The top Turkish startups are here to make a name for themselves in the global market, provide more opportunities for native talent to grow at home and expand their business beyond their borders, these are the types of growth journeys talent.ai thrives to highlight!

Appsilon Enterprise 

CEO: Buğra Kuloğlu & Taylan Erol

Funding: $19.3 Million 

Stage: Series Unknown

City hub: Istanbul – Amsterdam 

Appsilon Enterprise is a cutting-edge materials company that specialises in creating diamonds. Founded in 2017 by a group of college friends, it is now one of the shining jewels of the Turkish startup ecosystem. In 2021 the company moved its headquarters to the Netherlands, while still maintaining operations in Turkey. The move aims to make Appsilon a bigger player in the diamonds for quantum computers industry while at the same time still being a producer for other diamond uses like jewellery, medical and more.  

The company received this year it’s most significant funding round from the largest private equity group in Turkey, Esas, for €20 Million, and is hoping to expand its talent size and focus on getting more of its own reactors up and running. 

The future shines bright for Appsilon as it focus on diamond tech innovation drives it to become a leader in the industry!

Oplog

CEO: Halit Develioglu

Funding: $11 Million

Stage: Seed

City hub: Ankara

OPLOG offers eCommerce growth solutions for businesses with advanced software and robotics-powered for end-to-end fulfilment processes. Oplog services allow businesses to operate internationally thanks to its operating network and tracking technology. The company also has its own robotics branch called TARQAN, devoted to innovating on the robotics side of the services. 

This year OPLOG welcomed investment from Tukey’s famous Esas, securing $11 million in a pre-Series A funding round. The funds are to be used for the expansion of OPLOG in the UK, where they seek to open a warehouse employing over 100 new employees and using its latest robotics tech. 

A hopeful to become Turkey’s next unicorn and biggest name!

Dream Games

CEO: Soner Aydemir

Funding: $465.5 Million 

Stage: Series C

City hub: Istanbul 

Dream Games is a mobile games development company, a top Turkish startups and one of the first to reach unicorn status. The company focuses on creating high-quality mobile games that can have a long lifespan. Having already made a few successful games with its biggest title Royal Match has around 13 Million monthly players globally, Dream Games are on an enviable growth journey at the moment. 

After becoming a unicorn in 2021 the company has not let down on the scale-up pedal, and at the beginning of this year secured an impressive Series C funding round of $255 Million led by Index Ventures. That latest investment tripled the company’s valuation and placed it at $2.75 Billion. 

Dream Games is definitely playing to win!

Libra Softworks

CEO: Enes Dişli 

Funding: $30 Million 

Stage: Private Equity 

City hub: Istanbul 

Libra Softworks is a casual/mobile games developer that has been growing steadily within its own ecosystem and beyond. It has released 7 successful titles since its foundation with around 10+ Million active players, and is working on developing more games. 

One of the standout characteristics that caught investors and the industry’s attention is Libra’s use of a real-world physics engine behind its gameplay. 

The company received a $30 Million investment from Turkey’s own VCs, Actera Group and Esas Holding, and is putting the money toward increasing talent and expanding rapidly. Another success case coming from Turkey’s fast-growing talented gaming ecosystem!

Getir

CEO: Nazım Salur

Funding: $1.8B

Stage: Series E 

City hub: Istanbul 

Getir is an on-demand grocery delivery and logistics platform, also one of Turkey’s most successful startups ever and Europes first delivery decacorn. 

Founded in 2011, Getir now operates in every city in Turkey and has expanded internationally to include the UK, the US, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Sustaining growth and expanding collaborations in each new market being its main goals. Strong rumours have also circulated that it might acquire Berlin-based competitor Gorillas and secure an even stronger position in the industry. 

Getir just crossed the threshold to become a decacorn earlier this year and is showing no signs of stopping!

Spyke Games

CEO: Rina Onur Sirinoglu

Funding: $55 Million 

Stage: Seed

City hub: Istanbul 

Spyke Games is another alumni of Turkey’s mobile/casual gaming ecosystem and one that has an enviable start and future growth prospects. The company is still in Seed stage and already has a successful title called Royal Riches. 

Istanbul-based Spyke Games was able to secure an impressive $55 Million investment funding led by Griffin Gaming Partner. The funds will be geared towards its first game Royal Riches expansion and development, as well as adding more talent to the company. 

The casual gaming market is worth around $4 Billion with no signs of slowing down, and the Turkish top gaming startups, including Spyke Games, have enough creativity and talent to take over a significant portion of it. 

Tarfin

CEO: Mehmet Memecan

Funding: $14.3 Million 

Stage: Series A 

City hub: Istanbul 

Terfin uses data and tech to provide agriculture solutions, giving both farmers and retailers a platform for selling and buying agriculture products fast, easily and transparently.  Founded in 2017 Terfin became a leader in its country and now has expanded internationally operating in Romania. 

The company’s last investment was a Pre-Series B in 2021 where they secured $8 Million with the participation of several VC groups and investors. They have continued to scale up steadily, growing their headcount by almost 20% in the last six months and markedly continuing development in various areas. 

A fin and agri tech mix that is sure to have a great journey in its development, steady its status as a top Turkish startups, and altogether become one to watch in the global startup scene!