Agencies
Financial technology, or fintech, continues to be the leading sector for investment within Türkiye’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Fintech startups globally secured $5.3 billion (TL 180 billion) in investments across 195 deals in July, according to a report by the industry montiro, startups, watch.
While the overall deal size decreased by 73% compared to the previous month, investments in Türkiye showed a notable increase.
Despite the global downturn, the number of deals remained steady, indicating a rise in smaller-scale investments. This trend suggests that while individual deal sizes may have shrunk, the appetite for fintech innovation remains strong.
Areas like transactions, investment platforms, payment solutions and cryptocurrencies continue to attract significant attention from investors.
Countries like the U.S., Egypt and the United Kingdom have emerged as major recipients of fintech funding.
The first half of 2024 saw a significant contraction in fintech investments, particularly in the late-stage venture capital and maturity-stage sectors.
For instance, late-stage investments plummeted from $59 billion in 2021 to just $7.3 billion by 2024. The sharp decline reflects a slowing growth rate in the fintech sector and a more cautious approach from investors.
In Türkiye, fintech investments have also experienced ups and downs, but 2024 has seen a remarkable recovery.
The country secured $181.9 million in fintech investments, marking a substantial increase compared to 2023.
Although the number of investments remained stable compared to previous years, the size of these investments grew significantly.
Despite the fluctuating nature of the fintech sector, innovation and technological advancements are expected to drive new investments both globally and within Türkiye. Investors are likely to continue focusing on fintech startups that offer sustainable growth, comply with regulations and provide user-friendly solutions.
On a global scale, the fintech sector, especially in mature markets, is showing signs of slowing down.
While investors are becoming more cautious, there is still interest in early-stage fintech startups that offer new and innovative solutions.
Türkiye, on the other hand, is on a recovery path in fintech investments and has significant growth potential, particularly in areas like digital payment systems, cryptocurrencies, and investment platforms.
Sebit, a subsidiary of Türk Telekom, one of Türkiye’s leading telecommunications and technology companies, is supporting millions of students throughout their educational journeys with innovative solutions.
An AI-powered personalized education platform developed by Sebit has helped 21 students secure spots in the top 100 of the 2024 Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), which enables them to pursue higher studies.
Raunt, designed by Sebit specifically for YKS preparation, offers students a comprehensive set of tools and resources. These include AI-enhanced educational models, personalized guidance and expert advice throughout the exam preparation and selection process.
As a result, 21 Raunt users made it to the top 100, and 143 students ranked in the top 1,000. Raunt’s “One-on-One Guidance” system played a crucial role not only in exam preparation but also during the selection period. Students receive personalized advice from educational professionals, psychologists and counselors on how to make informed decisions.
The AI technology within Raunt provides tailored educational opportunities, including a rich content library, popular printed materials for YKS prep, and a question bank with over 350,000 solved problems, all of which help students focus on their studies without the need for additional resources.
Raunt’s AI-powered question-solving and study planning system simplified the YKS preparation process. It offered three different study strategies, allowing students to create a personalized plan.
Depending on the student’s proficiency in a subject, Raunt’s AI system suggested strategies like “Focus on Questions” for strong areas, “Address Weaknesses” for challenging topics, or “Start from Scratch” for subjects that need more attention.
The AI also updated study plans based on students’ performance in practice exams, ensuring an effective preparation strategy.
Students using Raunt had access to over 1,000 hours of lecture videos, more than 350,000 fully solved questions, 15 practice exams similar to YKS and a wide range of other resources, including past exam questions and leading test publications in Türkiye.
Raunt’s “One-on-One Guidance” feature connected students with expert professionals for live online consultations during both the preparation and selection phases.
Experienced psychologists and counselors helped students manage exam anxiety and stress, offering real-time support.
During the selection period, they guided students in making the right university and department choices, ensuring they received answers to their most pressing questions from field experts throughout the year.
Health care startups continue to be a favorite among investors both globally and in Türkiye. Exin Health, a Silicon Valley-based company known for its innovative “ORGenie” artificial intelligence platform that enhances surgical efficiency and reduces patient safety risks in hospital operating rooms, has received its first investment from a Turkish network of angel investors.
Based in Palo Alto, California, Exin Health launched its product development efforts in the third quarter of 2023. The company is dedicated to ensuring that surgeries are performed more safely and predictably, minimizing variation and unexpected factors for patients, staff, and hospital leaders alike.
The company has recently secured investment from Decacorn Angels through Techventure VC, marking a significant step in its growth journey. With this backing, it is poised to continue its mission of improving surgical outcomes and operational efficiency.
Exin Health stands at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions that enhance operating room safety and efficiency while reducing preventable errors and improving staff training capabilities.
