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A first for Turkey: a one-day Y Combinator simulation.

  • One day
  • Four themes
  • 200,000 TL prize
ApplySee themes

Turkey's first Y Combinator simulation.

Fountain Hackathon 2026 is Turkey's first. Built to YC's own standards, it brings technology and entrepreneurship together in one intense day of product-building.

A good demo isn't enough. Teams need to show the problem is real, validate it with potential users, ship something that works, and explain how it could become a company.

Vision
We want to build a culture of building, where more talented people turn an idea into a real problem, product, company. Fountain makes entrepreneurship more accessible, giving you the right environment to build and get started.
Mission
We bring builders together and turn the first steps of a startup into one intense, hands-on experience. Participants find real problems, ship working products, and carry their ideas into real ventures.
Date
December 2026Exact date to be announced
Venue
Yıldız Technical University, Davutpaşa Campus, IstanbulTarihi Hamam (historic bathhouse)
Format
Hackathon, all day
Prize pool
200,000 TL
Admission
Free
Participant profile
Professionals, recent graduates, students

Inside a historic bathhouse.

The Tarihi Hamam on Yıldız Technical University's Davutpaşa Campus.

The campus sits inside the Davutpaşa Barracks, built in 1826. The barracks bathhouse has been restored and now serves as the university's event hall.

One large room, high ceilings, daylight. Room enough for teams spending a full day in the same place.

Getting there is easy: the Davutpaşa-YTÜ metro station is at the campus gate. The exact hall and schedule are shared during the application process.

Open in Maps

A packed event inside the Tarihi Hamam on YTU's Davutpaşa Campus
Tarihi Hamam, set up for an event

Four themes.

Every team competes in one of four themes. Themes outline the categories you'll compete in. Sub-categories and topic details are shared on competition day.

How the day unfolds.

Exact times will be shared during applications; this is the day's general shape.

  1. 01

    Morning

    Check-in and kickoff

    Participants meet at YTU's Davutpaşa Campus, teams finalize, themes are announced.

  2. 02

    All day

    Build

    Teams spend one intense day building in their chosen theme: problem, validation, product.

  3. 03

    Evening

    Submission and judging

    Products are submitted, and judges evaluate against three criteria.

  4. 04

    Closing

    Awards ceremony

    Winning teams are announced and the 200,000 TL prize pool is awarded.

Total prize pool

200,000TL

  • 011st place100,000 TL
  • 022nd place65,000 TL
  • 033rd place35,000 TL

Judges look at three criteria.

Theme, rules, process: all built to YC standards. A good demo isn't enough.

  1. 01

    Business model

    Show that the problem you're solving is real, and explain how it could become a company.

  2. 02

    Customer validation

    Validate your assumptions by talking to potential users.

  3. 03

    Execution and design

    By the end of the day a good demo isn't enough: ship something that works.

Become a partner.

Fountain works with companies who want to put their products in front of builders. We share the sponsorship deck by email.

  • Put your product in real use

    Throughout the hackathon, participants use your API, cloud infrastructure, AI model, database, or developer tool directly. Don't just showcase your product: let participants try it in their real projects.

  • Access a pool of engineers, developers, and founders

    Fountain is a qualified talent pool of engineers, developers, designers, and founders. You get direct access to the CVs and contact details of participants who opt in to share.

  • Get visible before, during, and after the event

    Your logo appears at the venue, on banners, and on the website. You'll be visible in social media posts and post-event communications.

Apply to sponsorfountainhackathon2026@gmail.com

Frequently asked questions.

A Y Combinator simulation, the first of its kind in Turkey. Theme, rules, process: all built to YC standards. Technology and entrepreneurship come together in one intense day of product-building.

No, participation is free.

Professionals, recent graduates, and students.

You can apply solo or as a team. If you don't have one yet, there will be a chance to form a team on the day. The team-size limit will be shared during the application process.

A good demo isn't enough. You need to show the problem is real, validate it with potential users, ship something that works, and explain how it could become a company.

Email fountainhackathon2026@gmail.com or fill out the sponsorship application form.