Turkey Brings 26 Tech Startups to Major Paris Summit

Turkey is making a powerful statement at one of Europe's biggest technology fairs, bringing two dozen promising startups to connect with global investors and innovation leaders.

At VivaTech 2026 in Paris this week, Turkey's pavilion features 26 technology startups eager to share their innovations with the world. Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir visited the Turkish pavilion Thursday to celebrate the entrepreneurs representing their country on the international stage.

Fourteen of these startups belong to the Turcorn 100 program, a special initiative supporting Turkish tech companies with the potential to become "unicorns" worth over $1 billion. The program helps these high-growth ventures access resources, connections, and opportunities to scale globally.

"This is a platform where technology startups from around the world meet and connect with investors," Kacir explained during his pavilion visit. The startups are presenting their products and services while promoting Turkey's growing technology ecosystem.

The numbers tell an exciting growth story. Turkey now hosts more than 13,000 technology startups operating across 114 technoparks throughout the country. Nearly 3,000 of these are early-stage ventures just beginning their journey.

The Ripple Effect

Turkey's vision extends far beyond this week's fair. The country has set an ambitious target to reach 100,000 technology startups by 2030 and boost the combined value of its billion-dollar tech ventures to $100 billion.

The government is backing this goal through programs like Turcorn 100, which supports Turkish startups at major international events. This approach helps entrepreneurs access global capital and expertise while building Turkey's reputation as an innovation hub.

The technopark network provides infrastructure and support for thousands of entrepreneurs developing solutions across industries. From software to biotechnology, these innovation centers are becoming launching pads for the next generation of Turkish tech leaders.

Kacir emphasized Turkey's commitment to developing homegrown technology that can compete worldwide. "We will continue to strengthen our ambition to be a country that develops its own domestic and national technology products and services with its own resources and people," he said.

For the entrepreneurs at VivaTech this week, the fair represents more than just pitch opportunities—it's proof that Turkey's tech ecosystem has arrived on the global stage.