The program, which also included stands from Ostim Technopark and OSTİM Venture Capital Investment Fund, was attended by Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, Ankara Chamber of Industry Chairman Nurettin Özdebir, Ankara Chamber of Commerce Chairman Gürsel Baran, OSTİM Chairman Orhan Aydın, General Manager of Development Agencies Barış Yeniçeri, OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone Regional Manager Adem Arıcı, and OSTİM Foundation Manager Gülnaz Karaosmanoğlu.
At the TechAnkara Project Market, where 10 finalist projects presented their work, the top 3 projects, selected by a jury including OSTİM Board Chairman Orhan Aydın, received their awards from the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mustafa Varank.
Speaking at the opening of the TechAnkara Project Market, Ankara Development Agency Secretary General Cahit Çelik announced that they have contributed over 1 billion TL to the ecosystem in Ankara.
“Ten unicorns is not an unattainable goal”
Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank stated that the entire ecosystem is going through a historic period. He noted that last year, more than 300 startups received a total of $1.5 billion in investments, setting an all-time record, and that this trend continues to rise in 2022. He added that in the first six months of this year, Turkish startups received $1.4 billion in investments. Varank continued: “In the first half of the year alone, we have already caught up with last year's figures. Looking at the progress we have made in a short time, I honestly don't think the target of 10 unicorns is an unattainable goal. I believe that TechAnkara Project Market has made and will continue to make significant contributions to our country on the path to this goal. This place plays an important role for Ankara's startup ecosystem. In this event, which we are holding for the tenth time this year, over a thousand very valuable projects have been showcased so far. Approximately 900 of these projects have managed to commercialize. Some of them have also managed to attract a total of $40 million in investment to their companies as a result of meetings with investment funds and angel investors who came to TechAnkara Project Market.”
Impact Investing is being launched
Minister Mustafa Varank stated that they have launched a new form of investment. He noted that Impact Investing, which focuses on climate, environment, energy, and social crises, is a prominent field worldwide, and added, “In this context, we aim to bring to our country, for the first time, a venture capital fund that focuses on social and environmental impact along with financial returns. We will launch this application together with our Ankara Development Agency. I recommend that interested entrepreneurs and investors follow up with the Ankara Development Agency. Hopefully, we will be the ones to bring impact investing to Turkey's agenda.”
Ostim Technopark Receives Office Award
Three entrepreneurs who showcased their projects at the TechAnkara Project Market were awarded a one-year office space from Ostim Technopark. The awards were presented to the entrepreneurs by Adem Arıcı, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ostim Technopark.
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