CVC Bosphorus Summit’25, Turkey’s largest inclusive investor event bringing together the key stakeholders of the venture capital ecosystem, was held for the third time by Girişimci Kurumlar Platformu (GKP), with the main sponsorship of Fiba Grubu and in collaboration with Özyeğin Üniversitesi. The summit, where insights on the future of the corporate venture capital ecosystem, global CVC trends, and investment opportunities were discussed, brought together many corporate investors, CVC representatives, and fund managers from Turkey and around the world in Istanbul.
At CVC Bosphorus Summit, which featured many expert speakers, nearly 400 participants from over 300 companies came together. The opening speech of CVC Bosphorus Summit’25 was delivered by İhsan Elgin, Founder of Girişimci Kurumlar Platformu, Entrepreneurship Advisor to the Rector of Özyeğin Üniversitesi, and Board Member of Finberg. He said:
“While investment amounts are increasing globally, the number of deals is declining. The contribution of CVCs to national economies is 25 percent worldwide, while in Turkey it is between 35-40 percent. However, in a venture capital ecosystem where startup closures are increasing, we must think differently and focus on unit economics. Entrepreneurs must change their perspective – it is no longer just about growth. They must solve real problems, focus on unit economics and investors, and become resilient.
Trust has become the new currency for investors. This principle should always serve as a compass for investors: every successful step taken through collaboration will transform into a success that accelerates all investors. Be involved. Think realistically, be patient. Invest in trust!”
“Venture Capital Shapes the Future”
The keynote speaker of the conference was Prof. Dr. Ilya A. Strebulaev, Economist at Stanford University. In his speech titled “The Future of Corporate Venture Capital”, Strebulaev touched on the increasing pace of innovation, the economic impact of corporate venture capital, and the adaptation of the venture capital mindset to corporate structures. He said:
“Venture capital has become a decisive factor across all industries. In fact, our team at Stanford analyzed all successful ventures of the last 50 years, and almost all of them had venture capital behind them. In the next 20 years, we can say that major disruptions will occur in the world of capitalism. CEOs will either respond by strengthening internal innovation or by bringing external innovation into their companies through corporate venture capital. For Turkey, we see a major opportunity here. Turkey is not lagging behind the world in this field – it has the potential to become one of the world’s leading corporate venture capital centers.”
“We Must Work Together to Create Real Impact”
The conference concluded with the closing speech of Prof. Dr. Barış Tan, Rector of Özyeğin Üniversitesi. Prof. Dr. Tan said:
“With the bold, pioneering, and innovative culture we have fostered, our students have established over 600 active entrepreneurial companies in 16 years. I invite all venture capital firms and the business world to work more closely with universities, especially with young people.”
CVC Bosphorus Summit Aims to Create Lasting Impact in the Ecosystem
First organized in 2023 as Turkey’s first corporate venture capital conference, CVC Bosphorus Summit stands out as an important platform that strengthens the ecosystem by increasing knowledge sharing and collaboration in the field of corporate venture capital in our country. In its first two years, the conference brought together more than 700 professionals, over 40 speakers, and more than 300 institutions. Its aim is to build sustainable collaborations between corporate investors and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Organized with the collaboration of Özyeğin Üniversitesi and the main sponsorship of Fiba Grubu, the event connects regional investment networks through Turkey, combining global CVC trends with the dynamism of our country.
