Top Experiences and Hidden Gems to Explore in Istanbul

Istanbul is quickly becoming a startup powerhouse, being the only city in the world that is simultaneously in Europe, Middle East, and Asia, making the founders an immediate access to numerous markets. Its young and tech-savvy population and relatively low operating costs are also the reasons why it is appealing to early-stage companies in the fintech, e-commerce, gaming, logistics, and SaaS sectors.

Ecosystem Growth and Support

Technology parks, incubators, and co-working centers are on the rise providing mentorship, seed capital and networking facilities. Action: To create relationships quickly, founders ought to attend local accelerators, demo days, and connect into community meetups.

Funding and Global Reach

VCs International VCs and regional funds are becoming more supportive of startups based in Istanbul due to its high engineering talent and scalable business models. Niche payments across borders, export-oriented e-commerce, and logistics can be among the startups that can capitalize on the geographic benefit of Istanbul. Action: Prepare bilingual (English + Turkish) pitch decks and appeal to both local and global investors.

Talent and Infrastructure

Teams are made stronger by having a strong pipeline of engineers, designers and product managers which are available in the local universities. Advancing digital infrastructure and ubiquitous mobile enable quick product testing and cycle. Action: Hire early and recruit at universities, provide equity and focus on remote friendly operations to recruit the best talent as it expands outside of Turkey.