Legal

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 22, 2026

Startup Istanbul ("we," "us," or "our"), operated by Etohum Bilişim Teknolojileri Yatırım ve Ticaret A.Ş., operates the website startupistanbul.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, attend our events, or use our services.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personally identifiable information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Register for Startup Istanbul events or programs
• Submit a startup application or pitch deck
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Contact us through our website or email
• Purchase event tickets or sponsorship packages

This information may include your name, email address, phone number, company name, job title, billing address, and payment information.

Application Data

If you apply to participate in Startup Istanbul programs, we collect information about your startup, including but not limited to business plans, pitch decks, financial projections, team information, and product descriptions. This data is used solely for evaluation purposes and is treated as confidential.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and the dates and times of your visits.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process event registrations and applications
• Send you event updates, newsletters, and promotional materials (with your consent)
• Improve our website, events, and services
• Process payments and prevent fraud
• Comply with legal obligations
• Communicate with you about your account or inquiries

3. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or serving our users, including:

• Payment Processors: To process event ticket purchases and sponsorship payments securely
• Email Service Providers: To send newsletters and event communications
• Analytics Providers: To understand website usage and improve our services
• Event Management Platforms: To manage registrations and attendee logistics

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage them, please see our cookie consent preferences available on each page of our website. Categories of cookies we use include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Application data (including pitch decks) is retained for a maximum of 24 months after the relevant program cycle ends, after which it is securely deleted.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your data
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@startupistanbul.com.

7. GDPR Compliance (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your data under the lawful bases of consent, contractual necessity, and legitimate interest. You have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

8. KVKK Compliance (Turkish Users)

For users in Turkey, we comply with the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK, Law No. 6698). Your personal data is processed in accordance with KVKK requirements. You have the right to learn whether your personal data is being processed, request information about processing, request correction of incomplete or inaccurate data, and request deletion or destruction of your data under the conditions set forth in Article 7 of KVKK. The data controller is Etohum Bilişim Teknolojileri Yatırım ve Ticaret A.Ş.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately.

10. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Governing Law

Turkish Law shall govern any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Privacy Policy. Istanbul Courts and Execution Offices are authorized for any disputes.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@startupistanbul.com
• Website: startupistanbul.com

Terms of Use

Last Updated: February 22, 2026

Welcome to Startup Istanbul. These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the website startupistanbul.com ("Website"), operated by Etohum Bilişim Teknolojileri Yatırım ve Ticaret A.Ş. ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using our Website, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using this Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our Website. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time, and such modifications will be effective immediately upon posting. Your continued use of the Website constitutes acceptance of any modified Terms.

2. Description of Services

Startup Istanbul is a startup ecosystem platform that provides:

• Startup events and conferences connecting founders, investors, and innovators
• Startup application and evaluation programs
• Educational blog content and industry insights
• Networking opportunities across 150+ countries
• Event ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities

3. User Accounts and Registration

Certain features of our Website may require registration. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account

4. Website Content and Usage

All content on this Website—including text, graphics, logos, trademarks (including "Startup Istanbul," "Startup Turkey," and related marks), images, software, and design—is the property of the Company or its licensors and is protected by intellectual property laws. You may not:

• Copy, reproduce, modify, or distribute any content without prior written permission
• Use our trademarks or branding without authorization
• Use the Website for any unlawful or unauthorized purpose
• Attempt to interfere with the Website's functionality or security
• Scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to extract content

5. User-Submitted Content

When you submit content to us (such as startup applications, pitch decks, or comments), you:

• Retain ownership of your intellectual property
• Grant us a non-exclusive license to use, review, and evaluate your submission for program purposes
• Confirm that your submission does not infringe on any third-party rights
• Understand that application materials are treated as confidential and used solely for evaluation purposes

6. Event Tickets and Purchases

When purchasing event tickets or sponsorship packages through our Website:

• All prices are listed in the applicable currency and may be subject to taxes
• Payment is processed through secure third-party payment providers
• Refunds are governed by our Refund Policy
• We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule events, in which case attendees will be notified and offered appropriate remedies

7. DMCA and Copyright Notices

We respect the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe that any content on our Website infringes your copyright, please send a written notice to our designated agent at legal@startupistanbul.com including:

• A description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed
• The URL or location of the allegedly infringing material
• Your contact information
• A statement that you have a good faith belief the use is not authorized
• A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Website or services. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim. The Website and its content are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.

9. Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of these external sites. Accessing third-party links is at your own risk.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the Website, your violation of these Terms, or your infringement of any third-party rights.

11. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Website at any time, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including breach of these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Website will cease immediately.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Turkey. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of Istanbul Courts and Execution Offices.

13. Contact

For questions about these Terms of Use, please contact us:

• Email: legal@startupistanbul.com
• Website: startupistanbul.com

Copyright Notice

Etohum Bilisim Teknolojileri Yatirim ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi ("Company") solely owns all the materials ("Material") of startupistanbul.com ("Website"), including the general view and design, and all information, pictures, trademarks of the Company and all other trademarks, internet domain names, logos, icons, written, electronic, graphic or technical data, computer software, business methods, and business model.

The Company is the owner or licensee of intellectual property rights relating thereto, and these Materials are under legal protection.

Restrictions

Any material on the Website, including code and software, cannot be changed, copied, reproduced, translated, re-published, installed on another computer, posted, transmitted, presented, or distributed without prior permission and reference.

The whole or a part of the Website cannot be used in another website or application without permission.

Legal Protection

Copyrights and further relevant rights of the Company on these materials are under protection of inter alia Law No. 6769 on the Industrial Property, and Law No. 5846 on the Intellectual and Artistic Works. Contrary actions entail legal and criminal responsibility.

All other rights of the Company, even those not explicitly covered, are reserved.

Third-Party Content

The Company does not undertake any commitment regarding the lawful use of materials — including information, pictures, trademarks, logos, icons, or technical data — contained within projects of third persons listed on the Website and shared by the proprietors of those projects. All legal claims in this context shall exclusively be directed to the proprietor of the relevant project.

Trademark Guidelines

ETOHUM BİLİŞİM TEKNOLOJİLERİ YATIRIM VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ (“Company”) solely owns the trademarks of www.startupistanbul.com (“Website”) and mobile application (“Application”).

Only the Company and its authorized licensees may use those trademarks as specified in their agreement with the Company. Otherwise the trademarks specified under this guideline, taken place in the Website and Application, and others that the Company may have further, cannot be used including graphic symbols, logos, icons, or an alteration thereof, as part of a company name, trade name, product name, or service name.

Third parties also cannot use any variation, equivalent (such as “StartupAntalya”), takeoff, translation in another language, or abbreviation of those trademarks.

Marks of the Company also include but not limited to service marks, names, logos, slogans, images, and other designation associated with the Company.

All proposed displays of the Company marks must be submitted to the Company for prior approval, and such kind of approval must be in writing, including e-mail, in any case and for any purpose. In case of such permission, it can be displayed for only the purpose specified by the Company, and it does not mean any partnership or representative unless it is stated by the Company.

The list below is not an exhaustive list, the Company may have further trademarks or one of those determined items such as logos and slogans beyond the list.