With 16 million residents, Istanbul is one of the world's largest metropolises and the hub of Türkiye’s business, finance, economy, trade, education, and culture. Istanbul's entrepreneurship ecosystem is thriving, fueled by a dynamic economy, government support, and increasing corporate investment in venture capital, R&D, and innovation.
The total transaction volume of investments for Turkish startups soared from $497 million in 2023 to approximately $2.6 billion in 2024, marking a 423% increase. The number of investment transactions also rose from 297 to 331 during the same period. Global venture capital investments increased from $344 billion in 2023 to $368.3 billion in 2024. The proportion of startups with at least one female co-founder increased to 32.2%, highlighting the growing presence of women entrepreneurs in the ecosystem.
One of the most notable funding rounds was the $1.1 billion investment by Kazakhstan-based Kaspi.kz, which acquired over 65% of shares in Turkish Ecommerce giant Hepsiburada and stands as the largest funding round in the Turkish startup investment ecosystem for 2024.
Start in Türkiye is an Investment Office initiative supporting startups in establishing and scaling their businesses. It offers access to funding, investor networks, and Türkiye’s tech ecosystem while assisting with regulations, partnerships, and global expansion.
Introduced in September 2024, The Türkiye Tech Visa is a specialized invitation program designed for professionals with key expertise in technology and startups that focus on innovative business models and technology-driven research.
The Turkish government announced an ambitious project, Terminal Istanbul, that repurposes the historic Atatürk Airport terminal buildings into a global hub for technology and entrepreneurship, aiming to host more than 2,000 startups and multiple annual events.
