GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit 2024
GO! GLOBAL TÜRKİYE SUMMIT BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN TÜRKİYE AND INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
GO! GLOBAL Türkiye, an initiative of the DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) Digital Working Group, which connects local ventures with leading global venture capital firms and private equity investors, took place in Istanbul on October 23–25, 2024. The summit served as a platform to strengthen economic ties between Türkiye and international investors, building crucial bridges.
Organized by the DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) Digital Working Group, GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit aims to attract international investments and enhance the global competitiveness of Turkish ventures as part of its mission to promote international economic cooperation. The summit was held in Istanbul from October 23–25, 2024, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, Zekeriya Coştu; Chairman of DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK), Murat Özyeğin; Chair of the TAİK Digital Working Group and Co-Founder and CEO of Insider, Hande Çilingir; along with 400 Turkish and international businesspeople. U.S. investors had the opportunity to hear firsthand about Türkiye's successful "Turcorns" and its dynamic startup ecosystem.
Coştu: "We are a significant player in many sectors in Europe and beyond"
Zekeriya Coştu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, highlighted the rapid growth and prominence of Türkiye's technology ecosystem, stating, "In sectors like automotive, UAVs, chemicals, and solar panels, we are significant players not only in Europe but globally. Moreover, Türkiye's tech ecosystem has reached an impressive level, with funding for R&D activities increasing more than tenfold over the past 20 years. We have established over 100 technology development zones nationwide, housing more than 10,000 technology companies. Success stories in defense, fintech, and gaming industries are globally recognized, showcasing the capacity of our ecosystem."
He emphasized Türkiye's potential for further advancement, supported by a tech-savvy young population: "Reflecting this potential, we organize Teknofest, the world's largest technology event, which received 1.6 million applications this year. With the dynamics of our startup ecosystem, I am confident that Turkish startups will rise on the global stage. Rest assured, government authorities will be your strongest supporters on this journey, acting as icebreakers and partners. We have allocated $250 million in venture capital funding and mobilized a total of $2 billion. Our BiGG Program is the country's largest seed and pre-seed investor, helping establish 2,400 tech startups to date."
Özyeğin: "Türkiye offers fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship"
Murat Özyeğin, Chairman of DEİK/Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK), stated, "Türkiye, bridging East and West, provides fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish. The determination and creativity of our entrepreneurs in recent years have turned numerous innovative ideas into tangible successes, positioning Türkiye as an emerging startup hub. We have seen remarkable success stories, including several unicorns, which now lead their respective industries. Insider, with its visionary use of AI to predict consumer behavior, became one of Türkiye's first unicorns. Other examples, such as Peak Games, Getir, Trendyol, Dream Games, and Hepsiburada, highlight the breadth of expertise and adaptability within Türkiye's startup ecosystem."
He added, "Our firsthand experience over the years has taught us the value of a robust support structure for entrepreneurs. From incubation centers and accelerators to co-working spaces, networking programs, and state-backed initiatives, we have built an environment that fosters not only startups but also collaboration, mentorship, and long-term impact, nurturing a sustainable ecosystem."
Çilingir: "Our goal is to shape the future of the Turkish startup ecosystem"
Hande Çilingir, Chair of the TAİK Digital Working Group and Co-Founder and CEO of Insider, said, "When founding Insider, we aimed to prove that successful software companies could be built outside Silicon Valley. Today, as the 5th most successful software product in the world, we are proud to represent our country. Our goal is to be a global technology leader that contributes to the economy and creates qualified employment while shaping the future of the Turkish startup ecosystem."
She continued, "We are thrilled to organize GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit with DEİK/TAİK and leading Turkish startups and venture capital firms. We aim to make this summit a tradition, providing new opportunities for the next generation of Turkish ventures. This event goes beyond connecting investors and entrepreneurs; it prepares next-gen tech companies for global competition. Our goal is to promote our country and create a bridge for successful entrepreneurs to expand their visions."
The three-day summit, aimed at accelerating the global growth of Turkish tech startups by connecting them with international investors, featured panels such as “Fireside Chat: The New Super Era – AI,” “Regional Potential and Opportunities,” “Investing in Early-Stage Companies: Building Foundations for Global Success,” “Scaling Globally – Lessons from Successful Founders,” and “Driving Late-Stage Investment.”
The 2024 GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit hosted over 400 participants, including 40 Turkish entrepreneurs focused on technology and innovation and representatives from over 20 leading global investment firms, such as Peak XV, Riverwood, QIA, General Atlantic, QED, ALJ, Portage, and Pact. The summit acted as a bridge between local talent and international capital.
GO! GLOBAL Türkiye aims to provide Turkish entrepreneurs with direct access to global investors, fostering collaborations and catalyzing the next wave of global tech leaders from Türkiye. With a mission to bridge Turkish innovation with global investment, GO! GLOBAL Türkiye supports TAİK's vision of positioning Türkiye as an innovation hub, significantly increasing the number of "Turcorns" and strengthening the Turkish startup ecosystem. Prominent members of the GO! GLOBAL and TAİK Digital Working Group include Insider, Finberg, Formus Capital, Colendi, Wellbees, Figopara, Endeavor Türkiye, ScaleX, and 500 Emerging Europe.
Sponsors of the GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit included Türk Telekom, Finberg, Hepsiburada, Doğuş, and Formus Capital.
