INMerge Türkiye 2025: A Celebration of Innovation on the Bosphorus

INMerge Türkiye: A Celebration of Innovation on the Bosphorus

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On April 29, we gathered at DOTSHUB, right on the shores of the Bosphorus, for INMerge Türkiye, a half-day event powered by Tenity and Pasha Holding that brought together some of the brightest voices in innovation and entrepreneurship.

From thought-provoking conversations to high-energy startup pitches, INMerge Türkiye created space for exchange, insight, and connection all in the heart of Istanbul’s growing startup ecosystem.

Opening the Dialogue

The event began with a warm welcome from Sabina Babayeva, Istanbul Hub Lead at Tenity, who emphasized the hub’s mission to connect startups with meaningful growth opportunities.

Tugra Musayeva, Head of Innovations at Pasha Holding, followed with an introduction to the INMerge initiative — a regional program designed to support innovation, collaboration, and access across markets. Her remarks highlighted the joint vision that brought INMerge Türkiye to life.

Keynote: From Mindset to Momentum

The stage then turned to Fahed Bizzari, who delivered a keynote filled with practical wisdom on what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur today. With a focus on execution, clarity, and resilience, Fahed’s session struck a chord with founders and investors alike.

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Panel: Türkiye as a Regional Innovation Hub

The panel discussion brought together a diverse group of ecosystem leaders to unpack Türkiye’s potential as a bridge between markets — and as a growing center for both startup and corporate innovation.

Moderated by Sabina Babayeva, the panel featured:

• Itır Ürünay Aydoğan, Ecosystem Banking and Innovation Director
• Enis Hulli, General Partner, e2VC
• Ahmet Cüneyt Selçuk, Financial Investments Advisor, Presidential Investment and Finance Office
• Yeliz Erinçkan, Head of Sabancı ARF, Strategy and Innovation Director

Together, they shared sharp perspectives on regional scaling, how startups and corporates can collaborate better, and what Türkiye needs next to thrive globally.

The INBattle Pitching Competition

The second half of the afternoon was dedicated to startup pitches. Founders took the stage to showcase their solutions to a jury of experts, with a focus on impact, innovation, and market readiness.

We want to thank all the startups who pitched; your ambition, energy, and clarity set the tone for a strong and inspiring session.

A special thanks to our jury members, who helped evaluate and shape the conversation with thoughtful feedback and questions.

The highlight: werover was selected as the winner of the competition and will travel to Baku to attend the INMerge Innovation Summit. We’re thrilled to see their journey continue on a regional stage.

Closing and Looking Ahead

The event closed with remarks from Sabina Babayeva, followed by relaxed networking by the Bosphorus as the sun set over Istanbul.

We’re deeply grateful to our partners at Pasha Holding, to Tugra Musayeva, and to the entire INMerge team for co-creating this experience with us.

And of course, thank you to DOTSHUB for hosting us in such a beautiful and inspiring setting.

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