2nd GEV Future Summit: Building the Future Ecosystem Together
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Click here for the Entrepreneur–Investor Matchmaking Event Application Form.
The 2nd GEV Future Summit, organized under the leadership of Gedik Education Foundation (GEV) and Istanbul Gedik University, will open its doors on June 3, 2026 at the MEXT Technology Center.
The journey we started last year within the triangle of education, technology, and employment is being carried forward this year with a focus on entrepreneurship under the main theme “The Ecosystem of the Future: From Entrepreneurship to the Future.” Our aim is to position Türkiye’s human capital not only as a qualified workforce but also as an “innovation power” that produces, develops new ideas, and creates tangible value.
Why "From Entrepreneurship to the Future"?
We believe that sustainable development is possible not only with people who will carry out existing jobs, but with individuals who can generate their own ideas, bring these ideas to life through technology, and grow within the investment ecosystem. For this reason, we set out to prepare our young people and all our human capital not only for the professions of the future but also for the ideas of the future and brand-new entrepreneurial initiatives.
What Awaits Us at the Summit?
At our summit, where we will bring together investors, technology leaders, entrepreneurs shaping the ecosystem, and bright young talents under the same roof;
- Türkiye's rapidly growing startup culture,
- AI-powered next-generation business models,
- Entrepreneur–investor collaborations,
- The global competitiveness of the ecosystem will be discussed from multiple perspectives.
Through panels and special sessions featuring experts from both national and international fields, we will explore the ecosystem of the future from different perspectives.
Program Flow
| Time | Panel | Speaker / Moderator | Role | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09.00 - 10.00 | Registration - Welcome | |||
| 10.00 - 10.05 | Opening | Hande Demirel | Master Of Ceremony | BloombergHT Anchor, Journalist and Gedik Education Foundation (GEV) Volunteer |
| 10.05 - 10.30 | Opening Speeches | Hülya Gedik | Speaker | Istanbul Gedik University, GEV Gedik Education Foundation President of the Board of Trustees and Gedik Holding Chairperson |
| Merve Ergin Tosun | Speaker | MEXT Technology Center Competency Development Director | ||
| 10.30 - 10.50 | Panel 1: Entrepreneurship Ecosystem | Uğur Şeker | Moderator | ST Advisory Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Galata Business Angels |
| Nuri Murat Avcı | Speaker | TÜGİM Founding President of All Entrepreneurs and Business Mentors Association | ||
| Prof. Dr. Attila Dikbaş | Speaker | General Manager of ITU ARI Teknokent | ||
| Bilge Kalpaklıoğlu Eyilik | Speaker | TUSIAD Turkish Industry and Business Association Chairperson of Entrepreneurship in Institutions Working Group | ||
| 10.50 - 11.00 | Keynote Speech | Onur Topaç | Speaker | Chairman and CEO of Gedik Investment |
| 11.00 - 11.30 | Coffee Break | |||
| 11.30 - 12.00 | Panel 2: Entrepreneurship & Investing | Hande Demirel | Moderator | BloombergHT Anchor, Journalist and Gedik Education Foundation (GEV) Volunteer |
| Gülsüm Çıracı | Speaker | Founder of Startup Fon | ||
| Mehmet Buldurgan | Speaker | Chairman of "Şirket Ortağım" Angel Investor Network | ||
| Fatih Keresteci | Speaker | Economist, Strategist | ||
| Taner Özarslan | Speaker | Chairman of Sparta Portfolio Management | ||
| 12.00 - 13.00 | Lunch Break | |||
| 13.00 - 13.30 | Panel 3: Entrepreneurship & Artificial Intelligence | Ebru Fırat Tayman | Moderator | Editor-in-Chief of Capital Magazine & Publication Coordinator of Start Up Magazine |
| Gökhan Mataracı | Speaker | KPMG Innovation and Technology Consulting Leader and Partner | ||
| Kamil Güçlü | Speaker | Adastec Co-Founder & Former Oracle EMEA Group President | ||
| Gizem Sezer | Speaker | Boğaziçi Ventures Managing Partner | ||
| Aslı Türkmen | Speaker | Endeavor Turkey Secretary General | ||
| 13.30 - 13.40 | Keynote Speech | Barış Karakullukçu | Keynote Speaker | YZTD President of AI and Technology Association and Founder of Aionire |
| 13.40 - 13.45 | GearUp Venture Capital Investment Fund Launch | |||
| 13.45 - 14.10 | GearUp Launch | Hande Demirel | Moderator | BloombergHT Anchor, Journalist and Gedik Education Foundation (GEV) Volunteer |
| Hülya Gedik | Speaker | Istanbul Gedik University, GEV Gedik Education Foundation President of the Board of Trustees and Gedik Holding Chairperson | ||
| Fatih Keresteci | Speaker | Economist, Strategist | ||
| 14.10 - 14.30 | Coffee Break | |||
| 14.30 - 16.30 |
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| 14.30 - 15.15 | Investor & Founder Meetings - Investor x Founder Speed Networking hosted by startups.watch | |||
| Panel 1: What Investors Actually Look For in 2026 | ||||
| 15.20 - 15.40 | Panel 1: What Investors Actually Look For in 2026 | Anıl Yıldırım | Moderator | Inveo Ventures Senior Investment Specialist |
| Hüseyin Çelik | Speaker | Ak Portföy Vice President | ||
| Salim Yılmaz | Speaker | Türk Telekom Ventures Venture Capital Ecosystem Management Director | ||
| Barış Çivici | Speaker | Türkiye Development Fund Executive Vice President | ||
| Panel 2: From Türkiye to Global | ||||
| 15.45 - 16.05 | Panel 2: From Türkiye to Global | Dicle Özcan | Moderator | Inveo Ventures Senior Investment Specialist |
| Kadir Demircioğlu | Speaker | Thread In Motion CEO | ||
| Ahmet Tosun | Speaker | Poltio - Co-Founder and CEO | ||
| Murat Hacıoğlu | Speaker | B2Metric CEO | ||
| 16.05 - 16.30 | Networking | |||
