Held on December 11-12 at the Istanbul Expo Center, Take Off Istanbul 2024 gathered global leaders, innovative startups, and tech enthusiasts under one roof. Organized in collaboration with the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and the Presidency Investment Office, the summit showcased cutting-edge technologies and fostered international collaboration. Over two days, 125 investors from 25 countries and 250 startups from 23 countries connected with 15,000 visitors, creating significant opportunities for cooperation.
The summit opened with a keynote speech by Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, highlighting critical topics such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainability, and advanced technologies.
The event featured two stages: the main stage hosted 21 sessions with 30 speakers discussing future trends, while the startup stage provided a platform for 150 early-stage startups to present their projects and join the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Notable speakers included Tejpaul Bhatia, Chief Revenue Officer of Axiom Space, Kojo Boakye, Meta’s VP of Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey, and Jeff Jo, General Manager of Samsung Turkey.
Take Off Istanbul stood out with its international participation through country pavilions. Azerbaijan, France, the United Kingdom, and Palestine established dedicated pavilions, strengthening global partnerships.
France collaborated with La French Tech to showcase five startups, while Azerbaijan presented six startups in partnership with ASAN. The UK pavilion, supported by Academia Park, hosted startups and investors. The Palestinian pavilion, backed by the World Bank and the European Union, introduced ten innovative startups, building bridges with Turkish and global markets.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony, distributing a total of $1 million in funding. The Turkish Technology Team Foundation awarded $250,000 each to Büyütech, Nanomik Biotechnology, Novocycle Technologies, and Novus.
Turkish Airlines provided 150,000 Miles to Novus and Bottobo Robotics, while Quark Optical, Uppy, Helios, and 3P Metrics each received $10,000. These initiatives highlighted the groundbreaking projects of the summit, such as Büyütech’s autonomous vehicle monitoring systems and Nanomik’s natural preservatives for extending food shelf life.
Addressing the attendees, Turkish Technology Team Foundation Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar emphasized the importance of technological investments in shaping the future. The summit offered entrepreneurs direct access to investors, fostering collaboration and spotlighting innovative ideas.
Take Off Istanbul 2024, organized with the support of 64 institutions, energized the entrepreneurial ecosystem with its innovative projects, international collaborations, and inspiring discussions, solidifying its position as one of the most impactful entrepreneurship events of the year.
- Turkish Technology Team Foundation | $250,000 Investment ➡️ Büyütech
- Turkish Technology Team Foundation | $250,000 Investment ➡️ Nanomik Biotechnology
- Turkish Technology Team Foundation | $250,000 Investment ➡️ Novocycle Technologies
- Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey | $250,000 Investment Evaluation ➡️ Novus
- ASELSAN | $10,000 ➡️ Quark Optical
- ESAS Holding | $10,000 ➡️ Uppy
- Kuveyt Türk Bank | $10,000 ➡️ Helios
- UBER | $10,000 ➡️ 3PMetrics
- Turkish Airlines | 150,000 Miles ➡️ Novus
- Turkish Airlines | 150,000 Miles ➡️ Bottobo Robotics