Istanbul is an important startup hub in Turkey consisting of more than 1,200 companies.? The Turkish startup ecosystem has seen several new companies jump on the startup bandwagon in recent years who are now the top Istanbul startups for 2019. As per HexGn, here are 10 of the top startups in Istanbul for 2019,? they were among the highly funded startups of 2018 and are expected to spread their wings further in the following year.
Top Istanbul Startups to Watch out for in 2019
Vivense Home & Living
Istanbul based startup Vivense Home & Living is an online furniture store that has combined the need for good furniture with ecommerce startup solutions. The company?s online platform has been designed for a smooth shopping experience for consumers looking for an easy way to shop for furniture from the comfort of their homes and offices. This top startup in Istanbul has raised $4.6 million in funding from its Series D round from Earlybird Venture Capital and? FJ Labs. The lifestyle ecommerce startup sells furniture on its website using an in-house technology that facilitates an omnichannel approach. Vivense Home & Living is among the top Istanbul startups for 2019 that are slated to grow more in the coming year with the help of the fresh funds. The company was founded by Alper Mat and Kemal Erol in 2013.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.vivense.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vivense
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vivensehome
Obilet
Obilet is one of the top Istanbul startups for 2019 that has secured $4 million in Series B round. The round was led by Earlybird Venture capital and Aslanoba Capital. Obilet is one of the highly funded startups of 2018 not just in the travel tech segment but overall as well. A top startup in Istanbul, Obilet offers online bus ticketing services through a secure and fast channel. The company?s USP is that it is a no-commission- demanding platform and has seen more than 8 lakh visitors on a monthly basis this year. The Istanbul based startup also has an app that has over 2 million users and has won many awards. Obilet was founded by Ali Yilamaz and Yigit Gurocak in 2012.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.obilet.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/obilet-bili-im-sistemleri-ltd-ti-
Twitter: www.twitter.com/obilet
Lidyana
The next ecommerce company on our list of top Istanbul startups for 2019 is Lidyana, a leading fashion ecommerce brand in Turkey. The company was founded by Hakan Bas and Onur Kinay in 2012? and has total funds amounting to $13 million in its kitty so far. The Istanbul based startup has completed four funding rounds till date with the most recent one being the Series C round of funding. Lidyana raised $3.5 million in this round and joined the ranks of the highly funded startups of 2018. A top startup in Istanbul, Lidyana is a celebrity endorsed ecommerce company that is expected to bring in more heat in the coming year.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.lidyana.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/lidyana-com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lidyanacom
Garaj Sepeti
Founded in 2017 by Mehmet Celikol, Istanbul based startup Garage Sepeti is one of the youngest and fast-growing companies in the Turkish startup ecosystem. The startup is an automotive marketplace and solutions brand that offers a dynamic platform using data science and technology. A top startup in Istanbul, Garaj Sepeti has made three acquisitions within two years of its inception. As one of the top Istanbul startups for 2019 the company shows promising growth in the coming year after raising $2.6 million in total this year in Series A round from Galata Business Angels, Finberg,? Erdal Sayan, Bilhan Bilge, and Bedii Can Yucaoglu.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.garajsepeti.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/garaj-sepeti
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GarajSepeti
Tarfin
Tarfin is an emerging agtech Istanbul based startup that is helping farmers buy agricultural related inputs required for farming on credit. The startup is the brainchild of Mehmet Memecan who set up the fintech company with the aim to leverage big data analytics and other top technology for better financing options for farmers. The company’s unique approach and recent funding rounds have got startup players watching out for it as one of the top Istanbul startups for 2019. Tarfin has raised $1.3 million so far since its establishment in 2017 from seed round that was held in October this year. The Istanbul based startup is growing very fast in popularity for its buy-now-pay-later options that are transparent and affordable; farmers can avail the services from Tarfin?s cloud-based dashboard.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.tarfin.com
Mutlubiev
Istanbul based startup Mutlubiev was founded by Tayga Baltacioglu four years back with an aim to make home cleaning services more accessible. The innovative platform is helping millions of cleaning and housekeeping service providers connect with home and office owners who are in search of such services. The company which is one of the top Istanbul startups for 2019, has made it easier for cleaning professionals to find jobs in a reliable and hassle-free manner without needing to travel far for work. Mutlubiev raised $1.1 million in its Series A round of funding, which was the most recent round for the Istanbul based startup. The company currently offers its services in more than 30 locations in Turkey and is expected to expand further with the funds gathered in 2018.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.mutlubiev.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/mutlubiev
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mutlubiev
SmartPulse Technology
One of the top Istanbul startups for 2019, SmartPulse Technology, is an Avante Garde energy management platform that is aiding the transition from conventional energy planning methods to more advanced methods based on machine learning. The Istanbul based startup completed its two rounds of funding in 2018 raising $1.15 million in all. The first was a seed round that amounted to $15,000, and the most recent round was the Series A round in which TK Holdings invested $1 million in the company. SmartPulse Technology is one of the youngest companies among the top Istanbul startups for 2019 and was founded by Ozan Korkmaz and ?nder Akar in October 2018.
Know more about this startup in Istanbul
Website: www.smartpulse.io
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/smartpulsetech
Scoutium
Istanbul based startup Scoutium is a leading esports company in the Turkish startup ecosystem founded by Efe Aydin in 2017. The startup has completed two rounds of funding securing $924,000 from angel investors till date. The second round was completed in 2018 and helped the company secure $900,000 from Istanbul Startup Angels. Scoutum is a football scouting app that allows its users to create a data pool about various players. The platform helps users also earn money by completing tasks based on their football knowledge. This app by the Istanbul based startup is available on Google Play and the Apple store and is seeing a steady increase in the downloads.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.scoutium.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/scoutium
Twitter: www.twitter.com/scoutiumTR
Fazla Gida
Fazla Gida is one of the most novel companies among the top Istanbul startups for 2019 that is using technology to prevent food wastage. The startup completed its Series C round of funding in July 2018 raising TRY2.2 million from 12 investors. The total investments received by Fazla Gida now stand at $661,600 which is expected to increase impressively in the coming years. The startup was founded by Olcay Silahl? and Arda Eren in 2016 and is an up and coming company in the group of top Istanbul startups for 2019. Fazla Gida has created an innovative platform that helps food donors connect with charities and other parties that can benefit from the food donation.
Know more about this top startup in Istanbul
Website: www.fazlagida.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fazlag?da
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FazlaGida
Genz Biotechnology
Representing the biotech segment among the top Istanbul startups for 2019 is Genz Biotechnology, a startup that has developed an easy to use breast cancer screening tool based on genetic biomarkers. The company was founded by Umut A?y?z in 2015 and has raised $166,500 till date from three seed rounds. The seed round in January 2018 has helped the Istanbul based startup raise the maximum amount till date at $150,000 from Startupbootcamp Istanbul. The company is led by the best of business and biotech talent that are graduates from the top universities in Turkey.
Know more about this top startup in Turkey
Website: www.genzbio.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/biogenztr
Twitter: www.linkedin.com/company/biogenztr
Most of the names in this list of top Istanbul startups for 2019 are companies that are less than three years old. A lot of these startups saw record-breaking funding rounds in 2018 and look promising.? These companies are helping the city maintain its status as one of the top 50 startup ecosystems in the world by continually evolving and bringing in a good amount of investments in the region.