Istanbul is a great place to build a startup, but most of the early-stage entrepreneurs we speak to are not aware of the local resources that are available to help them.
With applications for the Istanbul Founder Institute soon coming to a close, we are excited to release the updated Istanbul Startup Ecosystem Canvas v2! It was developed by the Istanbul Founder Institute and local leaders Ali Erhat Nalbant, Basar Kaya, and Ozan Yilmaz.
We conducted research, but more input is needed, so please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document and it will be considered for the next update.
We've also included a text version below, for searchability:
Startup Stages
There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.
1. Idea Stage
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.
- Inspire
- Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)
- Inspirational Events: Open, inclusive, beginner startup events (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)
- Educate
- Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspirate)
- Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development. (Ex. bootcamps and comprehensive training programs)
- Validate
- Team Formation: Resources for teaming up. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
- Build First Product: Hackathons & resources to build. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)
2. Launch Stage
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.
- Start
- Establish: Law firms and banks for startups.
- Workspace: Co-working and flexible workspaces.
- Develop
- Formalize: Accounting, development and HR for early-stage startups.
- Prepare for Seed: Incubators and advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources for startup teams)
- Avealabs
- Bilgi idlab
- Enkuba
- Erciyes Sera Kuluçka Merkezi
- Gemim
- Girisim Fabrikasi
- Imece
- Impact Hub
- Inovent
- Inventram
- İTÜ ARI Teknokent Uluslararası Hızlandırma Programı
- Startup Kitchen
- SUCool
- Teb Girişim Evi
- Teknopark İstanbul
- Turk Telekom Pilot
- Launch
- Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs. (i.e. Techstars and similar programs that provide seed-funding)
- E-Tohum
- Fit Startup Factory
- GarantiPartners
- Itu Cekirdek
- Kworks
- Startupbootcamp
- Pitch & Demo: Show local startups for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)
- Bir FIKRIN mi VAR
- Super Founders Demo Day
3. Growth Stage
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.
- Recognition
- Investor Networking: Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors)
- Bayraktar and Partners
- BIC Angels
- BUBA Angels
- Galata Business Angels
- Istanbul Business Angels
- Keiretsu Forum
- metutechban
- Şirket Ortağım
- Startup Turkey
- TBAA
- ValuesBox
- Webrazzi Summit
- Major Media: Mainstream local business press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)
- Daily Sabah
- Digital Age
- Hurriyet
- Karnaval
- Funding
- Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors
- Abdullah Orkun Kaya
- Ahmet Emre
- Alemsah Ozturk
- Ali Rıza Babaoğlan
- Aslanoba Capital
- Bora Samman
- Bora Uygun
- Burak Buyukdemir
- Can Serter
- Cem Sertoglu
- Doğa Venture
- Emre Kurttepeli
- Ersan Ozer
- Firat Isbecer
- Firat Kalsin
- Habib Hadda
- Ilab Ventures
- Kaan Karamanci
- Melih Odemis
- Mert Alemdar
- Nevzat Aydın
- Sina Afra
- Sinan Guler
- Technolera
- Umar Ozal
- Young Turk Ventures
- Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond
- 1514 Recipients
- 212Ltd
- ACT
- Angelwings
- Aslanoba Capital
- Doğa Venture
- Early Bird Istanbul
- Golden Horn Ventures
- Idacapital I ekleyebilirsiniz
- iLabs
- Istanbul Venture Capital Initiative
- Revo Capital
- Rhea Capital
- Tarvenn Ventures & Advisors
- Growth
- Infrastructure: Office space, HR, insurance & more. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Alliance Business Centers
- BOĞAZİÇİ Ünv. Teknopark
- Erciyes Teknopark
- GOSB Teknopark
- İSTANBUL Ünv. Teknopark
- İTÜ ARI Teknokent
- Kamara Ofis
- Regus
- ServCorp
- startupkariyer.net
- Sterling Offices
- Swissoffices
- tahincioglu
- YILDIZ (YTÜ) Teknopark
- Expansion: Growth accelerators/consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Ari Teknokent
- Arkan & Ergin
- Collective Spark
- Consult Gis
- DAM Growth Hackers
- Endeavor Turkey
- ODTÜ Teknokent
- Stanton Chase Istanbul
4. Success Stories
Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.
- 8digits
- App Samurai
- BiSu
- BiTaksi
- Botego
- Commencis
- dakick.com
- Denebunu
- Fazla Gida
- Garaj Sepeti
- Getir
- Giggem
- Gittigidiyor
- Giysicini
- Insider
- Iyzico
- Letgo
- Markafoni
- Mornero
- Mutlubiev
- Peakgames
- Put.io
- REKMOB
- Setoo
- SInemia
- Spirohome
- Tarfin
- Teleporter
- Trendyol
- Yemeksepeti
- Zeplin
The Supporters
To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.
1. Evangelists
Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.
- A. Erhat Nalbant
- Ali Karabey
- Ari Bencuya
- Barış Yaman
- Burak Büyükdemir
- Burak Yaman
- Cem Sertoglu
- Dilek Dayındarlı
- Doğan Taskent
- Ekim Kaya
- Elbruz Yılmaz
- Emre Kurttepeli
- Ertan Atay
- Evren Ucok
- Gulay Ozkan
- Joachim Behrendt
- Kutlu Kazanci
- Merhmet Onarcan
- Mustafa Dalcı (UX)
- Numan Numan
- Selcuk Ergin
- Serkan Ünsal
- Yakup Bayrak
2. Government
Public organizations that facilitate local economic development
- Bilim sanayi ve teknoloji bakanlığı
- Borsa istanbul
- Gencbasari
- Gyiad
- Habitatkalkinma
- İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi
- Istanbul Chamber of Commerece (ITO)
- Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO)
- İstanbul Development Agency
- JCI
- Kagider
- kosgeb
- T.C. Hazine Bakanlığı
- TBV
- Tepav
- TOBB Genç girişimciler
- TTGV
- TUBITAK
- TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE
3. Talent
Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.
- Local Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)
- Bahcesehir University
- Başkent University
- Bilgi University
- Boğaziçi University
- Erciyes Üniversitesi
- Istanbul Bilgi University
- Istanbul Commerce University
- Istanbul Technical University
- Istanbul University Business School
- Koç University
- Ozyegin University
- Sabanci University
- Şehir Üniversitesi
- Yıldız Teknik University
- Local Employers (Major technical employers, like Microsoft or Google, with large local offices)
- Amazon
- Banks
- Dogan Online
- General Electric
- Google Istanbul
- Microsoft Turkey
- Sahibinden
- Teknopark İstanbul
- Turkcell
- Turkish American Business Connection (TABC)
- Türk Telekom
- Vodafone
- Yandex
- Yemeksepeti
Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Istanbul Canvas on this collaborative Google document, or on Twitter using the hashtag #ecosystemcanvas.
Are you looking to build a startup in Istanbul? Then apply to the Istanbul Founder Institute today!
