Founded in April 2022 by Ahmet Sefa Bir and Şerafettin Özsoy, in4startups has successfully closed its second investment round at a ₺50 million valuation. The round saw participation from Save Teknoloji A.Ş., Abramak Bilgi Teknolojileri A.Ş., and Cogito Park Bilişim ve Teknoloji Yatırımları A.Ş., with a 2% stake allocated. Having started with a ₺7.5 million valuation, in4startups has increased its valuation by 6.6x in just eight months.
Milestones Achieved Since the First Investment
Following its initial seed funding, in4startups launched its digital infrastructure, enabling in-depth entrepreneurial analysis directly through its platform. Over the past eight months, the company has expanded its acceleration programs, partnerships, and events across Türkiye, including activities in Trabzon, Artvin, Giresun, Tekirdağ, Bursa, Sakarya, and Gümüşhane.
The platform also hosted the “Gelecek Vadeden Girişimler” startup competition, which received applications from 23 different cities. Additionally, on December 14, in4startups organized the Startup Investment Summit, where 35 entrepreneurs met with investors in physical meetings, while global sessions connected startups and investors from Malaysia, Germany, and Kazakhstan, marking the company’s first steps toward international expansion.
Furthermore, in4startups has secured TÜBİTAK support for its Global and Investment-Oriented Technology Development and Commercialization Mentorship Platform, a project in partnership with Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University NKÜTEK, Istanbul Teknokent A.Ş., and Bursa Technical University’s Technology Transfer Office, providing mentorship to 30 tech startups.
Shifting to a Venture Studio Model
Originally, in4startups’ business model focused on conducting detailed analyses—including business model, financial, valuation, and competitive assessments—before presenting startups to member investors. However, market demand led to a shift toward investment-focused acceleration programs, where:
- Startups first go through an acceleration program
- They undergo one-on-one evaluations and mentorship
- in4startups then prepares in-depth digital analyses
- This shortens the investment decision-making process for investors
Over 250 mentors have contributed to the acceleration programs, helping startups validate their products in real-world market conditions. Additionally, corporate firms have started seeking deeper collaborations with startups beyond just partnerships. These firms are now looking to establish strategic alliances, invest in cash equity, or provide non-cash resources (e.g., corporate sales networks, retail distribution, production infrastructure, logistics fleets) in exchange for equity.
To facilitate these corporate-startup collaborations, in4startups is preparing to launch its Venture Studio model, allowing large corporations and early-stage startups to form joint ventures more efficiently, accelerate revenue generation, and expedite future investment rounds. in4startups will oversee the formation and governance of these strategic partnerships.
Preparing for in4startups’ VC Investment Fund
Co-founders Ahmet Sefa Bir and Şerafettin Özsoy have also announced their next strategic move—establishing a venture capital (VC) investment fund.
Having engaged with startups across Türkiye, in4startups has recently expanded its reach to foreign entrepreneurs and investors, prompting the need for a dedicated VC fund to enable faster investments in promising startups.
Key Features of the in4startups VC Fund:
- Open to corporate and individual investors
- Includes incentives for R&D firms with a 2% investment obligation
- Targets high-net-worth individuals and institutions in Anatolian provinces
- Designed to be global from the start
Global Investment & Expansion Strategy
- Investor Outreach: Targeting European Union, Asia-Pacific, and Gulf countries
- Startup Investments: Focusing on Türkiye, Turkic Republics, Balkan nations, and the Caucasus region
The official launch of the in4startups VC fund is planned for February 2022, positioning the company as a key player in startup investment and venture building.
