Mehmet Koç, Chairman of the Entrepreneurial Businessmen’s Foundation (GİV), stated that a significant portion of startup projects in Turkey are lost at the idea stage and called for the establishment of an “Entrepreneurship Office” or “Ministry of Entrepreneurship” within the Presidency to centrally manage entrepreneurship.Speaking at the Turkey Entrepreneur Meeting - From Idea to Enterprise 2025 and the 12th GİV Entrepreneurship Awards held by GİV at the Eyüpsultan Bahariye Mevlevi Lodge on December 6, 2025, Koç emphasized the strategic importance of the entrepreneurial ecosystem for Turkey’s independent economic goals.
The event was attended by Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and BRSA President Şahap Kavcıoğlu, as well as numerous entrepreneurs, business representatives, and academics. The event attracted nearly a thousand attendees, and 70 startup booths were set up as part of the event, providing attendees with the opportunity to directly promote their projects and meet with investors.
This year, over 500 applications were submitted for the awards, with finalist projects receiving one-on-one meetings and presentations with investors. A total of 1 million Turkish Lira in prizes was awarded to the winners in 11 categories. Awards were presented in the following categories: Digital Economy, New Entrepreneurship, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Project/Idea, Press/Media, University Club, Academician, Public Administrator, Business Plan, International Project, and the GİV Special Award. Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan presented the awards to the winners at the ceremony. In his speech, Koç stated that entrepreneurship is not just an economic activity; it is a model for development, self-confidence, and future-building. We believe that this positive role model of our President and our country will spread like wildfire throughout our hearts and will be the most significant factor in preventing oppression, injustice, massacres, and occupations.
“Entrepreneurship is strategic leverage for a productive Turkey.”
Koç stated that for Turkey to rise to the ranks of technology-producing and exporting countries, R&D must be strengthened, university-industry collaborations deepened, and young people must be guided into entrepreneurship. “We can only solidify our place in a multipolar world by producing, conducting R&D, and developing and exporting our own technology,” Koç stated, emphasizing the importance of broadening the entrepreneurial base by issuing an open call to young people, especially women. The theme of this year’s event was “From Idea to Enterprise – You Can Do It,” and according to GİV’s statement, the event was not merely an awards ceremony but also a platform where entrepreneurs could come together, collaborate, and connect projects with investors.
“Finance, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence: The New Weapon of Competition”
Koç stated that capital, technology, and financial capacity, not military might, are now the determining factors in global competition, adding that investments in artificial intelligence, space research, and advanced technology will shape the future distribution of power. Koç noted that the majority of entrepreneurial projects in Turkey fail to progress due to a lack of funding and mentorship, stating that the establishment of a centralized structure would accelerate fund management, project evaluations, and growth processes. At the end of the program, Koç congratulated all participants and stated that they would continue to work to promote entrepreneurship. He concluded his speech with the words, “People are only rewarded for their hard work.”