Üsküdar University Champions to Represent Turkey

Ekin Yaşar and Özgenur Bülbül, final year students of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Üsküdar University, became Turkey champions with their 'VitisIno' initiative developed within the 'JA Startup 2026 Program' organized by Junior Achievement Turkey. The biotechnology-based initiative, which aims to convert grape pomace into functional food components, draws attention with its sustainability-focused approach; the team earned the right to represent Turkey at the GEN-E 2026 European Entrepreneurship event, to be held in Riga, Latvia, on July 7-10, 2026, with this achievement. 

Üsküdar University students achieved a significant success within the scope of the JA Startup 2026 Program organized by Junior Achievement Turkey. 

The VitisIno initiative, established by Ekin Yaşar and Özgenur Bülbül, final year students of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Üsküdar University, became the Turkey champion of the program.

With this success, the team earned the right to represent Turkey and Üsküdar University at the GEN-E 2026 – European Entrepreneurship Event, which will be held in Riga, the capital of Latvia, between July 7-10, 2026. The event, organized by JA Europe and JA Latvia, stands out as one of Europe's most comprehensive young entrepreneurship platforms.

From Grape Waste to a Sustainable Biotechnology Initiative

VitisIno draws attention as a biotechnology-based initiative that aims to convert grape pomace, a byproduct of wine production, into functional food components. The project, which aims to obtain value-added products from agricultural waste, targets to create solutions in the field of sustainability and food innovation.

First Place in the National Final!

Ekin Yaşar and Özgenur Bülbül, who had the opportunity to develop their initiatives at different stages and present them to the jury throughout the JA Startup 2026 process, achieved significant success by winning first place in the program's national final. This achievement enabled the initiative to be carried onto the European stage.

An Idea Extending to the European Stage

Evaluating their success, the team stated that the process was a valuable experience for them; 'It is very valuable for us to see that a small idea can be brought to the European stage with effort and correct processes,' they said.

The team aims to represent Üsküdar University in the best possible way at GEN-E 2026, to be held in Riga in July.