TAKE OFF STARTUP SUMMIT

Organized since 2018 as part of TEKNOFEST, the Take Off Startup Summit brings together venture ecosystem partners to transform projects into global initiatives and aims to strengthen Türkiye's role in the field of entrepreneurship and contribute to the domestic and international entrepreneurship ecosystem.

What is Take Off Istanbul?

Take Off Istanbul is the most comprehensive startup summit in the region, bringing together all stakeholders of the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem on a global scale.

Organized since 2018, Take Off aims to accelerate the growth journey of startups by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, public representatives, corporate companies, and technology leaders under the same roof. Today, Take Off Istanbul is not just a summit lasting a few days; it is positioned as an innovation platform that fosters interaction through year-round engagements, strategic collaborations, and an international network structure.

As “The Summit Where Global Dreams Take Off” Take Off Istanbul continues to serve as a strategic meeting point for entrepreneurs and a strong hub for investors to closely follow regional and international trends, with its growing participant profile, rich content, and global vision each year.
 

What is the Purpose and Vision of Take Off Istanbul?

The main objective of Take Off Istanbul is to build an innovation ecosystem that generates global value by bringing together all stakeholders of the entrepreneurship ecosystem especially entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions on a strategic platform. The event provides international exposure and investment opportunities for startups while creating a strong interaction environment that enables investors to access qualified investment and co-investment opportunities and allows institutions to develop strategic business partnerships and invest in innovative technologies. Through this structure, sustainable commercial growth and long-term value creation for all stakeholders are targeted.

Under the leadership of the Turkish Teknoloji Takımı and implemented in cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Presidential Investment and Finance Office, the Take Off Startup Summit aims to increase the international visibility of Türkiye’s startup ecosystem.

Shaped by the contributions of leading figures from Türkiye and around the world, Take Off Istanbul serves as a strategic meeting point for entrepreneurs on their globalization journey and as a powerful platform for investors to closely follow regional and international trends each year.
 

Which Initiatives Are Suitable For?

Take Off Istanbul is a comprehensive summit that brings together technology startups at different maturity levels and creates value appropriate to each stage. The summit offers strong opportunities for both early-stage innovative startups and companies that have entered the growth and scaling phase.

Early Stage Startups: Startups that have completed MVP or POC processes, taken incorporation steps, received investments, and/or made their first sales have the opportunity to meet investors and corporate stakeholders at Take Off Istanbul. For startups at this stage, Take Off provides an important platform to strengthen their business models, gain visibility, and develop new collaborations.

Growth Stage Startups: For startups that are incorporated, have received investments ranging from 1–25 million dollars, have started generating revenue, and aim to expand into international markets, Take Off Istanbul serves as a strong meeting point for engaging with global investors, forming strategic partnerships, and accessing new markets.

By bringing these two stages together within the same ecosystem, Take Off Istanbul offers a multi-layered entrepreneurial environment that supports knowledge sharing, experience transfer, and sustainable growth.
 

What Supports and Opportunities Are Offered?

Take Off Istanbul offers comprehensive support to entrepreneurs. Startups participating in the summit and year-round activities benefit from:

• - One-on-one meetings with local and international investors
• - Stage presentations, demo areas, and pitching sessions
• - Opportunities to develop collaborations with corporate companies
• - Investment and grant opportunities
• - Access to international entrepreneurship networks

So far, within the scope of Take Off Istanbul:

• - Thousands of applications have been received from over 100 countries
• - 1,350 investors have participated
• - Over 800 mentors and investors have been involved
• - 253 speakers have been hosted
• - Over 2,871 one-on-one meetings have been scheduled

In total, more than 1.8 million dollars in awards and investments have been provided to startups.
 

What are the Investment and Cooperation Opportunities?

One of the strongest aspects of Take Off Istanbul is that it connects startups not only with investors but also with the right strategic stakeholders.

Within the scope of the summit:

• - Startups receive mentorship through one-on-one meetings with industry leaders
• - Develop new collaboration models with corporate innovation teams
• - Establish direct contact with angel investors and investment funds

Dedicated spaces such as the Investor and Executive Lounge enhance the summit experience by enabling more focused, efficient, and targeted meetings between startups and investors.
 

How does the Application Process and Evaluation Processes Work?

Applications for participation in Take Off Istanbul are submitted online through takeoffistanbul.com in accordance with the annually announced calendar.

Startups that apply are evaluated based on:

• - Technological competencies
• - Business models and scalability potential
• - Team structure and vision

Selected startups are included in the mentoring programs, investor meetings, and international networking opportunities offered by Take Off Istanbul.
 

Take Off Istanbul for Visitors

Take Off Istanbul is an international entrepreneurship summit that brings together entrepreneurs and investors, as well as professionals actively involved in the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. The event is also open to academics, industry representatives, and students who wish to advance themselves in this field. It offers visitors the opportunity to closely follow the global technology agenda, explore new ideas, and gain inspiration from leading figures in the ecosystem.

The Main Stage hosts inspiring speeches by visionary leaders shaping the worlds of technology and entrepreneurship, focusing on current trends, new business models, and global transformation topics. The Impact Stage brings together institutional representatives, investors, and professionals active in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing space for in-depth discussions on startup–corporate collaborations, innovation models, and sectoral developments.

Masterclasses and workshops held during the event allow participants to interact directly with experts, access up-to-date knowledge, and gain practical insights. Through networking areas and interactive sessions, visitors have the opportunity to build strong connections with various ecosystem stakeholders.

In this respect, Take Off Istanbul offers visitors not just a conference, but a multidimensional entrepreneurial experience where inspiration, learning, and sustainable business collaborations come together.