TRVC - The Turkish VC podcast

Cem Baytok, co-founder and GP of Ida Capital joins TRVC to talk about what it really takes to build a venture firm from the ground up in Turkey — and why he’s betting big on fintech, emerging markets, and revenue-based financing.

We cover:

💸 How Ida Capital led to a startup then back to VC again

🌍 Why Central Asia and Africa are the next frontiers

📈 How listening to LPs changed his fund

🚧 The biggest challenges Turkish founders face

🧠 And why too much capital, too early, can hurt more than help

This is an episode packed with wisdom, hard-won lessons, and contrarian insight from someone who’s been in the trenches for over 30 years.

🎧 Listen now and Follow for more deep dives into the Turkish and emerging market venture scene.

Mine Dedekoca, Venture Partner at Treeo VC, a US based fund focused on Turkish entrepreneurs growing their business in the US, and founder of Startist. We explore her journey from launching her own startup to becoming a player in the heart of Turkey's startup ecosystem. Mine shares insights on:

- How Turkey’s startup scene evolved since 2012

- Treeo VC’s mission to back immigrant and Turkish founders in the U.S.

- Understanding customer differences when entering the US market

- The untapped potential of Turkish tech talent

- Turkey’s rise as a hub for digital nomads with new visa programs

- The Global Startup Awards and how Istanbul is gaining global attention

Packed with advice for founders, VCs, and ecosystem builders — this episode is a must-listen for anyone tracking Turkey's global startup journey.

Bulent Celebi, seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor with deep roots in the Turkish tech ecosystem, shares his journey from growing up abroad to returning to Turkey in 2004 to found Airties, a pioneering wireless technology company that was recently acquired by private equity.

With rich insights into building and scaling a tech company in Turkey, he reflects on the evolution of the startup landscape, lessons from leadership, and his experience as an investor and board member.

We discuss:

• What inspired him to start Airties
• Navigating the startup ecosystem in Turkey in the early 2000s
• His transition from founder to investor
• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
• The future of tech and investment in the region

This episode offers a front-row seat to the story of a visionary who helped shape Turkey’s digital infrastructure and continues to support the next generation of innovators.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, give 5 stars, follow etc. Also feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Enis Hulli, GP and founder of e2vc, joins us as they raise Fund III. This episode is packed with insights: Enis's view on choosing (or not) sectors. Why Turkey and Emerging Europe offer a stronger VC landscape than France or Germany. e2vc's thesis, how they think about deal sourcing. Where they will go from here to grow the firm both geographically and in terms of products. Advice for emerging managers raising a first fund. And so much more.

Ali Karabey, founder of 212, one of Turkey's first venture capital firms, sheds light on Ali's journey from being a banker and consultant to pioneering venture capital in Turkey. The conversation spans the inception of 212, the challenges of raising funds, the importance of mentorship, and analyzing the market potential in Turkey and beyond. Learn about 212's investment strategies, successful exits, and the dynamic growth of the Turkish startup ecosystem. Listen in for valuable insights and inspiring stories from the evolving world of Turkish venture capital.

Baran Kılıçer, of Yıldız Technical University technology park venture capital trust, gives us a deep dive into a particularity of the Turkish startup ecosystem: the universtiy technology parks.

Baran has a background in investor relations before joining Yıldız Technical University technology park and helping to launch their venture capital trust. Baran also shares some stories of some of the most common bottlenecks facing Turkish startups in growing globally. A great primer on some of the idiosyncracies of the startup ecosystem in Turkey.

In this inaugural episode of the Turkish VC podcast, Yunus talks with Berk Üder of Stargate to hear about the firm's view on the Turkish gaming industry, and their unique approach running a gaming focused incubator.

Berk has a background as an entrepreneur in tech and mobile marketing, and shares how the industry has evolved in the region. We also cover his philosophy and passion for supporting entrepreneurs, and how as an incubator Stargate aims to help guide and mentor the next wave of successful gaming startups.