in4startups Secures New Investment at a 50 Million TL Valuation

Founded in April 2022 by Ahmet Sefa Bir and Şerafettin Özsoy, in4startups has received its second investment at a valuation of 50 million TL. The investment round included Save Teknoloji Anonim Şirketi, Abramak Bilgi Teknolojileri Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, and Cogito Park Bilişim ve Teknoloji Yatırımları Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, with 2% of the company’s shares being allocated in this round.

Initially valued at 7.5 million TL at the time of its founding, in4startups has increased its valuation by 6.6x in just eight months.

Key Achievements Since the First Investment

After securing its first seed investment in April, in4startups began connecting entrepreneurs with investors while also developing its own digital infrastructure to conduct detailed startup analysis.

Over the past eight months, in4startups has expanded beyond Istanbul, launching various acceleration programs, events, and collaborations. So far, it has conducted projects in Trabzon, Artvin, Giresun, Tekirdağ, Bursa, Sakarya, and Gümüşhane. Additionally, the “Promising Startups” competition, which received applications from 23 different provinces across Turkey, was successfully completed.

On December 14, the Startup Investment Summit was held, bringing 35 entrepreneurs together with investors in a physical event. Furthermore, in4startups hosted online sessions featuring entrepreneurs and investors from Malaysia, Germany, Kazakhstan, and other countries, taking the first steps toward global expansion.

In addition, in4startups, in collaboration with Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University NKÜTEK, Istanbul Technopark Inc., and Bursa Technical University Technology Transfer Office, has launched a TÜBİTAK-supported project titled “Global and Investment-Oriented Technology Development and Commercialization Mentorship Platform.” Through this initiative, 30 technology-focused startups will receive mentorship services.

Business Model Revision: Introducing the “Venture Studio” Model

At its inception, in4startups’ business model focused on analyzing startup business models, financial structures, valuations, and competition, and then presenting these reports to investor members. However, in response to market demand, a new approach was introduced to accelerate the investment process.

Instead of directly presenting startups to investors, in4startups first enrolls them in acceleration programs, where they undergo one-on-one evaluations. After this, digital analyses are conducted, allowing investors to make investment decisions more efficiently and quickly.

Through its acceleration programs, in4startups has worked with over 250 mentors, enabling startups to test their products in real market conditions. During these mentoring sessions, startups not only validated their products and services but also established collaborations with corporate firms.

As a result, corporate firms have shown a strong interest in deeper collaborations with startups. Many companies are now looking to form strategic partnerships, offering not only cash investments but also non-cash resources, such as corporate sales networks, retail distribution channels, manufacturing facilities, and logistics fleets.

To formalize and facilitate these collaborations, in4startups is preparing to launch its “Venture Studio” model. This model will help establish and govern partnerships between corporate giants in traditional industries and early-stage startups, allowing them to quickly generate revenue and secure new investment rounds.

in4startups VC Investment Fund in the Works

Co-founders Ahmet Sefa Bir and Şerafettin Özsoy have also initiated preparations to launch in4startups’ own venture capital (VC) investment fund.

Having successfully engaged with entrepreneurs from across Turkey, in4startups has recently begun attracting foreign entrepreneurs and investors. To capitalize on these opportunities, the firm aims to establish its own VC fund to make rapid investments in promising startups.

The fund will be open to institutional investors, individual investors, and R&D firms, which are legally required to invest 2% of their revenue into startups under Turkey’s incentive regulations.

To raise capital, the fund will launch special promotional campaigns targeting investors from Anatolian provinces.

Aiming for a Global Investment Footprint

From its inception, the fund is designed to be global.

Investor targets include EU countries, Asia-Pacific regions, and Gulf countries. Startup investment focus will extend beyond Turkey to Turkic republics, Balkan countries, and Caucasus regions.

The official launch of the VC investment fund is planned for February 2022.