Sustainable
Growth Program
Backing women founders building Climate Action.
A 6-month acceleration program for women-led startups driving Climate Action across Türkiye, Egypt & the UAE.
Sustainable Growth Program is a 6-month startup acceleration program for women-led and women-founded social entrepreneurs increasing Climate Action impact across Türkiye, Egypt, and the UAE — in partnership with HSBC MENAT and WWF Türkiye, designed and implemented by Tenity.
Apply to the 2026–27 cohort- Women-Led
- Climate Action
- Scale
UN Sustainable Development Goal 13
Climate Action, built with the founders closest to the problem.
In accordance with HSBC MENAT's global vision and WWF Türkiye's conservation priorities, Sustainable Growth Program focuses on solutions and technologies addressing UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action. The program is open to women-led and women-founded startups working in this vertical across Türkiye, Egypt, and the UAE.
Three Markets, One Ecosystem — Türkiye, Egypt & UAE
Join a single cohort with direct access to three of the region's fastest-growing climate innovation markets. Sustainable Growth Program connects founders in Türkiye, Egypt, and the UAE to a shared network of corporate partners, investors, and mentors across all three countries.
Zero-Cost, Non-Dilutive, Built for Women-Led Climate Innovation
Sustainable Growth Program is completely free to join and takes no equity. Designed for women-led and women-founded startups tackling climate action, the program pairs hands-on acceleration with the credibility and reach of HSBC MENAT, WWF Türkiye, and Tenity.
Eligible focus areas
- Renewable energy
- Water management
- Sustainable agriculture
- Waste management & circular economy
- Green buildings & materials
- Climate resilience
Program goals
Three commitments
Awareness
Raise awareness for women-led climate innovation across Türkiye, Egypt, and the UAE
Impact
Strengthen the commercial and technological impact of women-led ClimateTech startups
Network
Increase commercial impact by connecting founders to a global network of investors, climate organizations, and corporate partners
Timeline
From application to Demoday.
- 10 September 2026
Applications Open
- 30 September 2026
Applications Closed
- Week of 24 November 2026
Selection & Kickoff Period
Türkiye · Egypt · UAE
- Late November 2026 – February 2027
Acceleration
- March 2027
Demoday
Türkiye 4 March · UAE 11 March · Egypt 16 March
Program benefits
Why an ambitious climate startup joins.
Tailor-made masterclasses, workshops, wargames & roundtables
Plus real Proof-of-Concept opportunities with HSBC MENAT.
Access to Tenity's global ecosystem of investors and mentors
With curated matchmaking across Türkiye, Egypt & the UAE.
A free, non-dilutive program — no fees, no equity
With networking across three regional startup ecosystems.
No fees. No equity. Three markets.
Apply to the 2026–27 cohortProgram experience
Six months of hands-on acceleration.
- Masterclasses & workshops
- Tailored masterclasses, workshops, and wargames built around each cohort's stage and market.
- Mentoring
- Ongoing mentorship from the Tenity, HSBC MENAT, and WWF Türkiye ecosystems throughout the six months.
- Investor & business-unit matchmaking
- Structured matchmaking sessions with HSBC MENAT business units and investors.
- Proof-of-Concept with HSBC MENAT
- Selected startups pilot their product or service directly with an HSBC MENAT business unit — for example, deploying a solution in an HSBC MENAT office or branch.
- Roundtables
- Roundtables with corporate and government stakeholders across the three markets.
- Kickoff & Demoday
- In-person Kickoff and Demoday events held locally in Türkiye, Egypt, and the UAE.
Initiated with HSBC MENAT & WWF Türkiye. Delivered by Tenity.
Program partners
HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations, serving more than 41 million customers through its global businesses in Wealth and Corporate Banking, with a network covering 56 countries and territories.
Learn moreWWF Türkiye is part of WWF, an independent conservation organization with over 30 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. Its mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.
Learn moreTenity is a global innovation ecosystem and early-stage investor, bringing together ambitious founders with leading corporations, forward-thinking investors, and passionate mentors across hubs in Europe and Asia.
Learn moreCohorts & alumni
A growing community of climate founders.
Applications open 10 September 2026
Türkiye · Egypt · UAE
10 startups accelerated
Türkiye
19 startups accelerated
Türkiye
Momentum — visit website
Laska — visit website
Sumatrix Biotech — visit website
Airqoon — visit website
Salty — visit website
Plankton — visit website
Mapla — visit website
Bio-Probif — visit website
Easybin — visit website
IWRobotx — visit website
Kangurupack — visit website
Theta — visit website
Okil — visit website
Biolive — visit website
Cha — visit website
Algdeha — visit website
Köstebek — visit website
Kybeles Garden — visit website
6 startups accelerated
Türkiye
5 startups accelerated
Türkiye
The people behind the program
Team
Sabina Babayeva
Hub Lead
LinkedIn
Tenity Istanbul Hub
Hamiyet Ege
Head of Communications
LinkedIn
HSBC Türkiye
Cansu Erdoğan
Senior Corporate Communications Specialist
LinkedIn
HSBC Türkiye
Hilal Gerçek
Program Manager
LinkedIn
Tenity
Begüm Reyhan Gül
Climate and Energy Officer
LinkedIn
WWF Türkiye
Cherine El Hakim
Head of Sustainability Egypt and Regional Financial Literacy Lead
LinkedIn
HSBC MENAT
Maryam Al Moosawi
Regional Sustainability
LinkedIn
HSBC MENAT
Tanyeli Behiç Sabuncu
Climate & Energy Practice Manager
LinkedIn
WWF Türkiye
Elif Şahin
Marketing Manager
LinkedIn
Tenity
Sustainable Growth Program (SGP) is a 6-month acceleration program for women-led startups working on Climate Action solutions (UN SDG 13). Running across Türkiye, Egypt, and the UAE, the program is initiated in partnership with HSBC MENAT and WWF Türkiye, and designed and delivered by Tenity.
SGP is open to women-led or women-co-founded startups based in Türkiye, Egypt, or the UAE that are developing climate technology or nature-based solutions. Eligible focus areas include (but are not limited to): renewable energy, water management, sustainable agriculture, waste management and circular economy, green buildings and materials, and climate resilience. A startup is considered women-led if it is founded or co-founded by a woman, with at least one woman in a key leadership role (e.g. CEO, Co-Founder, CTO).
Applications open on 10 September 2026 and close on 30 September 2026. Shortlisted startups are invited to the Selection and Kickoff period during the week of 24 November 2026. Startups are screened on innovation, climate impact, and alignment with the program's goals, and selected applicants pitch live to a Selection Committee.
Most trainings and mentoring sessions are held online. The Selection and Kickoff period takes place during the week of 24 November 2026. Kickoff and Demoday events take place in person, locally in each market. Türkiye Demoday is scheduled for 4 March 2027, UAE Demoday 11 March 2027, and Egypt Demoday 16 March 2027.
No. Sustainable Growth Program is completely free for selected startups, and the program takes no equity. Participants receive access to all program benefits at no cost.
The program runs through Demoday in March 2027, following the Selection and Kickoff period during the week of 24 November 2026. Online participation is required for training sessions (with an attendance requirement), and in-person attendance is required for Kickoff and Demoday.
Support includes tailored masterclasses, workshops, and wargames; roundtables with corporate and government stakeholders; structured matchmaking sessions with HSBC MENAT business units and investors; access to Proof-of-Concept (PoC) opportunities with HSBC MENAT; and ongoing mentorship from the Tenity, HSBC MENAT, and WWF Türkiye ecosystems. The program doesn't cover cross-market travel expenses for the startups.
Yes. A number of startups from each cohort are matched with HSBC MENAT business units to pilot their product or service directly — for example, deploying a solution in an HSBC MENAT office or branch. PoC opportunities are assessed on a case-by-case basis based on fit.
For additional inquiries, please reach out to Hilal Gerçek at hilal.gercek@tenity.com. We are happy to assist with any questions regarding the program or the application process.
Applications open 10 September 2026 · Close 30 September 2026
Climate action needs your company.
Six months, three markets, no fees and no equity — with HSBC MENAT, WWF Türkiye and Tenity behind you.