At the YıldızTech meeting, which brought together stakeholders of the YTÜ Yıldız Technopark ecosystem, participants reviewed the performance of the Yıldız Techno GSYF—which has reached a value of 110 million TL—as well as strategies for expanding into international markets and new initiatives designed to enhance synergy among companies.

The latest in a series of YıldızTech meetings—which have been bringing together companies operating in the Technology Development Zone (TGB) since the early years of YTÜ Yıldız Technopark—was held. The program was attended by YTÜ Rector and YTÜ Yıldız Technopark Board of Directors Chairman Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, Rector’s Chief Advisor and YTÜ Yıldız Technopark Board of Directors Vice Chairman Prof. Dr. Özer Çınar, YTÜ Yıldız Technopark Deputy General Manager Prof. Dr. Cengiz Kaya, members of the advisory board of the Yıldız Techno Venture Capital Investment Fund, as well as executives and representatives from the companies that contributed the most to the fund.

Yıldız Techno GSYF Exceeded Its Target by Double

At the meeting held at the YTU Academic Lounge, discussions focused on how YTÜ Yıldız Technopark’s leading position in Turkey—achieved over the past eight years in terms of the number of projects, budget size, R&D personnel, and leasable space capacity—could be further advanced on a global scale.

It was announced at the meeting that the 50 million TL target set for 2025 under the Yıldız Techno Venture Capital Investment Fund (GSYF) had been exceeded, with the fund’s size reaching 110 million TL. While explaining the operation of the democratic fund model, in which investors directly participate in project evaluation processes, it was emphasized that the fund aims to cultivate a technology brand capable of achieving global success from within the ecosystem.

The meeting also addressed mechanisms to strengthen commercial and technological collaborations between companies, and evaluated the growth and scaling processes that technology companies face in international markets. Participants were informed about the support provided by the Yıldız Techno GSYF, as well as the new-generation entrepreneurship office Kovan, which offers mentorship and guidance to entrepreneurs, and the GreenStars certification program—developed in the field of sustainability and aiming for international accreditation.

Emphasis on International Networks and Commercial Diplomacy

The activities of YTÜ Yıldız Technopark’s offices in London, Amsterdam, Skopje, and Dubai were among the key agenda items of the meeting. It was noted that these overseas offices serve as strategic hubs for market development and acceleration processes for companies seeking to enter global markets. The meeting also highlighted the potential of Turkish fintech companies in the UK market.

It was also announced that the Starboard software, which matches service and project partnership needs among companies using AI, will be integrated with the academic database.

Company representatives speaking during the open forum segment of the program emphasized the need to move beyond the use of open-source platforms in the field of artificial intelligence and focus on product development and commercialization processes. Participants emphasized that bringing together the initiatives of technology park companies in vertical sectors to create stronger and more sustainable business models is of critical importance in terms of global competition.