doing something. At first, it may seem perfectly clear in our minds. But when we start thinking about turning it into something tangible, new questions begin to emerge. Where do I start? Is there a real need for this idea? Who could I work with? And what if I don't yet have the knowledge, skills or resources to take it forward?

Entrepreneurship is often associated with setting up a business, securing investment or bringing a new product to market. Yet there is much more to the process than that. Exploring whether an idea is viable, understanding the people it aims to reach and considering how it might develop into a sustainable business model are all essential parts of the entrepreneurial journey.

This is where pre-incubation programmes come in.

What Is Pre-Incubation and Why Does It Matter?

At its core, pre-incubation is a process that helps individuals and early-stage ventures explore, develop and shape their ideas, giving them the tools and guidance to take their next steps.

At this stage, there is no expectation of having a fully developed business plan, an established company or a market-ready product. Sometimes, even the initial idea is still taking shape. What matters is recognising a problem or an opportunity, exploring possible solutions and understanding whether they can respond to a real need.

So, why not figure it all out on our own?

Of course, we can. But looking at our own ideas from a different perspective is not always easy. A solution that makes perfect sense to us may not address the needs of its intended audience. We may also be unsure about the skills, expertise or collaborations needed to move forward.

Pre-incubation programmes offer a space to explore these questions. Through training and mentoring, participants gain insights into business model development, audience research and the financial planning involved in building a venture. Connecting with people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise can also open up new perspectives and possibilities.

And there is room to change direction along the way. We may realise that our initial approach does not work, rethink our target audience or discover an entirely different opportunity. The purpose of pre-incubation is not to turn every idea into a business as quickly as possible. It is to help participants understand their ideas better, explore their potential and make more informed decisions about what comes next.

How Does the Create in İzmir Pre-Incubation Programme Work?

At Create in İzmir, we have been working to strengthen creative entrepreneurship and the wider cultural and creative industries ecosystem. Our collaborations with creative professionals, entrepreneurs, academics and experts from different sectors have continually highlighted one thing: meaningful ideas often emerge at the intersection of different disciplines.

A designer may identify a challenge that an engineer approaches from a completely different perspective. Someone with a background in communication may bring new insights into how a product or service can reach its audience. Bringing people with different skills and perspectives together can even lead to ideas and opportunities that might not have emerged otherwise.

This is the approach that shaped the Create in İzmir Pre-Incubation Programme.

Delivered in collaboration with İzmir University of Economics' Creative Economy Research and Application Centre (KREA) and its Project Development and Technology Transfer Office (TTO), the programme combines our experience in the creative economy with expertise in entrepreneurship and technology transfer.

One of its key aims is to create opportunities for students and recent graduates from different disciplines to work together. After all, developing a venture does not mean having to possess every skill or answer every question yourself. The right combination of perspectives, knowledge and expertise can make all the difference.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem built through Create in İzmir's previous activities also provides a foundation for this journey. Alongside training and mentoring, we aim to introduce participants to the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, encourage connections across disciplines and help them identify opportunities for collaboration.

Individual mentoring sessions are another key component of the programme. Based on their ideas and specific needs, participants have the opportunity to work with experts, discuss the challenges they encounter and receive feedback to help them shape and develop their business models.

From Idea Workshops to Demo Day

The DesignX Idea Workshop, held on 20–21 October 2026, marked the first step of the Pre-Incubation Programme. It brought participants together to explore entrepreneurial thinking, develop ideas and connect with people from different disciplines.

However, not everyone's entrepreneurial journey begins at the same point. Some participants may still be exploring their interests and looking for an idea to pursue, while others may already have a concept they have been developing and want to take further.

That's why attending DesignX is not a prerequisite for joining the programme at a later stage.

An additional application period is open until 12 November 2026, giving those who were unable to attend DesignX the opportunity to join the programme and benefit from its training and mentoring activities. Participants who already have an idea they wish to develop can also join the programme through its ongoing training sessions.

The programme covers a range of topics, including business model development, business planning, marketing, financial strategies, intellectual property rights and entrepreneurship support mechanisms. With guidance from mentors, participants will have the opportunity to work on their ideas and present their ventures at the Demo Day at the end of the programme.

Demo Day is more than a final showcase of the ideas developed throughout the programme. It is an opportunity for participants to present their work, gain experience in communicating their ideas and connect with different stakeholders across the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The journey may continue beyond Demo Day for selected teams, with further opportunities for support. These may include guidance on brand identity and communication, as well as information and referrals to TÜBİTAK's BİGG programme and other entrepreneurship support mechanisms, helping teams explore ways to take their ideas to the next stage.

Perhaps most importantly, you don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. After all, pre-incubation is about exploring the questions you haven't answered yet, discovering new possibilities and finding a way forward.

So, is there an idea you'd like to explore and develop?

The Create in İzmir Pre-Incubation Programme is open to students of İzmir University of Economics and graduates who completed their studies at the university within the past three years.

To learn more about the programme and the application process, visit here.