Türkiye outlines AI startup push at GITEX Ai Türkiye

Türkiye used GITEX Ai Türkiye in Istanbul to pitch an aggressive AI and startup agenda, including a goal of 100,000 tech startups, $100 billion in unicorn value and $150 million in public funding for AI venture capital. The event also spotlighted women founders, cybersecurity and international expansion across the GITEX network.

Why it matters: - Türkiye is trying to move from a regional tech player to a global AI and startup hub. - The government’s targets and funding commitments are meant to draw capital, talent and international partners into the country’s tech economy. - The event also framed AI adoption as a wider economic issue, touching entrepreneurship, industrial competitiveness, women founders and cybersecurity.

What happened: - Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır addressed global tech leaders at GITEX Ai Türkiye at Istanbul Expo Centre. - Kacır said Türkiye wants to become one of the world’s top 10 startup ecosystems, with 100,000 tech startups and $100 billion in total unicorn valuation. - Türkiye is committing $150 million in public funding to AI-focused venture capital funds. - GITEX Ai Türkiye was hosted by Invest in Türkiye, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and organized by inD. - The two-day event in Istanbul brought together more than 350 enterprises and startups, along with global investors, policymakers and technology leaders.

The details: - Kacır said tech entrepreneurship is one of the main engines of Türkiye’s next generation of growth. - Kacır told the audience of attendees from 88 countries to build and scale their next companies in Türkiye. - Sadullah Uzun, director general of National Technology and AI at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, said Türkiye’s AI Vision and Action Plan for 2026–2030 includes reserving 2% of public spending for AI. - Uzun also set a goal of reaching five million citizens with the capabilities to participate in the AI economy. - A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, president of the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, said Türkiye has evolved from a bridge between Asia and Europe into a regional hub for manufacturing, R&D, logistics, technology and entrepreneurship. - Dağlıoğlu said Türkiye’s long-term goal is to become a global economic powerhouse. - Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of GITEX, said Türkiye has a global industrial base, a dynamic digital economy and about 1,500 AI startups. - LohMirmand said GITEX aims to connect Türkiye with new markets, capital and talent at scale. - The event covered AI infrastructure and investment, cybersecurity, physical AI, digital government and entrepreneurship.

Between the lines: - Türkiye is pairing policy with capital, which signals a push to turn AI strategy into investable activity rather than a policy statement. - The emphasis on scale, trust and international connectivity suggests Türkiye wants to compete not just on startup count, but on commercialization and cross-border market access. - Women’s participation and cybersecurity were positioned as growth constraints and enablers, not side topics. - Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, chair of the board of trustees of KADEM, said women entrepreneurs are using AI to do more with smaller teams and fewer resources. - Bayraktar said women also need mentorship, investment and better employment opportunities. - Brandefense said compliance is becoming a board-level issue as organizations widen their view of digital risk. - UMV said AI adoption will depend on trust and cybersecurity as core parts of digital transformation.

What's next: - The next edition of GITEX AI Türkiye is scheduled for 15–16 September 2027. - INTEGRA CITY signed memorandums of understanding to participate in GITEX Ai Belgrade on 25–27 May 2027 and GITEX Ai Kazakhstan on 7–8 June 2027. - GITEX organizers and participating companies are using the network to expand into new markets, government opportunities and international partnerships. - Türkiye’s AI roadmap through 2030 will be a key test of whether the country can convert its funding, talent and event momentum into measurable ecosystem growth.

The bottom line: - Türkiye is making a coordinated bet that AI, venture funding and global tech ties can accelerate its rise as a major innovation hub.