BY SELENAY YAGCI
The local startup ecosystem has raised the bar after it ended 2021 with record figures. Four more startups are expected to join the Turkish unicorn league by 2023 following Getir, Dream Games, Insider, Trendyol, Hepsiburada and Peak. In the meantime, the number of incubation centers rose from nine to 82, and the number of accelerator programs increased from seven to 70 in the last 10 years. The number of R&D technoparks, which started to operate in Turkey in 2000, has reached 68, while 16 more technoparks are under construction. Over 6,000 technology companies employ more than 64,000 people in these technoparks. They earn an export revenue of TRY 7.7bn. Many early-stage startups prefer incubation centers of technoparks. Funding of USD 89.1m was received by patented startups in 2021, according to a report prepared by Patent Effect. The number of patented startups that received funding hit a record high of 43 last year. 77% or 697 of the total of 898 patentpreneurs (patented startups) in Turkey operate at technoparks. Moreover, Turkey’s leading technoparks are taking steps toward internalization. Yildiz Technical University’s YTU Technopark is aiming to become “the Silicon Valley of Turkic Republics”.
