13 angels and networks back Istanbul founders in 2026. A state scheme rewards licensed angels. Big exits like Peak and Yemeksepeti minted a founder-angel class.
Istanbul has a deep angel layer, and a long-running tax scheme keeps it well fed year after year. Networks and founder-angels write the first cheques here, and many of them built big startups of their own before turning to backing others.
Those cheques stay small and dollar-based, which pushes founders to think global early rather than settle for the home market. Warm intros still open most doors, though demo days and active networks give newcomers a way in without a prior connection.
Early rounds in Istanbul move on trust and speed, so the founders who win are usually the ones who are ready before the call. Ellty keeps your files in one tracked room, so nothing slows you down when an angel asks to see more.
| Type | Check size | Sector focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIC Angels | Angel network | US$25K-$1M | SaaS, fintech, marketplaces | bicangels.com |
| Keiretsu Forum Turkiye | Accredited angel network | Tens to hundreds of US$ thousands | Multi-sector early stage | keiretsuforum.com.tr |
| TRAngels | BKY angel network | Angel cheques | AI, biotech, deep tech | trangels.com |
| TBAA | Angel association | Members invest, varies | Multi-sector, policy | melekyatirimcilardernegi.org |
| Arya Women Investment Platform | Women angel network | Angel cheques | Women-led startups | aryawomen.com |
| EGIAD Melekleri | BKY angel network | Angel cheques | Early-stage tech | egiadmelekleri.org |
| StartupFon | Angel micro-fund | US$100K-$400K rounds | Pre-seed, seed tech | startupfon.com |
| Startup Wise Guys | Pre-seed accelerator | US$65K-$100K | B2B SaaS, fintech | startupwiseguys.com |
| Etohum | Accelerator and seed | Small seed cheques | Early-stage tech | etohum.com |
| Lonca | Accelerator (Kuveyt Turk) | Up to ~US$25K | Fintech, ecommerce, AI | Kuveyt Turk accelerator |
| Sina Afra | Founder-angel | Angel cheques | Ecommerce, proptech, gaming | Markafoni founder-angel |
| Nevzat Aydin | Founder-angel | Angel cheques | Consumer, food, internet | Yemeksepeti founder-angel |
| Istanbul Startup Angels | Angel network | Angel cheques | Early-stage tech | istanbulstartupangels.com |
Keep your angel data room ready from day one
Angels and networks back you early and ask for clean records. Ellty logs every view so you know who is serious before the call.
Start free 14-day trialWhat an angel investor backs
An angel backs you before the proof exists, betting on the founder first and the traction second. They write a small, fast first cheque, and what they want in return is one clear signal that the idea has legs.
Most angels back a sector they already know, and many fund startups that look a lot like the ones they once built. Ellty gives each angel one tracked link to your deck, so you can see exactly who read it first and who is leaning in.
Turkish startups raised about US$1.1 billion across 469 deals in 2024, and the average deal size rose 44 percent.
13 Istanbul angel investors
1. BIC Angels
BIC Angels has backed Istanbul startups since 2012.
Recent Activity: An active Istanbul network since 2012
LinkedIn: BIC Angels LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, fintech, marketplaces
Stage Focus: Early, angel
Check Size: US$25K-$1M
Location: Istanbul
Website: bicangels.com
2. Keiretsu Forum Turkiye
This network gathers over 100 angels in Turkey.
Recent Activity: Over 100 angel members in Turkey
LinkedIn: Keiretsu Forum Istanbul LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Multi-sector early stage
Stage Focus: Early, angel
Check Size: Tens to hundreds of US$ thousands
Location: Istanbul
Website: keiretsuforum.com.tr
3. TRAngels
TRAngels backs deep-tech and biotech founders.
Recent Activity: Backs AI, biotech, and medical tech
LinkedIn: TRAngels LinkedIn
Sector Focus: AI, biotech, deep tech
Stage Focus: Early, angel
Check Size: Angel cheques
Location: Istanbul
Website: trangels.com
4. TBAA
TBAA represents most of Turkey's angels.
Recent Activity: Represents most Turkish angels
LinkedIn: TBAA LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Multi-sector, policy
Stage Focus: Angel umbrella
Check Size: Members invest, varies
Location: Istanbul
Website: melekyatirimcilardernegi.org
5. Arya Women Investment Platform
Arya gathers around 500 women angels.
Recent Activity: About 500 members across regions
LinkedIn: Arya Women LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Women-led startups
Stage Focus: Angel, fund
Check Size: Angel cheques
Location: Istanbul
Website: aryawomen.com
6. EGIAD Melekleri
EGIAD Angels has made 25 investments to date.
Recent Activity: Made 25 investments to date
LinkedIn: EGIAD Melekleri LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Early-stage tech
Stage Focus: Angel
Check Size: Angel cheques
Location: Izmir
Website: egiadmelekleri.org
Share one link with every Istanbul angel
Ellty shows when an angel opens your deck. Follow up at the right moment, not days later.
Start free 14-day trial7. StartupFon
StartupFon co-led a pre-seed round in 2024.
Recent Activity: Co-led a US$400K pre-seed in 2024
Sector Focus: Pre-seed, seed tech
Stage Focus: Pre-seed
Check Size: US$100K-$400K rounds
Location: Istanbul
Website: startupfon.com
8. Startup Wise Guys
This accelerator backed Istanbul's Lumian Energy.
Recent Activity: Backed Istanbul's Lumian Energy
LinkedIn: Startup Wise Guys LinkedIn
Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, fintech
Stage Focus: Pre-seed
Check Size: US$65K-$100K
Location: Tallinn
Website: startupwiseguys.com
9. Etohum
Etohum is a long-running seed accelerator.
Recent Activity: A long-running seed accelerator
LinkedIn: Etohum LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Early-stage tech
Stage Focus: Seed, angel
Check Size: Small seed cheques
Location: Istanbul
Website: etohum.com
10. Lonca
Lonca is Kuveyt Turk's startup accelerator.
Recent Activity: Ran a 14-venture cohort
Sector Focus: Fintech, ecommerce, AI
Stage Focus: Pre-seed
Check Size: Up to ~US$25K
Location: Istanbul
Website: Kuveyt Turk accelerator
11. Sina Afra
Sina Afra has backed 60-plus startups.
Recent Activity: Has backed 60-plus startups
Sector Focus: Ecommerce, proptech, gaming
Stage Focus: Angel
Check Size: Angel cheques
Location: Istanbul
Website: Markafoni founder-angel
12. Nevzat Aydin
Nevzat Aydin is a top Turkish angel investor.
Recent Activity: A top Turkish angel investor
Sector Focus: Consumer, food, internet
Stage Focus: Angel
Check Size: Angel cheques
Location: Istanbul
Website: Yemeksepeti founder-angel
13. Istanbul Startup Angels
This network has made about 22 investments.
Recent Activity: Made about 22 investments
Sector Focus: Early-stage tech
Stage Focus: Angel
Check Size: Angel cheques
Location: Istanbul
Website: istanbulstartupangels.com
How Turkey's angel scene works
Turkey rewards licensed BKY angels with a real tax break, and networks pool those individual angels into rounds that no single cheque could cover. Istanbul leads the country by a wide margin, and most cheques here stay small and early, with angels stepping in to back the very first risk.
The scheme keeps the angel layer deep because new licensed investors join it every year. Ellty keeps your early data ready for that first conversation, and you can see our Istanbul healthtech investors guide for a sector-specific view too.
Why founder-angels matter
Big exits like Peak and Yemeksepeti minted a whole founder-angel class, and these backers tend to fund founders who remind them of their past selves. They mentor as much as they fund, and they ask for clean records, so a clear venture capital file goes a long way with them.
Their networks also open the door to later rounds, where a single yes can pull in several more investors. Ellty logs who opened each file, and you can lock private pages with granular permissions so only the right people see them.
From first cheque to a seed round
An angel cheque funds your first build, while a seed round funds the real traction that follows, so keep a tight pitch deck that shows the one thing already working. Read our due diligence for investors guide so you know exactly what early backers will ask before they commit.
A clean data room speeds the whole round, so have it ready before the call rather than scrambling after it. Learn how to prepare for due diligence early, and let Ellty log who opened each file and when so your follow-ups land at the right moment.
How to pitch an angel investor
Lead with the one thing that works.
- 1.Lead with the one thing that works.Angels back early signal more than polish. Open with the single metric or result that proves your idea has traction.
- 2.Show why you can build this.They bet on the founder before the market. Make the case for why you and your team are the ones to win this category.
- 3.Share one Ellty link to your deck.Send a single trackable link instead of an attachment. Ellty shows you exactly who opens it and how far they read.
- 4.Follow up the day they read it.Ellty shows the moment an angel opens your deck. Reach out while you are still top of mind, not days later.
How Ellty helps you land an angel investor in Istanbul
You've shortlisted your Istanbul angels already. Set up a data room before the first call.
- 1.Upload your deck, demo, and plan.Set access per angel or partner.
- 2.Share one trackable link with each angel.Each angel gets their own link.
- 3.Watch opens and follow up on time.Use analytics to time each nudge.
Istanbul angel investor questions
- Angel networks and founder-angels. A state scheme backs them too.
- A licensed angel program in Turkey. It gives a real tax break.
- Most run tens to a few hundred thousand. Networks pool larger rounds.
- Big exits minted active angels. They back and mentor founders.
- A warm intro works best here. Networks and demo days help.
- Before your first angel call. Track who opens your deck.
