GITEX Ai Türkiye set to link global capital with Türkiye’s AI startups

GITEX Ai Türkiye will debut in Istanbul on 9-10 September 2026, bringing more than 100 investors from 20 countries and hundreds of exhibitors into one venue. The event aims to connect Türkiye’s fast-growing AI and industrial-tech startup scene with global capital, partners and scale-up opportunities.

Why it matters: - GITEX Ai Türkiye is positioning Istanbul as a gateway for Eurasia’s AI investment flow. - The event is designed to connect global investors with Türkiye’s startups, technoparks and industrial companies. - The focus is on AI applications in sectors where Türkiye already has engineering depth and manufacturing strength. - Organizers say that mix could help produce globally scaled companies from Türkiye.

What happened: - GITEX Ai Türkiye will debut on 9-10 September 2026 at Istanbul Expo Centre. - The event is hosted by the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, through Invest in Türkiye, in strategic partnership with Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology. - The flagship event is powered by GITEX and organised by inD, the joint venture between Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa. - More than 300 exhibitors are expected, including Trendyol and other regional tech companies. - More than 100 investors from 20 countries, managing US$50 billion in assets, are expected to attend.

The details: - Erhan AK, CFO at Fark Holding, said the strongest opportunities are in industrial AI, fintech, defence tech, mobility, energy tech and enterprise software. - AK said international investors should focus on sectors where Türkiye combines engineering talent with industrial depth. - AK said startups that can scale across Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia look especially attractive. - AK will speak at the panel on “Next growth engines – emerging industries that could define Türkiye’s digital decade.” - Fark Holding’s Fark Labs innovation arm is described as one of the more active industrial investors in Turkish AI ventures. - AK said Fark Labs teams in the USA, Netherlands, Finland and Portugal are helping local startups scale globally. - In the first quarter of 2026, Turkish startups raised $559 million, more than seven times the same period a year earlier. - Türkiye has produced eight tech unicorns, including Trendyol, which is valued at $16.5 billion. - YTÜ Yıldız Technopark will bring 750 companies, more than 14,000 R&D staff, 70 AI-focused companies and 341 active AI projects. - YTÜ Yıldız Technopark will showcase its Starboard AI platform and a Techno-Scouting module that scores portfolio companies against more than 60 parameters. - Medeniyet Technopark will present its TeknoKöprü Investment Acceleration Programme, which combines training with direct investor meetings. - Medeniyet Technopark has already run delegation programs to the UK, Qatar, the UAE, Malaysia, Singapore and Morocco. - Antalya Teknokent said the event’s value lies in concentrating startups, investors, corporations and public institutions on one platform. - Giresun Teknopark said the event can help startups outside Türkiye’s largest cities reach international markets and partnerships. - GITEX Ai Türkiye’s participation list also includes Google Cloud, HPE & NVIDIA, ASUS, Huawei, Dell Technologies, SAP, TrendAI, Andevos and Halkbank.

Between the lines: - The messaging around the event is less about consumer apps and more about industrial AI that can be embedded into existing sectors. - That approach reflects where Türkiye already has advantages: technical talent, manufacturing links and a growing founder base. - The emphasis on technoparks suggests the event is also meant to show that Türkiye’s startup pipeline is broader than Istanbul alone. - Investors are being told that the most defensible companies may come from blending AI with sector expertise rather than chasing standalone AI products.

What's next: - The two-day conference program will feature panels, startup showcases and investor meetings in Istanbul. - Technoparks and startup accelerators are expected to use the event to pitch companies and expand cross-border partnerships. - Organizers and participants are aiming for new investments, commercial collaborations and export-ready growth for local startups. - The event will test whether Türkiye can turn its industrial base and startup momentum into a deeper AI investment corridor.

The bottom line: - GITEX Ai Türkiye is betting that Türkiye’s strongest AI opportunities will come from industrial use cases, not consumer hype, and that Istanbul can become a meeting point for global capital and regional tech ambition.