“Women in Innovation” Investment Meetup Held

Women entrepreneurs, investors, and public sector leaders came together in Istanbul to strengthen women’s leadership in Türkiye’s investment ecosystem.

Organized under our foundation’s “Women in Innovation” Program, the Investment Ecosystem Gathering convened women entrepreneurs, investors, fund managers, and public representatives. The event brought together a wide range of participants, including our Chair of the Board of Trustees Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, Head of the Presidency Investment and Finance Office Burak Dağlıoğlu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Muhammed Kasım Gönüllü, as well as investors, venture capital fund managers, angel investors, academics, and numerous guests. Discussions focused on the future of Türkiye’s investment ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on empowering women entrepreneurs, improving access to finance, and fostering sustainable collaborations.

Strong Focus on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Opening Remarks

In her opening speech, Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar underlined the critical role of women’s entrepreneurship in sustainable development, stating:
“The strength of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem lies in collaborations that bring together the knowledge, experience, and resources of diverse stakeholders. It is essential to ensure that women entrepreneurs take a stronger place in this ecosystem, gain better access to financing, and build new partnerships. Today, our program has evolved beyond a competition into a powerful ecosystem connecting women entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions. Women’s role in economic life is no longer just a matter of social policy—it is a key pillar of Türkiye’s sustainable development vision.”

Sharing key figures, Erdoğan Bayraktar noted that Türkiye has around 1.2 million women entrepreneurs, making up 18% of the total, while women founders account for approximately 20% of newly established companies. Although these figures remain below global averages, she emphasized that the upward trend signals a strong transformation. She also highlighted that funds with at least one woman on the investment team are 60% more likely to invest in women entrepreneurs.

Pointing to the importance of mentorship, strong networks, and effective investment mechanisms, Erdoğan Bayraktar expressed her hope that the gathering would pave the way for new collaborations and investments.

Cumhurbaşkanlığı Yatırım ve Finans Ofisi Başkanı Burak Dağlıoğlu, Türkiye’de kadın girişimciliğinin giderek güçlendiğine dikkat çekerek, “Kadın girişimcilerin oranı %18’in üzerine çıkmış durumda ve bu artış önemli bir ivmeye işaret ediyor. Teknoloji yatırımlarında son yıllarda ciddi bir hareketlilik söz konusu; 2020’den bu yana erken aşama yatırımlar 5 milyar doların üzerine çıktı. Türkiye’de bugün 7 unicorn bulunuyor ve bunların 3’ünde kadın kurucular yer alıyor. Kadınların yatırım ekosistemindeki varlığı yalnızca girişimci olarak değil, fon yöneticisi olarak da artıyor. Bu dönüşüm, ekosistemin daha kapsayıcı ve güçlü bir yapıya kavuşmasını sağlıyor.” dedi.

Burak Dağlıoğlu highlighted the growing strength of women’s entrepreneurship in Türkiye, noting that the share of women entrepreneurs has surpassed 18%, signaling significant momentum. He also pointed to increased activity in technology investments, with early-stage investments exceeding $5 billion since 2020. Türkiye is now home to seven unicorns, three of which have women founders. He added that women’s presence in the ecosystem is growing not only as entrepreneurs but also as fund managers, contributing to a more inclusive and resilient structure.

Deputy Minister Muhammed Kasım Gönüllü emphasized the importance of women’s participation in technology and production processes:
“The path to making our country a high-tech producer with global competitiveness lies in increasing women’s active participation in production. We are implementing comprehensive support programs to boost women’s presence in R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship. To date, we have provided billions of liras in support to hundreds of thousands of women researchers and entrepreneurs. We see women’s entrepreneurship not only as an urban phenomenon but also as a key driver of Anatolia’s development.”

Panel Highlights: Investment Trends and Women’s Role

The event featured three main panels where experts discussed the investment ecosystem, future opportunities, and the role of women entrepreneurs.

Panel 1 – Where Is the Investment Ecosystem Heading? Risk Architecture, Future Scenarios, and Global Scale

Moderator Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, President of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, highlighted three major global shifts: the rise of technology-driven investments, the restructuring of risk architecture, and countries’ efforts to strengthen their positions in global value chains.

Dr. Kaan Masatçı, Director of Financial Investments at the Presidency Investment and Finance Office, emphasized the rapid maturation of Türkiye’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, noting that investors are making more strategic, data-driven decisions. He stressed the importance of public-private cooperation in removing barriers for women entrepreneurs.
Sadullah Uzun, Director General for National Technologies and AI, highlighted the growing impact of AI on the investment landscape, noting that:
“Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are not only helping to reduce risks but also creating new areas of opportunity. Türkiye has strong potential in this field, supported by its rapid adaptability and human-centered agility—often reflected in its strong ‘human intelligence and reflex.’ The country is particularly strong in application development, with its entrepreneurship ecosystem, mobile app capabilities, and gaming sector further reinforcing this potential.”

Serdar Gürbüz, General Manager of Turkish Technology, emphasized that one of Türkiye’s key strengths in the tech sector is its ability to adapt rapidly, stating:
“It’s rare to see such fast transformation elsewhere in the world. Türkiye’s capacity to quickly adjust to change, combined with its agile structure, is one of the factors that sets us apart—especially in the age of artificial intelligence.”

Panel 2 – New Dynamics of Investment: Valuation and Missed Markets

• Deputy Director General of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology, Damla Turan, who moderated the panel, emphasized the following:
“We aim to evaluate the changing dynamics of investment from a multidimensional perspective by addressing entrepreneurship and human capital together in the fields of industry and technology.”

• Technology investor Hande Enes touched upon the invisible barriers faced by women entrepreneurs when seeking investment:
  “Diverse business models and innovative approaches increase investor confidence. Women entrepreneurs can make a difference in new markets. The ecosystem in Türkiye has undergone a significant transformation. While previously models adopted from abroad were implemented, we have now evolved into a structure that produces and exports its own ideas. With exits, this cycle has been completed. We are now in a new phase and can build a stronger structure through regional collaborations.”
• Selma Bahçıvanoğlu, Managing Partner at Simya VC, shared insights on the risks and opportunities in early-stage investments:
  “Women investors offer a long-term perspective on the sustainability of ventures. This provides a major advantage in identifying and capitalizing on missed market opportunities.”

Panel 3 – Transformation at the Decision Table: Women Investors and Angel Capital

• Our Board Member Gülden Nacar, who moderated the panel, highlighted the following:
“To increase the proportion of women investors, it is not enough to simply identify the problem; it is also necessary to discuss concrete and actionable ways to change this picture. Lasting transformation in the ecosystem is possible not through well-intentioned discourse alone, but through mechanisms that enable women to participate in this field in a safer, more accessible, and sustainable way.”

• Gizem Moral, Partner at Revo Capital, shared insights on the differences women entrepreneurs bring to leadership and team management:
  “Women investors contribute diverse perspectives to decision-making processes, increasing the likelihood of success for ventures.”

• Murat Onuk, Vice Chairman of the Board and General Manager of ARZ Portfolio Management, shared his observations on risk perception and valuation criteria:
  “The long-term and inclusive perspective of women investors plays a critical role, particularly in early-stage ventures.”

Contribution to Women’s Entrepreneurship

The event aimed to increase women entrepreneurs’ access to finance, strengthen collaborations, and enhance their visibility within the investment ecosystem. Participants emphasized that women’s entrepreneurship plays a critical role in Türkiye’s economic development and sustainability.

KADEM will continue to support women’s more active participation in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and to strengthen technology- and innovation-focused projects through similar events.