Garanti BBVA hosts Istanbul Ventures Day to support innovation
Garanti BBVA recently hosted Istanbul Venture Day to bolster the startup ecosystem and contribute to innovation in the fintech sector. The event was organized in collaboration with Fintech Istanbul and IE University of Madrid as part of its Venture Day series, with the participation of the Spanish and Italian consulates. Fintech startups had the opportunity to meet with Italian and Spanish investors, and learn about the markets and investment opportunities in these countries.
Cover photo: From left to right Garanti BBVA EVP, Ceren Acer Kezik, Zuzzuu Co-Founder & CEO, Ahmet Sukuroglu and IE University Chairman, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Juan José Güemes.
Various panel discussions took place throughout the day, featuring startups, investors and consultants in the fintech industry. In addition, there was a competition among five startups from various sectors, such as regtech, martech and adtech. Zuzzuu was selected as the winner, and it will compete in the South Summit semifinal for a spot in the South Summit.
Garanti BBVA Executive Vice President Ceren Acer Kezik emphasized the bank’s long-standing commitment to innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. “We strategically prioritize entrepreneurs, as the growth of this ecosystem is vital to our country’s economy and its future.” She also put the spotlight on the bank’s wide range of initiatives related to entrepreneurship, such as its Women Entrepreneurship Program, launched in 2006, and the Garanti BBVA Partners Acceleration Program, providing support to entrepreneurs propelling the Turkish economy since 2015. The bank highly values these programs, and combines them with partnerships with fintech firms, and collaborations with other initiatives to boost innovation.
In this context, the Executive Vice President noted that Garanti BBVA’s collaboration with IE University around Istanbul Venture Day provides a unique opportunity for the Turkish startup ecosystem to connect with international investors, allowing them to gain scale and expand into European markets. “We will continue to support the brightest minds in the fintech world and foster innovation,” Ceren Acer Kezik added.
Meanwhile Juan Jose Guemes, Head of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at IE University, stressed that the purpose of Istanbul Venture Day is to reinforce Turkey’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and showcase fintech innovations. By fostering connections among startups, investors and business leaders, the event serves as a platform for collaboration and sustainable growth.
“At IE University, we are deeply committed to entrepreneurship and support our alumni in their entrepreneurial journey,” he said, pointing to IE University’s impressive track record in this regard: 256 entrepreneurs from its MBA program have raised $5.7 billion in venture capital, and 335 graduate program alumni have raised $9 billion. “These achievements demonstrate the global impact and leadership of our entrepreneurship community,” he stated.