Facilitating Collaboration Between Finland and Turkey’s Thriving Startup Ecosystems

In exploring the dynamic landscapes of Finland and Turkey, it’s fascinating to discover the striking similarities in their investment markets and burgeoning industries. With both nations securing positions in the top 10 European countries by funding amount in 2022—Finland at $1.8 billion and Turkey at $1.7 billion—it’s evident that their startup scenes are poised for significant growth. 

Drawing parallels in sectors such as Foodtech, Healthtech, and Software & Data, Finland and Turkey showcase promising similarities. Both nations exhibit a keen interest in pioneering industries like gaming and energy, underscoring not only innovation but also a shared vision for impactful ventures in the future.

Missed Opportunities

Despite these synergies, a noticeable gap persists in collaboration between the startup and investment worlds of Finland and Turkey. It’s an untapped potential that, if unlocked, could lead to unprecedented growth for both ecosystems.

Why Turkey, Why now? 

• The Turkish startup ecosystem has proven to be resilient even during the global economic downturn by taking advantage of digital transformation in several industries.
• There is a skilled, young and competitive labor force awaiting to thrive. Every year more than 1 million newly graduates join the market.
• There are currently 300+ VC Funds ($1.5B investment in 3 years) , 20+ Angel Networks with 700+ Angels, 80+ CVC Funds, many globally known family offices & LPs
• Istanbul is a bridge between the MENA & Europe area and due to its strategic location, there is already an international investor pool.
• Turkey has a young and large population with high tech penetration rates making it an ideal test bed for innovations.
• New regulations providing tax intensives maximized the appetite of corporations to become corporate investors in recent years. There is an increasing number of funds looking for opportunities to invest in.
• Especially gaming, fintech, SaaS, AI&ML startups are breaking out of their shells and attracting international investors already.
• There is a welcoming, friendly and open-minded business environment. Co-investment opportunities are always welcomed by the local investors.
• Foreign direct investment laws provide protection to international investors and create a safe environment. Turkey’s recent monetary policies are also getting in line with the global principles to strengthen the safe environment.
• There is an increasing number of successful exits by international investors; 2 decacorns and 3 unicorns in the last 2 years.

The coolest international tech startup scene
from the Nordics is coming to town!

We warmly invite you to an exclusive gathering:

the Hamam Tech Summit / Investor Insider Meetup in Istanbul on February.  This exclusive event offers a unique opportunity to engage with esteemed personalities from both the Nordic and Turkish tech sectors and foster connections between Nordic and Turkish investors.

Your participation offers direct access to key stakeholders—Angels, VCs, CVCs, and Family Offices from Turkey and the Nordics. It provides an invaluable opportunity to delve into the depths of the tech investment landscape, gather insights from industry best practices, and collectively explore promising business prospects. Your presence will contribute significantly to shaping the future of the tech industry in Turkey.

What Do You Get?