Yapı Kredi FRWRD Global boosted startups' expansion into Portugal
Organized in collaboration with Boğaziçi Teknopark and Unicorn Factory Lisboa, the program provided Turkish entrepreneurs with opportunities to promote their ventures in global markets, establish collaborations, hold investment meetings, and expand their international business networks.
Continuing its efforts to support and develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Turkey, Yapı Kredi successfully completed the second batch of its international program, Yapı Kredi FRWRD Global, in Portugal this year. Organized in collaboration with Boğaziçi Teknopark and Unicorn Factory Lisboa, the program provided Turkish entrepreneurs with opportunities to promote their ventures in global markets, establish collaborations, hold investment meetings, and expand their international business networks.
Program content and participant experiences
From November 11 to 18, startups participating in the Yapı Kredi FRWRD Global Program engaged in over 250 meetings with nearly 100 companies. These interactions allowed participants to introduce their ventures to international markets and explore growth opportunities. Throughout the program, entrepreneurs took meaningful steps toward global expansion, supported by tailored training and mentoring sessions.
Participants also attended the Web Summit, one of the world’s most prestigious technology and entrepreneurship events. The summit, which hosted over 70,000 attendees from more than 160 countries, provided a key platform for entrepreneurs to present their solutions to global tech leaders and foster valuable connections.
Investment opportunities provided by Yapı Kredi FRWRD Global
Yapı Kredi FRWRD Global significantly enhanced participants’ growth by facilitating international partnerships and offering investment opportunities. Last year, during the 10-week program held in Estonia and Finland, participants attended Slush, a leading global entrepreneurship event, where they showcased their solutions to the international entrepreneurial community.
This year’s Portugal-based program attracted interest from international investors, enabling startups to identify opportunities for further growth. Through the FRWRD platform, Yapı Kredi continues to offer robust investment prospects to entrepreneurs both locally and globally.
The Portuguese ecosystem and partnerships
Following the Web Summit, the participating entrepreneurs collaborated with Unicorn Factory Lisboa to gain insights into the Portuguese entrepreneurial ecosystem. This partnership included discussions with experts on topics such as entrepreneurship processes in Portugal, government support programs, and entrepreneurship visas. Participants also engaged in experience-sharing sessions with local entrepreneurs, laying the foundation for potential collaborations.
Yapı Kredi’s ongoing support for entrepreneurs
Yapı Kredi remains committed to fostering the growth of entrepreneurs by providing collaboration and investment opportunities through its FRWRD programs. By integrating innovative solutions into its products and services, the bank aims to deliver an exceptional user experience to its customers.
As one of Turkey’s leading private banks, Yapı Kredi empowers entrepreneurs to expand into global markets, strengthening Turkey’s entrepreneurial ecosystem on an international scale.
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