Kenan Poleo, British Consul General in Istanbul: “Türkiye's entrepreneurial spirit meets the UK's technology ecosystem”

Aiming to bring Türkiye's potential in technology and entrepreneurship to the international arena, YTU Yıldız Technopark initiated the activities of its London office. Speaking at the opening program held in Istanbul following the event in the UK, Kenan Poleo, British Consul General in Istanbul, stated that the UK welcomes Turkish technology companies, while Orhan Tanışman, General Manager of Yıldız Technopark, made important statements by saying that they brought startups and investors together with the London office.

According to Statista's research on the UK market for the year 2024, the IT Services market in the UK is estimated to exceed £100 billion in 2024, while London, which has a share of 5/10 percent in the world IT sector, produces an economic output of over £85 billion annually. YTU Startup House, the global brand of YTU Yıldız Technopark, which acts with the motivation of bringing Turkish IT and technology companies to the international market, has launched its London office with the support of Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, Digital Transformation Office of the Presidency of Türkiye. Kenan Poleo, British Consul General in Istanbul, Orhan Tanışman, General Manager of YTU Yıldız Technopark and many guests attended the opening program where important information about Türkiye's technology exports was shared.

Poleo: “Bilateral Relations between the British Government and the Government of Türkiye Continue to Strengthen”

Kenan Poleo, British Consul General in Istanbul, said: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to our esteemed Turkish entrepreneurs, companies and visionaries who have chosen London as their gateway to global growth. Turkish heritage is a rich tapestry woven with threads of resilience, craftsmanship and hospitality. This culture speaks of creativity, resilience and entrepreneurship. Today, we are delighted to bring this heritage to London, a city where diversity and innovation thrive. Today, we are witnessing the convergence of Türkiye's entrepreneurial spirit and the UK's vibrant tech ecosystem. As you know, bilateral relations between the UK government and the Turkish government continue to strengthen. I would like to emphasize that trade and investment is one of the pillars of bilateral relations recognized by both governments.”

Poleo: “We are aware that Turkish technology companies are not just setting up offices, they are sowing the seeds of cooperation”

“We are all aware that the UK offers excellent growth opportunities for innovative Turkish companies ready to expand their business globally,” said Poleo:

“The UK's technology ecosystem is a world leader, worth over $1 trillion and growing rapidly. It is home to over 85,000 startups and scale-ups and more than 170 unicorns, more than France and Germany combined. Investors recognize the strengths of the UK's tech ecosystem. It attracts more venture capital investment than its European competitors. In 2022, startups received more than $31 billion in Venture Capital funding. I can safely say that the UK welcomes Turkish Technology companies. We are aware that Turkish tech companies that decide to establish a presence in the UK are not just setting up offices, they are sowing the seeds of collaboration. They bring sharp solutions, disruptive technologies and a desire to develop. We believe that brands like YTU Startup House are more than just walls and desks: They are bridges that symbolize the promise of shared growth; a conduit of ideas, partnerships, growth and friendships.”

“It is important to bring the ecosystem here to the world”

Orhan Tanışman, who made the opening speech, said: “As Yıldız Technopark, being the first in Türkiye for years in a row was not enough for us. We had consolidated our leadership in our region. But in order to have a say in the global arena, we started our journey in Silicon Valley in 2015, taking us to Tashkent and Dubai, and then we came to London, which is the point we really wanted to reach. Last week, on April 15, we opened our branch. It is important to be able to bring the ecosystem he