Leading entrepreneurs and prominent figures from the business world came together at the event
The Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation (GİRVAK) celebrated its 10th anniversary with an event on May 22nd. Turkey’s leading entrepreneurs and prominent figures from the business world came together at the event, where the achievements, gains and future goals of the entrepreneurship ecosystem over 10 years shared.
GİRVAK’s 10th anniversary celebration event started with the opening speech of Sina Afra, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation. Afra explained the mission of GİRVAK to spread the entrepreneurship culture and support young people since its establishment and emphasized the achievements achieved so far.
We’re spreading the spirit of entrepreneurship to large segments of society
Stating that 10 years ago, they were proud to have realized their dream of young people having an entrepreneurial perspective and thus contributing to Turkey’s economic and social development by producing solutions to problems, Sina Afra, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GİRVAK, said: “Our fellows and alumni, who have been selected for the Fellow Program, to which we have received nearly 1 million applications to date, and whose number is close to 1000 today, continue their journey as young leaders who transform the institutions and communities they are in and shape the entrepreneurship ecosystem. GIRVAK has succeeded in spreading the spirit of entrepreneurship to large segments of the society by supporting young people who will produce solutions to the problems of not only Turkey but also the world. With the ‘giveback’ culture we have adopted since day one, we encourage our graduates to give back to the society.”
GİRVAK’s role and contribution in the transformation of the startup ecosystem
Mehru Aygül, General Manager at GİRVAK, detailed the activities of the foundation, providing the support provided to young entrepreneurs and future projects. Stating that GİRVAK has embraced an area of need in the ecosystem, Aygül said: “While we continue the transformation we created with our Fellow program in the first seven years of GİRVAK in our 10th year, we continue to grow our sphere of influence with the 4,500 talents we have brought to the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem with our talent programs for the last three years.”
Yomi Kastro, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Şebnem Kalyoncuoğlu Ünlü, Member of the Board of Directors, shared the contributions of GİRVAK to the Turkish entrepreneurship ecosystem and its global goals. Umutcan Duman, Alumni and Member of the Board of Trustees of GIRVAK, emphasized the success stories of the foundation’s alumni and the importance of the “giveback” culture. (Here is my interview with Umutcan Duman)
GİRVAK was founded in 2014 by 25 founders under the leadership of Sina Afra, currently has a board of trustees of 53 people.
