The GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit, organized in cooperation with the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) / Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) and Endeavor Türkiye, was held in Istanbul on 10–12 November 2025 with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, DEİK President Nail Olpak, TAİK Chairman Murat Özyeğin, Endeavor Türkiye President Emre Kurttepeli, TAİK Digital Task Force Leader and Insider CEO Hande Çilingir, as well as more than 900 business leaders.
Now in its second year, the GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit stood out with its entrepreneur–investor precision-matching model. The Summit brought together representatives of some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent funds with leading Turkish technology startups, aiming to strengthen investment opportunities and increase the number of global-scale Turkish tech ventures and Turcorns. World-renowned funds such as Khosla Ventures, General Atlantic, Princeville Capital, and Golden Gate Ventures took part in the event. Senior executives from global tech giants including Google, DeepMind, and Uber, as well as Türkiye’s leading funds and family offices, were also present.
Serving as a concrete demonstration of Türkiye’s entrepreneurship vision, the GO! GLOBAL Türkiye Summit unites the world’s technology capital in Istanbul and shapes the innovation roadmap of both Türkiye and the wider region.
Mehmet Fatih Kacır: “I invite you to grow in Türkiye and collaborate with our entrepreneurs.”
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır underscored Türkiye’s technology-driven growth strategy and called on global funds to seize opportunities in the country. “I invite you to grow in Türkiye and to collaborate with Turkish entrepreneurs. My team and I stand ready to support you at every step,” he said. Highlighting Türkiye’s historic momentum in entrepreneurship investment in recent years, Kacır noted, “Between 2020 and 2024, total capital invested in Turkish technology ventures reached $5.3 billion—12 times higher than in the previous five-year period. Until 2019, we had no unicorns; today we have seven Turcorns, six of which were supported by our Ministry.” Emphasizing Türkiye’s competitive advantage thanks to its young, tech-ready population, he highlighted key programs such as TEKNOFEST, DENEYAP, “Kampüste Sektör,” and the National Technology Expertise Program. “We will continue to champion bold ideas and support young entrepreneurs as they build and scale their companies. With initiatives like Terminal Istanbul, Turcorn100, and the Tech Visa Program, we aim to make Türkiye a global hub for technology investments,” he added.
Nail Olpak: “Istanbul is where Eastern innovation meets Western capital.”
DEİK President Nail Olpak reaffirmed DEİK’s strong belief in technology and digital innovation, emphasizing the importance of going beyond belief to action. He noted that among DEİK’s 153 global Business Councils, several are dedicated specifically to Digital Technologies. “Even though this is only the second edition, I believe this Summit will strengthen Türkiye’s role in the global innovation economy and pave the way for sustainable momentum in entrepreneurship, investment, and technology,” Olpak said. “We are all witnessing the global economy struggle with supply chain disruptions, high tariffs, and low growth rates. Innovation—especially in digital ecosystems—will be the key to driving economic growth today and in the future.”
Murat Özyeğin: “Türkiye is no longer an undiscovered market, but a proven destination.”
TAİK President Murat Özyeğin highlighted Türkiye’s strong technological momentum, stating, “Türkiye is no longer a market waiting to be discovered. We are a proven destination for global capital seeking to meet local innovation and scale.” Pointing to major investments in recent years, he said the chain reaction will continue: “The $500 million investment led by General Atlantic in Insider, the $700 million investment in Trendyol Go, and recent deals involving Midas, TOM Bank, and DGPay… Even brighter days lie ahead for Turkish entrepreneurs.”
Hande Çilingir: “Funds representing $500 billion are in Türkiye this year.”
TAİK Digital Task Force Chair & Insider CEO Hande Çilingir underlined the importance of investor–fund matching. “This year, investors representing $500 billion in assets are here in Türkiye. Converting this capital into investment depends on the performance and ambition of our entrepreneurs. Our goal is to build partnerships based not on luck but on strategy, and to establish a sustainable investment cycle,” she said.
Emre Kurttepeli: “We are working to take Turkish entrepreneurs global.”
Endeavor Türkiye President Emre Kurttepeli stressed the importance of global expansion: “We encourage Turkish entrepreneurs not only to grow in Türkiye but to think globally from day one. This year, startups attracted $416 million in investment, and we aim for much more.”
Following the opening remarks, the Summit continued with panel sessions and B2B meetings.
The Summit’s sponsors included Akbank, Turkish Airlines, Finberg, Türk Telekom Ventures, Dell, Doğuş Hospitality & Retail, Hepsiburada, İGA, Balcıoğlu Selçuk Eğmirioğlu Ardıyok Keki, Core Finans, and Wask.
All Participants to access the photos via https://www.eptr.me/tr/F0W2Jr
