Türkiye: Global Startup Hub for Talent & Market Access

Türkiye Emerges as a Growing Hub for Global Startups Seeking Talent and Scale

Foreign founders highlight Türkiye's access to global markets, strong tech talent and supportive startup ecosystem.

Türkiye is rapidly becoming a new destination for international startups, as founders from the US, Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus increasingly choose Istanbul as a hub for talent, scaling opportunities and global market access.

Once dominated primarily by domestic entrepreneurs, Türkiye's tech ecosystem is now drawing global attention thanks to its competitive talent pool, accessible support programs and strategic position between major markets.

International Presence at Big Bang Startup Challenge

These trends were evident at Istanbul Technical University's Big Bang Startup Challenge, which this week gathered startups from the US, UAE, Georgia and neighboring regions.

Atilla Dikbaş, professor and head of the ITU ARI Teknokent technology zone, said foreign startups are particularly attracted by the strength of Türkiye's universities and international partnerships.

"Foreigners can move much more easily and progress more with our students, especially thanks to our cooperation with the Netherlands, France and England," he told Anadolu.

He added that Türkiye's ties with the EU, US and Asia help founders reach wider commercial networks more quickly.

"Knowledge is Becoming Global"

Fakir Hüseyin Erdoğan, secretary general of ELDER, emphasized that international interest reflects the speed at which technology and knowledge now spread across borders.

"We are living in an age where knowledge is becoming globalized and increasingly valuable," he said. "The interest of foreign investors and entrepreneurs who sense the energy here is a competitive advantage for us."

ELDER recently awarded $60,000 to startups and allocated another $70,000 in prizes for Big Bang competitors, supporting both energy-focused technologies and innovative projects in other sectors, including AI.

US-based FortyGuard: "Türkiye Will Return Your Investment"

Among the most notable foreign participants was FortyGuard, a US climate-tech firm backed by Google. Founder Jay Sadiq highlighted Türkiye's unique strategic value:

"Türkiye is a great market to access the US and Europe. Turkish founders build great technology, and they're very successful."

Sadiq said the event helped establish new partnerships with Turkish startups and ecosystem supporters.

"If you're serious about investing in Türkiye, Türkiye will return your investment. There are a lot of opportunities."

FortyGuard is developing high-resolution temperature models that will soon allow Google Maps users to choose cooler walking routes.

Georgian Startup WaiterCall: "Türkiye is the Brightest in the Region"

For WaiterCall, a Georgian startup offering digital tools to improve efficiency in restaurants and cafés, the event marked a historic first.

"There was never a Georgian company at Big Bang before. We're very proud to be the first," said founder Elyar Akhi.

He described Türkiye as the most promising ecosystem in the region:

"Türkiye is becoming a new regional center where European and international startups can come, build teams and grow."

A Rising Regional Hub

With its combination of competitive talent, accessible early-stage support and strategic geographic position, Türkiye is strengthening its status as a regional innovation hub. As more international founders look for environments where they can scale efficiently, Türkiye appears positioned to play a growing role in the global startup landscape.