Istanbul, January 28, 2025 – The highly anticipated SMARTNET Demo Day successfully brought together ten innovative startups with accredited angel investors, fostering valuable networking and collaboration opportunities. The event, organized within the scope of the “Technology Transfer with Smart Network and Funnel Model for Commercialization Project (SMARTNET),” took place at the Bilgiyi Ticarileştirme Merkezi (BTM) in Istanbul.
Funded through financial cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, and implemented under the Competitive Sectors Program of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey, SMARTNET has played a crucial role in supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Led by Yıldız Technical University in partnership with Hasan Kalyoncu University, Istanbul Technical University, and Gebze Technical University, the project aims to accelerate technology commercialization and enhance Turkey’s competitive edge in the global market.
The Demo Day event, a significant milestone for SMARTNET, provided a platform for startups to present their business ideas to potential investors. Ten promising entrepreneurs, selected by the SMARTNET Evaluation Commission, had previously completed 38 modules of basic entrepreneurship training, 60 hours of advanced training, and received 40 hours of mentorship. Their business plans were rigorously assessed before they had the chance to pitch to investors.
The participating startups included:
DigitalWisers (digitalwisers.com)
Bosforas (bosforas.com)
Agriknow (agriknow.com.tr)
100sClub (100sclub.com)
İletmen Akıllı Teslimat (iletmen.com.tr)
CarbonSmart (carbonsmart.io)
Biolive Arge (biolivearge.com)
Yomio Drops (yomiodrops.com)
Newky (newky.co)
Bioclean (biocleann.com)
Throughout the event, entrepreneurs had the opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions and discuss potential investments and collaborations. Angel investors, representing national and international investment networks, engaged in one-on-one meetings with the entrepreneurs, evaluating the feasibility and scalability of their projects.
Speaking at the event, SMARTNET Project Coordinator emphasized the importance of such networking events in fostering an environment where groundbreaking ideas can flourish. “The SMARTNET initiative has been instrumental in providing entrepreneurs with the necessary training, mentorship, and support to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses. Today’s event marks another step toward strengthening Turkey’s entrepreneurial landscape.”
Participants expressed their enthusiasm about the networking opportunities and the chance to connect with seasoned investors. Many entrepreneurs highlighted that the feedback they received would significantly contribute to refining their business strategies and securing further investment.
SMARTNET continues to support technology-focused entrepreneurship by strengthening the technology transfer ecosystem, fostering intellectual property rights development, and enhancing commercialization and export potential. The project’s ongoing initiatives will further empower startups and contribute to economic growth and innovation.
