Take Off Istanbul Summit kicks off, gathering startups, investors from over 40 countries

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) – Take Off Istanbul Startup Summit, the region’s largest technology and entrepreneurship event, opened its doors for the eighth time on Wednesday.

The two-day summit is positioned as the region’s most comprehensive innovation and entrepreneurship platform under the umbrella of major technology and aviation event TEKNOFEST, led by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and the country’s Investment and Finance Office. Anadolu is the global communication partner of the event.

The event features numerous speeches from officials and experts on several topics, including fintech, connectivity, the space economy, innovation, and emerging markets.

The first edition of the event was held in 2018 as part of TEKNOFEST before it grew and became a separate event.

This year’s summit is hosting around 250 investors and 500 startups from more than 40 countries.

Highlighting international collaboration, the event will feature country pavilions from Spain, Bangladesh, North Macedonia, and Uzbekistan, showcasing startups from their respective ecosystems.

Special programs such as the “Entrepreneurial Event” and the “International Investor Meeting” are also included in the summit schedule to support participants in establishing new business connections.

The summit, which includes special training sessions for students to support young talent in the ecosystem, also aims to strengthen community awareness through a volunteer model.