Let's rebuild in 2021. Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Turkey Virtual Fall 2021

Now is the time to rebuild: the world needs entrepreneurs to lead the way in creating a better future, for everyone.

Whether you have already launched a startup or are still in the idea-phase, this is the time to act. 2020 brought havoc to our health, our society, and our economy, and what remains is a world filled with reshuffling industries and new problems that need to be solved. As we continue through 2021, each and every entrepreneur has the opportunity to play a part in helping shape that better future.

That's why we are excited to announce applications are now open for the Turkey Virtual Fall 2021 program.

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Ankara's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Turkey Virtual Fall 2021 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several free startup online events in Ankara over the coming weeks, where you can learn virtually from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:

Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 3:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/370880
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 8:00pm, Jun 11, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/371317
FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 8:00pm, Jun 23, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/371727
Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 8:00pm, Jun 25, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/371927
Artificial Longevity: Building Sustainable Tech Startups Beyond The AI Hype: 12:00pm, Jun 26, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/374221
How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 3:00am, Jun 27, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/373985
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Jun 30, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/371569
Founder’s Guide to AI: Creating Effective Content with AI: 8:00pm, Jul 02, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/373169
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Jul 07, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/370301
Founder’s Guide to AI: Building an MVP with No Coding Skills : 8:00pm, Jul 09, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/373297
Founder’s Guide to AI: Using AI to Increase Productivity: 8:00pm, Jul 16, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/373434
Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 8:00pm, Jul 23, 2025 (Europe/Istanbul): https://FI.co/e/373553

See all upcoming events

Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute is designed to help you build an enduring business that can survive and thrive in this “new normal.” We do this by giving you a clear process combined with constant feedback from a devoted network of international entrepreneurs and investors. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading free post-programs.

The Ankara accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Beliz Bediz, Dilan Akbas, Emin Okutan, Kadir Ceran, Mustafa Cakir, Ozan Sonmez, Sahar El Zaloua, Semi Hakim, and Yashar Kardar. In addition, some of Ankara's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating as mentors in the program, providing expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Ankara Founder Institute includes:

Abdulrahman Aljiffry: Partner, 500 Global
Adam Matalon: Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, ThermaGEL Innovations
Adam Berk: Manager, Lean Startup Co.
Adil Oran: Assoc. Prof. , Abdullah Gül University
Ahmet Batı: Co-founder, Innology
Ahmet Saraçoğlu
Ahmet Bahadır Özdemir: Co-Founder, Airalo
Ali Halabi: CEO, Volt Lines
Ali Hilli: Head of CER, Zain Iraq
Ali Rıza Ersoy: Founder, ION Academy
Alperen Zeki Gokmen: Product Pioneer, The Brutally Honest
Altan Küçükçınar: Partner, Diffusion Capital Partners
Amal Dokhan: Partner MENA, 500 Startups
Amal Dokhan: CEO , Global Entrepreneurship Network GEN Saudi at GEN Global
Amin Shanaa: Founder, Startups
Amin Shanaa, JWAR
Aral Barkın Arak: General Secretary, TÜGİM - Tüm Girişimci ve İş Mentorları Derneği
Aras Bilgen: UX Consultant / Trainer, Aras Bilgen
Arda Askin: Managing Director, StartersHub
Arın Özkula: General Partner, 500 Startups
Artun Sukan: Investment Manager, IP Group
Ata Gür: Co-Founder, Frizbit
Atil Erken: General Partner, Collective Spark
Aurelie Guerrieri: CMO, Open Systems
Aydın Öztunalı: Cofounder, KFD Investment Consulting
Aykut Hocaoglu: Head of Entrepreneurship Programs and Ecosystem Development, Arcelik Garage
Aylin Şahin: CEO, Igniters Tech Consulting
Ayşe Şen: Entrepreneurship Expert, RTTP, Yaşar University
Ayşegül Özkavukcu: Business Development Manager, Migros Ticaret A.Ş.
Aysun Demirdogen: Managing Partner, Technology Transfer Professional, Cevelyn
Aziz Dostgül: Investment Associate, TechONE VC
Baldan Colak: Founder, Miel PR
Barış Okur: Co-founder, Quin
Başak Özcan: General Manager, Garaj X TEKMER
Bastian Best: CEO, BESTPATENT
Batuhan Baybali: Startup program leader , FARK LABS
Beliz Sinan
Beliz Bediz Sinan: Partner, The Brutally Honest
Berc Cubukciyan: Senior Manager, Maven Insights and Solutions
Beril Karabulut: Design Lead, Quin
Berkay Mollamustafaoglu: General Partner, ScaleX Ventures
Berna Aksoy: Growth Lead, Talentmelon
Beybin Esen: COO, Kimola
Billur Buse Elmas: Partner, Elmas Consulting
Birce Ciravoğlu: CEO Office Director, Papara
Bora Yılmaz
Bora Sürmeli: Senior Agricultural Finance Specialist, The World Bank
Bulent Yilmaz: Founder, Liberro
Bulent Buyuksayar: Managing Director , SmartStarts
Bülent Çaka: Vice President, ScaleX
Burak Çevik: Co-Founder / UX Designer, ITUX - Atölye
Burak Keskik: Technology Transfer Office Manager, Teknopark Istanbul
Burak Dayioglu: Angel Investor
Burcu Coşkun Şengül: Co-founder, Kuixo
Buryan Turan: CEO, SIMULARGE
Çağrı Yüzbaşıoğlü: Founder, ISSD
Can Algül: Co-Founder & CEO, Pubinno
Carla Tanas: Owner, Industry Disruptors - Game Changers
Carlo Asta: Business Designer, H-Farm
Cedric Tawil, Montreal International
Celal Vatansever: Head of Open Innovation, Arcelik Garage
Ceren Sungu Kalpaklıoğlu: Founder, Pabbler
Demirhan Buyukozcu: Co-Founder, V-count
Demirhan Erim: Co-Founder & CEO, ulouder
Denis Oakley: Director, Denis Oakley & Co
Deniz Satiroglu: VC Associate, StartersHub
Dilek Dayinlarli: Founder, Scale-x
Dinçer Sözütok: Cofounder, Onlock
Dogan Taskent: Innovation Manager, Atabay Ilac
Don Samoil: Managing Partner, Trusted Scale
Dr. Semih Kumluk: AI Leader, PwC
Dr. Ismail Arı: Director of TTO and Entrepreneurship Center, Özyegin University
Duran Cesur: Investor, Vinci Venture Capital
Duygu Kutluoğlu Kılıç: Co-Founder, CEO, FineDine
Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal: Director/Tecknogog, MERSTRA Foundation / MITC
Elena Pallotta: Strategy and Innovation Culture , H-Farm
Elif Gedikli: Portfolio Manager, Teknoloji Yatırım
Emin Okutan: Co-Founder and CEO, Viveka
Emir Uzunoglu: Manager, Responsible Solutions Limited
Emre Fadıllıoğlu: Co-founder and CEO, App Samurai
Emre Taş: CEO, Alictus
Enad Kanaan: Co-Founder, The BrainChain
Erdem Lafçı: Cofounder , Apps
Eren Bali: Chairman & Co-founder, Udemy
Eren Bali: Founder, Udemy, Carbon Health
Eren Merzeci: Business Development Manager, Çalık Enerji A.Ş.
Erhan Ertan: Cofounder, Neurocess
Evren Bükülmez: Manager, TTGV
Ferdi Cildiz: Senior Product Designer, Community Gaming
Ferhat Demir: QGroup, QGroup
Fevzi Gökaliler: Export Marketing Manager, Pınar
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
Gonca Gulser: Co-founder, Quin AI
Gülcan Ergün: Co-founder, GESPRO
Gülce Horatacı: Investment Manager, StartersHub
GULSAH CAKIR: Founder, X Mind Studio
Gülşah Gulser: Co-Founder, Quin AI
Gunce Onur: Founder, The New Rising
Gurol Uzenc: Manager, Cube Incubation
Hakan Boğazpınar: Co-founder, VENN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN CONSULTANCY
Hakan Erten: Founder, Nova Nora Danışmanlık A.Ş.
Hakan Cetinkaya: Founder, 112 Company
Halime Dilan Akbaş: Chief Innovation & Culture Officer, Viveka
Hasan Basri Tosun: Cofounder, Sensgreen
Hicham Lamrani: Founder, You are in
Hilal Kara: Co-founder, PATENT EFFECT
Hüseyin Aslan: Co-founder, Kapsam Denetim
Hüseyin Güler: Innovation Orchestrator, KEAS
Ibrahim Faza: GM, JordanStart
İffet İyigün Meydanlı: FOUNDER, M2I CONSULTANCY
İlker Köksal: Author, Founder's FAQ
İlknur İlkyaz Gül: General Manager, Driventure
Jimmy J.P. Snoek: Co-Founder & CEO, Tykn
Kaan Eren: Investment Manager, 500 Startups
Kadir Ceran: Founder & Managing Director, KiRi Advanced Research & Consultancy
Kamer Kemerkaya
Kemal Apaydın
Kemal Aygör: Senior Licensing Manager, VESTEL
Kerem Erikçi
Kerem Çalışkan
Kerem Gürbilek: Venture Capital Senior Analyst, Logo Ventures
Khalid Maliki: Co-Founder & Managing Director, Tykn
Koray Bahar: Founder & CEO, FigoPara
Kuntay Aktaş: CEO, BTech
Kutlu Kazanci, Creative Destruction Lab
Kutluhan Hakan: Founder, TicketO Mobility
Leyla Taghizade: Founder, Reseptron
Mark Searle: Lecturer and Industry Fellow, University of California, Berkeley
Mehmet Akgün: Founder, Mobixa
Mehmet Gulez: Innovation Leader - Associated Partner, EY
Mehmet Memecan: Founder & CEO, Tarfin
Mehru Ozturk: General Manager, Entrepreneurship Foundation
Melda Polat: Co-Founder, M2I Danışmanlık
Merih Alphan Karadeniz
M. Erşad Zor: Head of Data, StartupCentrum
Merthan Öztürk
Mert Hilmi Iseri: Board Member, Academy for Global Citizenship
Merve Akgün: Vice President, Diffusion Capital Partners
Mike Vladimer: Mentor, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business & Alchemist Accelerator
Miraç Bal: CEO, Talentmondo
Misa Nikolic: CEO, Resonator – Creative Tech Hub
Mohammad Kilany: Co-founder, MindRockets
Murat Tortopoğlu: Consultant, yaraticiyikim.com
Murat Topçu
Mustafa Dalci: Founder, Userspots
Mustafa Üşenmez
Mustafa Savaş: Founder, Kimola
Mustafa Cakir: Co-founder, PATENT EFFECT
Mustafa Tamer: Manager, Treet Buba
Mustafa Tamer: CEO, BUBA Treet
Nadine Badreddine: Program Business Advisor, Modus Capital
Neslihan Burgaz: Head of Business Development, Trendyol
Nicat Manafov: E-Commerce Professional and Consultant, Etib.org.az
Nidal Qanadilo: Managing Partner, ARC Capital
Okan Arıcan: Senior Counsel, BTS&Partners
Omer Dogan Dincer: Head of Finance, KolayIK
Onur Yurtsever: Founder & CEO, Smart Advice
Oren Simanian: Founder and General Partner, Colosseum Sport
Orkhan Rzayev: Founder & CEO, Eleven Kings Game
Orkun Ozbatur: Director & Founder, FI Benelux & Amazon
Osman Ertürk ÖZEL: Founder, Manager, ÖZEL Attorney Consultancy
Ozan Sonmez: Partner, The Brutally Honest
Özge Görür Orbay: Founder, Ideacoaching
Özgür Deniz Önür: Founder, Invidyo
Özgür Mutlu Oz: Manager - UX/UI Design, Arçelik Group
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Olcay: Co-founder, InnowayRG
Prof. Dr. Zehra Çataltepe: CEO, TAZI AI
Reine Abbas: Founder & CEO, Spica Tech S.A.L
Rosen Dimov: CEO, Phasegrowth
Sahar El Zaloua: Consultant in Entrepreneurship , Founder Institute - Turkey
Sahin Boydas: Sahin Boydas - CEO, MovieLaLa (Istanbul FI), Gusto
Sahin Caglayan: CEO, Reengen
Samican Tandoğdu: Co-Founder, Synnada
Sarp Bilecen
Sarp UZER: Founder, Sarp
Sarper Celenk: Managing Director, Vegas Food Project
Selcuk Alimdar: General Manager, Founding Partner , bindHR
Selen Senturk: Studio Manager, SHERPA
Selim Satıcı
Selim Cenkel: Founder, Marsel Delights
Selin Orçunsel
Selma Bahcivanoglu: Managing Director, Simya VC
Semi Hakim: CEO, Kok Projekt
Serdal Temel: Co-founder, SORANUS
Sertaç Yakın: Investor, Connected2.me
Shashank Aiisvari: Founder, Aiisvari
Shirley Kaston: Co-Founder & CFO, Kok Projekt
Sure Köse Ulutaş: Founder, Talentmelon
Tarkan Anlar: Founder, CEO, Scotty
Tuğçe Akbulut: Conscious Designer & Curator, Cross Change
Tuna Orbay: Cofounder, BarakaTech
Ufuk Polat: Founder, Deplike
Umutcan Duman: Co-founder, Evreka
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Volkan Erturk, Picus Security
Yağmur Çubukçu: Venture Capital Analyst, Maxis
Yashar Kardar: Business Development, Quin
Yilmaz Odaci: Project Manager , Habitat
Zafer Elcik: Co-founder, Otsimo
Zeynep Derece: Founder, DRC Company

And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 7,500 Alumni raise over $1.85BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more (see the FI 10 Year Impact Report here).