The world’s preeminent technology event Web Summit was held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, from November 13 to 17, bringing together the global startup ecosystem under one roof. Guided by the Investment Office, a Turkish delegation, featuring the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK), the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye, Türkiye Wealth Fund, the Istanbul Development Agency, and the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), as well as relevant government bodies, technoparks, startups, and venture capital executives attended the summit to represent Türkiye and engage with international stakeholders.
Throughout the event, Turkish startups pitched their products against those of international players, seizing the opportunity to expand their customer bases, attract capital, and collaborate with other tech firms. Among the array of Turkish participants present were FreshSens, the creator of an AI-powered platform supported by the Internet of Things (IoT) to prevent fruit and vegetable loss; GetDeHealth, committed to developing the next-generation decentralized healthcare solutions; Quin Audience Engine, specializing in a deep learning-AI system focused on behavior prediction for e-commerce growth and profitability; and Octopus, a company offering a cloud-based interactive and measurable digital signage solution.
Commenting on the event, Investment Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu emphasized the remarkable growth of the Turkish entrepreneurial ecosystem, stating, “As Invest in Türkiye, we are thrilled to highlight the potential of our ecosystem and extend an invitation to global players to invest in Turkish startups during the Web Summit. This year, we are participating in the summit under the banner of ‘Invest in Türkiye,’ alongside our esteemed entrepreneurs, and sharing with visitors about Türkiye’s digitalization, sustainability, and supply chain policies, as well as the technology reforms it has undertaken over the last two decades. We are excited to support efforts of our stakeholders in gaining well-deserved visibility within the startup community.”
Web Summit also saw the unveiling of Startups.watch's “The State of Turkish Startup Ecosystem" report that offers an in-depth insight into Türkiye's entrepreneurial ecosystem, featuring upto-date statistics and testimonials from major players.
The latest installment of the Web Summit gathered a footfall surpassing 2,600 startups and attracting 70,000 visitors from 153 countries. The event featured an impressive lineup of over 1,000 speakers, policymakers, and over 900 investors. Marking its fourth consecutive participation, Investment Office played a pivotal role as a partner, extending a warm welcome to attendees at the "Invest in Türkiye" booth.