News
The “Investor–Entrepreneur Networking Event,” organized by the Ankara Development Agency to contribute to the development of the entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem, was hosted by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO). The event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, academics, public institutions, private-sector representatives, and ecosystem stakeholders, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the establishment of new connections.
The opening remarks were delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duhan Kalkan, Secretary General of the Ankara Development Agency, and Gürsel Baran, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duhan Kalkan expressed his satisfaction with adding another initiative to the ongoing cooperation with the Ankara Chamber of Commerce and thanked the ATO management for its support.
Kalkan stated that the Ankara Development Agency continues to advance its entrepreneurship initiatives through programs and activities such as the TechAnkara Project Market, the Ankara Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Report, Supply Chain Localization Programs, growth programs, and hackathon events. He expressed his hope that the event would contribute to strengthening the investment ecosystem, facilitating entrepreneurs’ access to finance, and fostering new business partnerships.
ATO President Gürsel Baran thanked all stakeholders for their participation and highlighted the importance of ongoing efforts to ensure that Ankara reaches its rightful position in the fields of investment and entrepreneurship.
Emphasizing the critical role of investors in unlocking Ankara’s full economic potential, Baran noted that the entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem is undergoing continuous transformation. He further stressed that increasing value-added production and value-added exports has become not merely a choice but a necessity for achieving sustainable development and strengthening international competitiveness.
The event addressed a range of topics, including current opportunities and challenges within the entrepreneurship ecosystem, investment processes, the dynamics of entrepreneurs securing investment, and ways to strengthen investor–entrepreneur relations.
The panel, moderated by Ayhan Mert, featured Dr. Cansu Durukan, Özge Sevim, and Ahmet Arvas as speakers. The panelists discussed the current state of the investment ecosystem, opportunities encountered by entrepreneurs throughout the investment process, and investor expectations.
As part of the program, an investor–entrepreneur meeting simulation was conducted, giving entrepreneurs at different stages of development the opportunity to present their projects to investors. Through questions and feedback from investors, participants gained practical experience and valuable insights into the investment process.
The final session of the event, titled “Assessing Ankara’s Investment Ecosystem,” featured Dr. Begüm Erikçi, Dr. Derya Çağlar, Berk Yavru, and Dr. Bülent Gümüş, who shared their views and assessments. The session focused on the current state of Ankara’s investment ecosystem, areas for further development, and opportunities for the future.
Bringing investors and entrepreneurs together and facilitating the establishment of new connections, the event stood out as an important platform for strengthening Ankara’s entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem.
