As a buzzing metropolis where Europe meets Asia – both physically and metaphorically – Istanbul is unsurprisingly home to a fast-growing startup ecosystem. And if the guestlist at the city’s biggest startup event, the handily-monikered Startup Istanbul, is anything to go by, plenty of people from outside the region are starting to take notice.
Dave McClure of 500 Startups – also a big fan of Berlin – and Michael Seibel of Y Combinator lead the way in terms of speakers, together with Neil Patel from Kissmetrics, Blablacar’s Nicolas Brusson, Chris Chabot from Twitter and Microsoft Ventures’ Rahul Sood. Investors on the list include Jason Ball from Quallcomm Ventures.
The event takes place at the Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC) in downtown Istanbul, and organisers say more than 1,000 people will be present including 100 startups and 200 investors from all around the world. There will be a lounge for company booths, a networking area, three parallel tracks and private rooms for those key meetings with investors.
The event’s goal is to provide a platform to startups in the region for knowledge sharing and network creation, focusing on international trends. Some 100 local startups will get the chance to take part in mentorships sessions with San Francisco figures such as Adam Berk and Vitaly Golomb, before pitching to investors on September 29.
The top 20 will then pitch on stage the following day at Startup Istanbul – the 80 which miss out, though, will be able to present their startups at the venue.
You can still apply to take part here.