The İzmir NIC Talks with Corporates and Investors event, organized within the scope of İzmir NIC Project, was held on May 17, 2023 at İstanbul Dedeman Hotel. The event brought together and introduced entrepreneurs and companies operating in İzmir to İstanbul-based corporates and investors.
The first session in the morning started with the welcoming speech of Project Team Leader and Key Expert David Tee and his presentation giving information about İzmir NIC Project and Accelerate İzmir Programme. Following this, Teknopark İzmir General Manager and İzmir Project Senior Representative Prof. Dr. Metin Tanoğlu conducted an introductory presentation of Teknopark İzmir and İzmir NIC Project activities.
Following the welcome speeches, corporate representatives were introduced to the 31 companies from the second cohort of the Accelerate İzmir Programme by İzmir NIC Project Key and Commercialization Expert, Gökhan Çelebi. In his presentation, Gökhan Çelebi shared company information and details with the participants, evaluated the existing status of the companies and informed İstanbul-based corporate representatives about their potential and investment searches. The morning session of the event was completed with the presentation of Teknopark İzmir Incubation Centre Specialist Ezgi Altınbaşak introducing Teknopark İzmir ClassBoom Startups.
The afternoon session of the event, which was focused on investors, started with the welcoming speeches of İzmir NIC Project Team Leader David Tee and Teknopark İzmir General Manager and İzmir NIC Project Senior Representative Prof. Dr. Metin Tanoğlu about Teknopark İzmir and the Project. Prof. Tanoğlu informed İstanbul-based investors, especially by emphasizing the potential of İzmir in the investor and entrepreneur ecosystem.
Following the introductions, 20 companies that are receiving investment Plus Service support within the framework of the Accelerate İzmir Programme were introduced to investors by their coaches who had supported them during the programme process under the moderation of Project Key Expert Gökhan Çelebi.
As the event drew to an end, each coach who made the presentation answered questions of the interested investors and a networking environment was created. In addition, many corporate firms, angel investors and investors were brought together to cooperate with İzmir companies at the event.
İzmir NIC – İzmir Network and Innovation Centre Project
İzmir Network and Innovation Centre (İzmir NIC) Project, is implemented by Teknopark İzmir within the scope of the Ministry of Industry and Technology Competitive Sectors Programme, realised with the financial support of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, aiming to enhance the commercialisation and internationalisation of innovative products, by fostering networks and strategic partnership among relevant stakeholders. The project, focusing on ICT and RE sectors, which are among the pioneers of economic development; aims to increase the capacities of innovation ecosystem actors (SME, Start-up, TTO, TGB, R&D Centres, etc.) in İzmir through training, Acceleration programmes, mentoring support, and networking activities.
The project, implemented with partners İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE) and the Software Industrialists Association (YASAD), will ru