Emphasis on Women in the Age of AI

Our Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, stated: “We truly believe that training and shaping artificial intelligence-based systems in a fairer manner is very important, and that is why we are here. At the same time, we are here to support women entrepreneurs. Our friends are showcasing their projects here in person, and we are proud of them.”

Hosted by the Presidential Investment and Finance Office and held with the strategic partnership of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) AI Türkiye 2026 took place at the Istanbul Expo Center.

As part of GITEX—one of the world’s leading technology and artificial intelligence event networks, held in Türkiye for the first time—our Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, participated in the session titled “Women, Leadership, and Human-Centric Innovation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” She delivered a speech emphasizing that artificial intelligence is not merely an issue concerning engineers, technology companies, or those working in this field, but rather permeates every aspect of life.

Stating that the position of different segments of society within this transformation must also be discussed, Bayraktar noted that women constitute a vital part of this transformation.

Following the panel, Bayraktar visited the KADEM booth. Speaking to journalists about the event, Bayraktar expressed that they came together to promote KADEM’s Women in Innovation Program as well as the finalists and their projects.

Expressing KADEM’s sensitivities in this field, Bayraktar spoke as follows:

“Since 2020, as KADEM, we have been researching, thinking about, and conducting studies and readings on the relationship between women and technology. We have held two international summits in this field. In 2020, the title of our summit was ‘Staying Human in the Digital Age.’ Later, in 2024, we took a more focused approach, and the title of our international summit became ‘Artificial Intelligence and Women.’ Meanwhile, throughout all of this, we have organized workshops and panels, and we continue to address this issue in our academic journal.”

Bayraktar emphasized that they do not remain solely on the academic or think-tank side, but also maintain a presence in the field. Conveying that they support the initiatives of women working through artificial intelligence and technology via the Women in Innovation Program, Bayraktar stated that they also support women in cooperatives.

“Artificial intelligence is now part of every aspect of your life.”

Stating that the Artificial Intelligence and Women Project was also realized recently, Bayraktar expressed: “So why are we doing all of this? Why are we concerned with these things? Because the world is heading in a completely different direction, and technology is developing at an incredible speed. Artificial intelligence is now part of every aspect of your life. Many things that we could not achieve before can now be accomplished with much smaller groups and in much shorter timeframes, especially in terms of startups.”

Bayraktar continued her remarks as follows:

“So where do women stand in all of this? We know that however artificial intelligence is shaped and trained, and whatever real-world experiences we feed into it and how we transfer them, the results it gives us will depend accordingly. We know that men have a greater presence in this field. We see that women cannot take part or establish a presence—at least for now—sufficiently in the shaping of artificial intelligence. What does this lead to? Naturally, it brings along the risk that the discrimination women experience in the real world will be reflected directly into the digital world. And now, beyond just a risk, we are seeing this actually happen.”

Voicing that various forms of discrimination against women persist when artificial intelligence-based systems are used in certain hiring processes, Bayraktar said: “We saw that in loan applications, with profiles of similar backgrounds, women still received disadvantaged outcomes compared to men. Therefore, we truly believe that training and shaping artificial intelligence-based systems in a fairer way is very important, and that is why we are here. At the same time, we are here to support women entrepreneurs. Our friends are showcasing their projects here in person, and we are proud of them.”

The third event of the KADEM İnovasyonda Kadın Knowledge Center Gatherings series—aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs, enhancing knowledge sharing, and fostering new collaborations—was held on May 12, 2026, with strong attendance.

Throughout the day, participants had the chance to experience hands-on learning while also gaining valuable insights into the investment ecosystem. The event stood out for offering practical takeaways in strategic thinking, team management, and entrepreneurship, along with plenty of networking opportunities.

Strategy and Teamwork with the Maxi Manager Simulation Game

In the first part of the event, participants came together for the Maxi Manager Simulation Game, led by Burak Ekşinat.

In this interactive simulation, participants managed a sports club in teams. The experience helped them develop skills in strategic decision-making, crisis management, problem-solving, resource allocation, and team communication. Through scenarios closely resembling real business situations, participants had the opportunity to strengthen their professional competencies in a practical setting.

After the simulation, a debrief and feedback session was held, during which participants reflected on their experiences and shared key takeaways from the day.

Inspiring Insights from the Investor Meeting

The second part of the program featured an Investor Meeting focused on entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Kalkınma ve Yatırım Bankası was represented by Seçil Yıldız, Deputy General Manager and Impact & Sustainability Leader, and Ebru Akyol Ergüner, Assistant Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Social Impact Management.

Seçil Yıldız and Ebru Akyol Ergüner shared their insights into investment processes, impact-driven entrepreneurship, sustainability perspectives, and the key points entrepreneurs should consider during their investment journey. The Q&A session also allowed participants to engage directly with the speakers.

New Collaborations Through Networking

In the final part of the event, participants gathered in a networking session. Entrepreneurs, experts, and ecosystem stakeholders connected with one another, exchanged experiences, and discussed potential collaborations.

The event successfully strengthened a culture of knowledge sharing, interaction, and collective learning, serving as a productive meeting point that supports women entrepreneurs on their journey.

Women entrepreneurs, investors, and public representatives gathered in Istanbul to strengthen women’s leadership in Turkey’s investment ecosystem.

The Investment Ecosystem Meeting, organized within the scope of our Foundation’s “Women in Innovation” Program, brought together women entrepreneurs, investors, fund managers, and public representatives. The program took place with the participation of our Board of Trustees Chair Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, President of the Presidency’s Investment and Finance Office Burak Dağlıoğlu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Muhammed Kasım Gönüllü, as well as public representatives, investors, venture capital fund managers, angel investors, academics, and numerous guests. During the meeting, which addressed the future of Turkey’s investment ecosystem, key topics included empowering women entrepreneurs, increasing their access to finance, and developing sustainable collaborations.

Emphasis on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Opening Speeches

Our Board of Trustees Chair Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar highlighted the critical importance of empowering women’s entrepreneurship for sustainable development, stating, “The strength of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem arises from collaborations where different stakeholders can bring together their knowledge, experience, and opportunities. It is crucial for women entrepreneurs to have a stronger presence in this ecosystem, to increase their access to finance, and to establish new collaborations. Today, our program has gone beyond a competition to become a powerful ecosystem that brings together women entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions. The role of women in economic life is no longer just a social policy issue, but also an important part of Turkey’s sustainable development vision.”

Erdoğan Bayraktar also shared data on women’s entrepreneurship, stating that there are approximately 1.2 million women entrepreneurs in Turkey, with women entrepreneurs accounting for 18% of the total, and the rate of women founders in newly established companies being around 20%. Erdoğan Bayraktar noted that these rates are still below international averages but the increasing trend indicates a strong transformation, adding, “Increasing diversity on the investment side directly affects equal opportunities. Funds with at least one woman on their investment team are 60% more likely to invest in women entrepreneurs. Our program, launched in 2015, has gone beyond a competition to become a powerful ecosystem that brings together women entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions.”

Erdoğan Bayraktar pointed out the critical role of mentorship, strong networks, and appropriate investment mechanisms in the entrepreneurial journey, expressing her hope that this meeting would pave the way for new collaborations and investments.

President of the Presidency’s Investment and Finance Office Burak Dağlıoğlu emphasized the growing strength of women’s entrepreneurship in Turkey, stating, “The rate of women entrepreneurs has risen above 18%, and this increase indicates significant momentum. There has been considerable activity in technology investments in recent years; early-stage investments have exceeded 5 billion dollars since 2020. Today, Turkey has 7 unicorns, and 3 of them have women founders. The presence of women in the investment ecosystem is increasing not only as entrepreneurs but also as fund managers. This transformation ensures that the ecosystem becomes more inclusive and robust.”

Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Muhammed Kasım Gönüllü highlighted the role of women in technology and production processes, stating, “The path to making our country a high-tech producer that competes globally lies in the more active participation of women in production processes. We are implementing comprehensive support programs to increase women’s involvement 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 do not view women’s entrepreneurship as limited to large cities; we consider it one of the fundamental elements for the development of Anatolia.”

Investment and Women Entrepreneurs Panel in Turkey

The investment ecosystem in Turkey, future opportunities, and the role of women entrepreneurs were comprehensively discussed in the final panel. Three main panels were held during the event, where investors and entrepreneurs shared important insights on new trends, risks, and opportunities.

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

• Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, President of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, who moderated the panel, emphasized:
  “Three major transformations are taking place in the global investment world: the technology-centric investment wave, the reshaping of risk architecture, and countries’ efforts to gain stronger positions in the global value chain. Investment is no longer just a financial matter; it has become directly linked to technology policies, the data economy, and strategic sectors.”
• Dr. Kaan Masatçı, Head of Financial Investments Unit at the Presidency’s Investment and Finance Office, emphasized that Turkey’s entrepreneurship ecosystem is rapidly maturing:
  “Investors are now making more strategic and data-driven decisions. Collaboration between the state and the private sector is critical to remove barriers for women entrepreneurs. Turkey is no longer a low-cost labor country; instead, it has a high productivity advantage. Turkey’s potential to be a production and export base is strong, and this aspect should be better communicated to investors.”

• Serdar Gürbüz, General Manager of Turkish Technology, pointed out that one of Turkey’s most important advantages in the field of technology is its rapid adaptation capability, stating, “It is not possible to see such rapid transformation in many parts of the world. Turkey’s ability to adapt quickly to change and its agile structure are among the most important factors that make us stand out, especially in the age of artificial intelligence.”

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

• Damla Turan, Deputy General Manager of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, who moderated the panel, emphasized:
  “By addressing entrepreneurship and human capital together in the industrial and technological fields, we aim to evaluate the changing dynamics of investment from a multidimensional perspective.”
• Technology Investor Hande Enes addressed the invisible barriers women entrepreneurs face when seeking investment:
  “Different business models and innovative approaches increase investor confidence. Women entrepreneurs can make a difference in new markets. The ecosystem in Turkey has undergone a significant transformation. While previously models from abroad were applied, we have now reached a structure that produces and exports our own intellect. This cycle has been completed with exits. We are now in a new phase and can build a stronger structure through regional collaborations.”
• Selma Bahçıvanoğlu, Managing Partner at Simya VC, discussed the risks and opportunities in early-stage investments:
  “Women investors offer a long-term perspective on the sustainability of ventures. This provides a great advantage in evaluating missed market opportunities.”

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

• Our Board Member Gülden Nacar, who moderated the panel, emphasized:
  “To increase the rate of women investors, it is not enough to merely identify the problem; it is also necessary to discuss concrete and implementable ways to change this situation. Because lasting transformation in the ecosystem is possible not through well-intentioned rhetoric, but through mechanisms that enable women to participate in this field more securely, accessibly, and sustainably.”
• Gizem Moral, Partner at Revo Capital, shared the difference women entrepreneurs make in leadership and team management:
  “Women investors increase the success rate of ventures by offering different perspectives in decision-making processes.”
• Murat Onuk, Vice Chairman of the Board and General Manager of ARZ Portföy, shared his observations on risk perception and valuation criteria:
  “The long-term and inclusive perspective of women investors plays a critical role, especially 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 in the investment ecosystem. Participants emphasized that women’s entrepreneurship in Turkey plays a critical role in economic development and sustainability.

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