The 20th edition of the Webrazzi Summit 2026, held at the Wyndham Grand Istanbul Levent hotel, witnessed intense discussions on the mechanisms of transforming start-ups into major, scalable entities (scale-ups). The session titled "Startup Yetmez: Scale-up Nasıl Çıkaracağız?", moderated by entrepreneur and investment sector representative Emre Gurakan, focused on the role of the ecosystem, technoparks, and technology centers in supporting the growth of Turkish technology companies.
The Role of Technoparks and Capacity Building in Management
Dr. Kutay Gunesibi, Chief Operating Officer and Project Development Manager at ITU ARI Teknokent, explained that tech incubators play a vital intermediary role between innovators, corporations, and investors. He emphasized that start-ups reaching the scale-up stage need to improve their management skills, establish transparent accounting rules, and define clear unit economics to ensure their readiness to attract institutional investments and secure a sustainable growth path in international markets.
Funding Challenges for Hardware and Deep Tech Companies
On her part, Elif Ozen, representative of Ostim Teknopark, pointed out the significant disparity between financing software companies and those operating in the deep tech hardware sector. She noted that the return on investment in hardware and industrial technologies can take between 10 to 12 years, requiring dedicated funding models distinct from traditional software. She also stressed the importance of start-ups cooperating with major industrial entities to test products and gain initial market validation.
Marketing and Expanding Early-Stage Investment Scope
Isa Uysal, General Manager of Orion TEKMER, highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of Turkish start-ups in their early stages, explaining that they possess high technical and engineering capabilities in product development, but urgently need to develop marketing strategies and access foreign markets. He reviewed his organization's efforts in cooperation with funds like FonAngels to support early-stage start-ups in software, services, and defense technologies such as AYTE Elektronik.
What Does This Discussion Change Practically?
This discussion reflects a shift in the priorities of the Turkish entrepreneurship ecosystem from merely founding start-ups to addressing the structural obstacles hindering their transformation into major companies capable of global competition. This highlights the market's urgent need to develop appropriate financing mechanisms for the hardware and deep tech sectors, and to connect innovators with factories and international markets early on through technopark networks.