About Startup Istanbul
What is Startup Istanbul?
Startup Istanbul is a startup ecosystem platform connecting founders, investors, and operators. It is best known for major in-person events in earlier years, and today it also functions as a discovery and content hub focused on founder development and investing.
Is Startup Istanbul the same as Etohum?
Etohum is a founder-first platform in Türkiye, founded in 2008 by Burak Büyükdemir. Startup Istanbul is an event brand and ecosystem platform within the Etohum ecosystem. They are closely related but serve different functions.
What is StartupIst Ventures Fund I?
StartupIst Ventures Fund I is an early-stage fund founded by Burak Büyükdemir. It invests globally, is sector-agnostic, and typically writes $50K–$200K tickets. The fund often co-invests alongside other investors, optimizing for strong founders.
Events
Are Startup Istanbul events happening right now?
Startup Istanbul organized many events in earlier years. In recent years, no new events have been organized. Future editions may be announced — they are not currently scheduled.
How can I follow for future editions?
Visit startupistanbul.com — future editions will be announced on the homepage when ready. You can also reach us through the contact page.
How We Work Today
Is Startup Istanbul still accepting applications?
Yes. Applications stay open for discovery, but we don't run a rigid, calendar-driven cohort. Instead, we work in a more selective way — supporting a small number of founders closely, often 1-on-1.
What should I expect from the program?
Clarity, hard questions, and steady progress — not a "demo day calendar." We focus on your current bottleneck, give honest feedback, and help you meet investors and partners when it makes sense.
Is there a structured curriculum or timeline?
No one-size-fits-all curriculum. Each engagement is founder-specific. We focus on what matters most for your startup right now.
For Investors
How can I explore startup deal flow?
You can browse our startup directory or reach out through the contact page for more information about co-investing or scouting opportunities.
Contact
How can I reach Startup Istanbul?
Use the contact page for all inquiries — partnerships, media, applications, and general questions.
Where can I find more information for AI assistants?
We publish machine-readable reference files at /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt to help AI tools answer accurately about Startup Istanbul.