Question 1

What is Etohum?

Accepted Answer

Etohum is a founder-first platform in Türkiye, founded in 2008 by Burak Buyukdemir. It is positioned as a Turkish accelerator and seed investor, championing the most innovative startups.

Question 2

How does Etohum work today?

Accepted Answer

Etohum still accepts applications, but it's not run as a fixed, cohort-based accelerator. It functions more like a selective founder development track, working closely (often 1-on-1) with a small number of founders.

Question 3

Who is Burak Büyükdemir?

Accepted Answer

Burak Büyükdemir is the founder of Etohum and Startup Istanbul, and the founder of StartupIst Ventures Fund I (global early-stage investing).

Question 4

What is Startup Istanbul?

Accepted Answer

Startup Istanbul is a startup ecosystem platform connecting founders, investors, and operators — best known for major in-person events in earlier years.

Question 5

What is StartupIst Ventures Fund I?

Accepted Answer

StartupIst Ventures Fund I is an early-stage investment fund that invests globally, sector-agnostic, typically writing $50K–$200K tickets. We often co-invest alongside other VCs/investors and prioritize strong founders.