Istanbul welcomed Slush'D, the community-driven edition of the world's leading startup event Slush for the first time. Originating in Helsinki in 2008, Slush has grown into a global movement that connects founders, investors, and the tech community, with more than 13,000 participants in 2024. Slush'D brings this same spirit to local ecosystems, empowering resilient founders to create impact while staying connected to a global network.
Bringing together global investors, operators, and entrepreneurs across fintech, AI, gaming, and emerging markets, Slush'D Istanbul highlighted Istanbul's strategic location at the nexus of continents where innovation and entrepreneurship converge.
Investment and Finance Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu joined the event as the keynote speaker in the opening session titled “Nexus of Digital, Tech and Innovation: Why Invest in Türkiye's Rising Startup Ecosystem." In a fireside chat with TurkNet CEO Yunus Çelebiler, Dağlıoğlu emphasized Türkiye's dynamic startup landscape and the unique value the country offers to global investors and founders.
“Over the past 10 to 15 years, Türkiye has undergone a remarkable transformation in technology and innovation," Dağlıoğlu said. “We have recently seen leading global technology brands establish a presence here, and this is one of the most significant milestones in our ecosystem. Our goal is to see many more technology companies choose Türkiye as their home."
Highlighting the strengths of the domestic market, Dağlıoğlu noted: “With its 86 million population, Türkiye offers a vibrant testbed for companies to introduce new products and services. Our strong banking sector and robust digital infrastructure create an enabling environment for startups to grow and scale. Türkiye consistently ranks high in international indices on digitalization and technology, showing that our market is both dynamic and competitive."
Dağlıoğlu also underlined the surge in early-stage investment: “Between 2010 and 2019, early-stage technology startups attracted an annual average of around USD 100 million. After the pandemic, this figure rose sharply to exceed USD 1 billion annually. This growth reflects not only the strength of founders but also the evolution of the entire ecosystem—accelerators, incubators, angel investors, and VC funds. Today, the ecosystem is so large and diverse that it can no longer be captured in a single chart."
Pointing to Türkiye's role as a regional powerhouse, Dağlıoğlu stressed: “Investments in technology, manufacturing, services, R&D, and logistics demonstrate that Türkiye has become a regional hub. The same is now true for the startup ecosystem. Türkiye has firmly positioned itself as a hub where entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators collaborate to create global impact."
With its entrepreneurial spirit, strategic location, and innovation-driven talent, Türkiye continues to stand out as a rising hub for startups. The participation of the Investment and Finance Office at Slush'D Istanbul reaffirmed the country's commitment to supporting founders, investors, and innovators in building the future.