HSBC Turkey/Temocin: Supporting Initiatives to Combat Climate Change
HSBC Turkey has launched the 'Sustainable Growth Program' under which 10 start-ups working on 'Climate Action,' one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, will be supported. Applications for the program, which began on December 17, 2024, will continue until January 17, 2025.
The 'Sustainable Growth Program,' initiated four years ago to contribute to sustainable development and growth by supporting socially beneficial start-ups, continues into 2025. In collaboration with WWF-Turkey and Tenity, the project will support initiatives that develop solutions to combat the climate crisis. Through training in areas such as sales, marketing, social impact analysis, energy transformation, nature-based solutions, and plastic pollution, these initiatives will be enabled to improve their business operations and access financing opportunities. The program will also include participation from skilled leaders from HSBC's global network in training and meetings, encompassing a total of 10 start-ups in a six-month acceleration program.
The program aims to support entrepreneurs in developing their businesses, adopting a holistic approach to nature conservation, expanding their business models, and building a robust ecosystem comprising start-ups, entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors in Turkey. The 10 selected entrepreneurs will receive mentoring support from a team of 20 experts in different fields, as well as access to discounted software they may need during the six-month period.
Funda Temoçin, Deputy General Manager of Human Resources at HSBC Turkey, stated regarding the program: “As HSBC Turkey, we focus not only on economic growth for a more prosperous future but also on the environment and society. We implement social responsibility projects in areas such as equal opportunities in education, access to art, financial literacy, and combating the climate crisis. We believe that positive change in the fight against the climate crisis is possible by transforming our business practices in line with a low-carbon economy. In this context, HSBC supports our customers in this change, reviews our own operations, and collaborates for systematic change. With the Sustainable Growth Program we first launched in 2020, we aim to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our country and pave the way for innovative solutions developed to tackle climate change. Inspired by the successful results we achieved in previous years, we will support the development of sustainable business models by nurturing the benefits created by 10 initiatives with the strong program content we prepared in collaboration with WWF-Turkey and Tenity this year.”
Tanyeli Behiç Sabuncu, Director of the Climate Energy Program at WWF-Turkey, expressed the following about the program: “As we experience the effects of the climate crisis more frequently and intensely each year, humanity is approaching a point of no return regarding the balance of ecosystems and the future of our living spaces. To keep global warming below the critical threshold of 1.5 °C, we need the widespread adoption of innovative and nature-friendly solutions across many areas, from energy to food systems. In this context, start-ups play a critical role. As WWF-Turkey, we will continue to support initiatives that combat the climate crisis within the framework of the Sustainable Growth Program this year as well.”
Sabina Babayeva, Head of Tenity Istanbul Hub, stated: "At Tenity, we are committed to promoting innovation that meaningfully drives change. Since 2020, under the Sustainable Growth Program in collaboration with HSBC Turkey and WWF-Turkey, we aim to create a unique platform that strengthens climate technology initiatives by bringing together corporate companies, international financial organizations, and venture capital investors. By supporting visionary initiatives in climate technology, we aim to create sustainable solutions that benefit not only Turkey but also contribute to global environmental resilience, establishing a platform for innovative products to develop and translate into effective actions."
The final application date is January 17, 2025. Applications for the Sustainable Growth Program, which started on December 17, will continue for one month. The program is open to participants from all over Turkey and will be conducted online.