Unlocking London Opportunities for Local Entrepreneurs

YTU Yıldız Technopark is facilitating Turkish technology companies' access to the London market with the opening of an office in the city. According to Orhan Tanışman, General Manager of YTU Yıldız Technopark, they have established a collaborative connection between London and Turkey. "This place holds special significance for us. Being present here is truly meaningful. I believe it will also mark a significant milestone for Turkish technology entrepreneurs," he stated.




Yıldız Technical University's Yıldız Technopark has officially launched operations at its London office. The launch event, which featured discussions on Turkey's technology exports, was attended by Kenan Poleo, the British Consul General in Istanbul, Orhan Tanışman, General Manager of YTU Yıldız Technopark, business professionals, and numerous invited guests. With the support of the Ministry of Trade and the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, YTU Startup House, the global brand of YTU Yıldız Technopark, has launched its London office to propel Turkey's potential in technology and entrepreneurship onto the international stage. The aim is to enhance the competitiveness of Turkish technology companies and increase Turkey's export volume in the international arena. Situated at Battersea Power Station, YTU Yıldız Technopark's London office joins its existing offices in Dubai and Tashkent. 

UNITED KINGDOM HEARTILY WELCOMES TURKISH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES

Speaking at the launch event, Kenan Poleo, the British Consul General in Istanbul, expressed, "Over the past year, our teams in Istanbul and London have collaborated closely with Yıldız Technical University. Turkish heritage is created by threads of resilience, craftsmanship, and hospitality, creating a rich fabric. This culture speaks of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurship. Today, we are delighted to bring this heritage to London, a city thriving on diversity and innovation. Today, we witness the convergence of Turkey's entrepreneurial spirit with the vibrant technology ecosystem of the United Kingdom. As you know, bilateral relations between the UK and Turkey are strengthening. Brands like YTU Startup House will serve as a driving force behind stronger commercial ties between our countries at the historic Battersea Power Station. We are all aware that the United Kingdom offers excellent growth opportunities for innovative Turkish businesses ready to expand globally. The UK's technology ecosystem is a global leader, rapidly growing and valued at over $1 trillion. It hosts more than 85,000 startups and scale-ups, including 170 unicorns, surpassing the total of France and Germany combined. I can confidently say that the United Kingdom heartily welcomes Turkish technology companies. We know that Turkish tech companies deciding to establish a presence in the UK are not just setting up offices; they are sowing seeds of collaboration. They bring cutting-edge technology solutions, sharp technologies, and a desire for progress. We believe that brands like YTU Startup House are more than just walls and desks: they are bridges symbolizing a promise of shared growth; they are gateways for ideas, partnerships, growth, and friendships."

IMPORTANT STEP FOR TURKISH TECH ENTREPRENEURS

Orhan Tanışman, General Manager of YTU Yıldız Technopark, emphasized London's status as a financial hub, stating, "London is one of the key centers of finance and markets. Previously, we've had a presence in Dubai and Tashkent. Like every entrepreneur, our global journey began in Silicon Valley. Starting this journey in 2015-2016 was a significant milestone for us. We've been working with London for over a year and a half now. It's not just about opening an office there. We identify structures that deal with technology startups and then help them comply with local regulations, taxes, and incentives. Each country has its own focus areas. For instance, the UK is currently seeking serious ventures in artificial intelligence. In Europe, tech entrepreneurs are increasingly in the spotlight. When it comes to talent, the world is now seeking digital skills.

London not only offers us opportunities to venture abroad but also represents a significant human capital flight for us. There's a significant number of Turkish companies thriving in these lands, establishing their business and making their mark. So, there's a pressing need for someone to provide them with a unified platform and strengthen their presence in the market. Essentially, we're the bridge connecting London with Istanbul, the UK with Türkiye. London holds a special place for this mission. Being here holds profound meaning for us. I believe it will also serve as a crucial step for Turkish tech entrepreneurs.

 WE HAVE A MISSION TO SPREAD TURKISH TECHNOLOGY WORLDWIDE

Speaking of the goals related to the London office, Orhan Tanışman stated, "We opened Turkey's first International Technology Marketing office in Dubai. Certainly, there are exports in other areas in our country. But we are technology-focused. We have a mission to spread Turkish technology worldwide. From that perspective, our first goal is access to the technology market. London has a priority in this regard. Therefore, we will continue to work to enable Turkish entrepreneurs to reach international finance."

SIMPLIFYING ACCESS TO FINANCE

Orhan Tanışman noted that there are spaces available for 28 companies in the London office, saying, "We have allocated spaces for 28 companies at the moment. Initially, we will move 28 companies there. We will prioritize these companies with the space. It will be a place where Turkish technology companies are located. Then, we will have various events for these companies to meet the market. We will focus on making the network more marketing-oriented and facilitating access to the market and finance. This is, after all, a technology marketing office. They will find everything they need for marketing through us; branding, events, market-related information, all will be available through us. As YTU Yıldız Technopark, we have exceeded $2 billion in exports. Our exports this year were around $500 million. Currently, we are present in San Francisco, Tashkent, Dubai, and London. We are continuing our efforts in Amsterdam as well. Looking ahead, we will begin to emerge in Berlin, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, and later in other countries with technology needs."