With a population of 16 million, Istanbul hosts a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, powered by Türkiye's abundant human capital and a dynamic regulatory landscape, reinforced by significant government incentives. This convergence of talent, innovation and government backing fosters an environment ripe for entrepreneurial triumph, positioning Istanbul as a top choice for both startups and investors.

The Turkish government steadfastly backs Türkiye's startup milieu, offering an array of programs and policies aimed at nurturing growth. National research and technology advocate TÜBİTAK has been instrumental in supporting 2,140 startups at the idea stage through the TÜBİTAK BiGG program since 2012. The national SME supporter KOSGEB disburses grants across various stages. Türkiye has set ambitious targets, aiming to cultivate 100 unicorns through the Turcorn 100 Program by 2030 and positioning Istanbul among the top 20 entrepreneurship hubs. The National Startups Strategy with 30 strategies and 90 actions serves as a comprehensive roadmap for technology entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship forms the cornerstone of the Istanbul Regional Plan of the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA) and its partners, who spearhead initiatives to fortify the city's startup ecosystem. It aspires to propel Istanbul into a global entrepreneurship hub. ISTKA runs an Entrepreneurship Program (2024-2026) with 18 components and has supported about 100 Turkish startups and numerous ecosystem actors to attend key global events like Web Summit, Slush, CES, and Web Summit Qatar, showcasing their commitment to international success.

Amidst this fertile environment, Getir, the Istanbul-based rapid grocery service, has raised $500 million at a valuation of $2.5 billion. Since late December 2017, Getir has raised $1.8 billion from some 28 investors including Tiger Global, Sequoia, Silver Lake, Base Partners, and Goodwater Capital. Revo Capital, Türki.