Finberg and Portage co-hosted an exclusive roundtable at Swissôtel The Bosphorus with Adam Felesky, CEO of Portage, bringing together senior executives from leading Turkish financial institutions and portfolio management firms.
During the event, Felesky shared the story of Sagard and the journey that led to the creation of Portage. He highlighted Portage’s performance and offered a detailed outlook on the global venture capital ecosystem, noting the renewed momentum in fintech worldwide.
Sagard today is one of the most sophisticated alternative asset managers globally, with USD 32 billion in assets under management and offices across ten countries. Its fintech-focused venture arm, Portage, manages USD 4.8 billion and is recognized as one of the world’s most active fintech investors. With more than 250 limited partners worldwide, including growing interest from family offices, Portage continues to expand its global footprint.
Felesky underlined that vertical specialization in fintech has enabled Portage to scale globally and capture the next wave of innovation. He pointed to the acceleration of IPO and M&A activity as signs of a broader market rebound, suggesting that “the next generation of global champions may well be born in this cycle.”
Turkey was also a focus of discussion. Portage was an early investor in Midas, which Felesky praised as an outstanding example of the innovation potential emerging from the Turkish ecosystem.
The roundtable convened senior leaders from institutions such as Anadolu Sigorta, Garanti BBVA Portföy, Yapı Kredi, TEB, Türkiye Kalkınma Bankası, and Rota Portföy, reflecting the depth of Turkey’s financial sector engagement with international investors.
İhsan Elgin, Executive Board Member at Finberg, commented: “International capital and strategic collaboration are vital to accelerating fintech innovation. Partnering with Portage not only connects us with a global network of investors but also strengthens the role of Turkey as a hub for financial technology.”
Adam Felesky, commented, “Turkey’s young, entrepreneurial, and extremely ambitious population is transforming the country’s financial ecosystem, and Portage is here to help make it happen.
As one of the largest and most active global fintech investors with a track record of backing category-defining companies, we’re excited to bring our experience to Turkey. Our early support of Midas shows what’s possible, and we see even greater opportunities ahead to partner with the country’s next generation of fintech leaders.”
01.10.2025
