Fongogo
Fongogo is Turkey's first multi-model crowdfunding platform, founded in 2013, offering SPK-regulated equity crowdfunding, reward-based crowdfunding, and recurring subscription support to startups, SMEs, filmmakers, and social-impact projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersIstanbul
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Fongogo does
Fongogo is a Turkish multi-model crowdfunding marketplace, founded in 2013 by Ali Çebi and headquartered in Istanbul. It operates three interconnected funding products on a single regulated web platform: equity-based crowdfunding (Paya Dayalı Kitle Fonlama / GSYF) at yatirim.fongogo.com, reward-based crowdfunding (Ödül Bazlı Kitle Fonlama) at odul.fongogo.com with a recurring-subscription variant called Kumbara, and a venture fund product called Fongogo Ventures at venture.fongogo.com. A pre-investment matching layer, Dealr, connects startups with qualified investors before campaign launch. Equity crowdfunding is operated under SPK (Capital Markets Board of Turkey) accreditation granted on January 6, 2022 under regulation III-35/A.2, with settlement and identity infrastructure provided by Takasbank and MKK, and payment processing by İyzico.
The business model is transaction-fee based across all products. Kumbara subscription projects are charged a 10%+VAT service fee on monthly donations collected, with payment-system fees deducted before transfers. Equity and reward-based campaigns are charged campaign listing and processing fees; the company also earns revenue via Fongogo Ventures' managed fund structure. Customer segments are bifurcated: on the supply side, Turkish startups, SMEs, filmmakers, and social-cause projects seeking capital; on the demand side, 100,000+ registered individual investors and backers ranging from micro-supporters to qualified equity investors.
Since 2013, Fongogo has facilitated over 40 million TL across 1,500–1,800 campaigns and built an ecosystem of 50+ partners including Cyberpark, Bilkent, ITU, METU, Koç and Sabancı Universities, Endeavor Turkey, and Keiretsu Forum. In September 2023 it acquired StartupMarket to expand its entrepreneur and investor network. The company is privately held as a joint stock company (A.Ş.) with ~40 shareholders and a share capital of ₺18.5M.
Fongogo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fongogo
- Legal name
- Fongogo Kitle Fonlama Platformu A.Ş.
- Website
- https://fongogo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fongogo is Turkey's first multi-model crowdfunding platform, founded in 2013, offering SPK-regulated equity crowdfunding, reward-based crowdfunding, and recurring subscription support to startups, SMEs, filmmakers, and social-impact projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fongogo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Crowdfunding Marketplace
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Fundraising & Crowdfunding Platforms (Recurring/Project-Based) (MPACAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) Marketplaces (FSAKAHAI)
Keywords
Where Fongogo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Istanbul
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fongogo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Kumbara Service Fee: Fongogo charges 10% + VAT on collected monthly donations for Kumbara (subscription) projects, in addition to the payment system's cut, deducted before transferring funds to project owners.
- Platform Membership and Campaign Fees: Revenue from campaign listing and processing fees charged to entrepreneurs seeking to list startups and projects on the platform. Terms referenced in Üyelik Sözleşmesi (Membership Agreement) and Kitle Fonlama Sözleşmesi (Crowdfunding Agreement).
- GSYF (Equity Crowdfunding) Platform Fees: Revenue from equity-based crowdfunding campaigns, operating under SPK (Capital Markets Board) regulation III-35/A.2. Fees likely include listing and transaction processing charges.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Kumbara subscription projects charge 10% + VAT service fee on monthly donations collected |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Fongogo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fongogo operates a multi-model crowdfunding marketplace that enables Turkish startups and creative projects to raise capital through equity-based (GSYF), reward-based (Ödül), and recurring subscription-based (Kumbara) campaigns. Entrepreneurs self-register, launch campaigns, and reach a member base of 100,000+ investors and backers, with the platform collecting transaction and service fees on funded amounts.
Product overview
Fongogo is Turkey's first and leading crowdfunding platform, established in 2013, offering multiple interconnected products. The core platform operates through Paya Dayalı Kitle Fonlama (equity-based crowdfunding) for startup investment and Ödül Bazlı Kitle Fonlama (reward-based crowdfunding) for project pre-sales. Supporting products include Kumbara (subscription-based recurring support), Fongogo Ventures (venture capital fund combining crowdfunding with VC investment), and Dealr (pre-investment deal flow platform). The platform acquired StartupMarket in 2023 to expand its entrepreneur and investor network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Paya Dayalı Kitle Fonlama (Equity-Based Crowdfunding / GSYF)
Quantifiable outcome
- 40+ million TL funded to startups and projects since 2013
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fongogo
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fongogo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Fongogo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- StartupMarketcoreFongogo acquired StartupMarket in September 2023, gaining access to a broad network of entrepreneurs and investors. This acquisition directly supports Fongogo's goal of becoming the largest startup investment platform in the region.
- Cyberpark (Bilkent Cyberpark Technology Development Zone)minorTechnology park and business incubator partner that refers startups and entrepreneurs to the Fongogo platform for crowdfunding.
- METU (Middle East Technical University)minorUniversity technology transfer and entrepreneurship center that refers startups from the METU ecosystem to Fongogo for funding.
- Sabancı UniversityminorUniversity entrepreneurship center that partners with Fongogo to connect student and alumni startups with the platform's investor community.
- Endeavor TurkeyminorGlobal entrepreneurship organization with a presence in Turkey that supports high-impact entrepreneurs, potentially referring portfolio companies to Fongogo.
- Keiretsu Forum TurkeyminorAngel investor network that could cross-refer investment opportunities and connect members with Fongogo's platform.
- TakasbankcoreCentral Securities Depository of Turkey that provides the infrastructure for investment fund transfers and investor protections. Fongogo's investments are processed through Takasbank guarantees.
- MKK (Merkezi Kayıt Kuruluşu)coreCentral Registry Agency that validates investor identities and manages qualified investor status for Fongogo's platform. Integrated for e-Government verification and investor qualification checks.
- İyzicocorePayment processing infrastructure provider used for card payments and subscription management on the Kumbara platform. Card details are tokenized and processed securely through İyzico.
- AIESEC TurkeyminorInternational youth organization that connects young entrepreneurs and professionals, potentially referring members to the Fongogo platform.
- InnoParkminorInnovation and startup park that refers resident startups to Fongogo for crowdfunding campaigns.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fongogo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seedrs: UK FCA-regulated equity crowdfunding platform with a secondary market for share transfers, mirroring Fongogo's GSYF + Dealr combination. Direct competitor in regulated retail-investor deal flow.
- Patreon: Subscription-based platform enabling creators to receive recurring monthly support from backers. Directly comparable to Fongogo's Kumbara recurring-support product.
- StartEngine: US equity crowdfunding platform under Regulation Crowdfunding and Reg A+, supporting startup capital raises from a broad investor base. Directly mirrors Fongogo's regulated equity-crowdfunding model.
- Republic: US equity and reward-based crowdfunding platform serving startups and individual investors with multi-product offerings. Closely aligned with Fongogo's hybrid equity/reward/subscription model.
- Kickstarter: Global reward-based crowdfunding platform for creative projects (film, music, design). Directly comparable to Fongogo's Ödül Bazlı Kitle Fonlama reward product.
- Wefunder: US-based equity crowdfunding platform enabling retail investors to invest in startups, operating under SEC Regulation Crowdfunding. Directly comparable to Fongogo's GSYF (equity) product in business model and target market.
- Crowdcube: UK equity crowdfunding platform for startups and growth companies, with both retail and corporate investor participation. Comparable to Fongogo's equity-based offering and investor onboarding flow.
- Indiegogo: Global reward and equity crowdfunding platform serving entrepreneurs and backers across categories. Comparable to Fongogo's reward and equity product lines.
- Fonbulucu: Turkish SPK-licensed equity crowdfunding platform, a direct domestic competitor to Fongogo's GSYF offering in the same regulatory framework.
Regional players
- Crowdcube Türkiye / Turkish alt platformlar: Domestic Turkish crowdfunding competitors operating in the same regulatory sandbox. Regional competition with similar offerings focused exclusively on the Turkish market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fongogo social profiles
Digital presenceFongogo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Fongogo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fongogo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Fongogo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Fongogo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fongogo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments10 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fongogo
What does Fongogo do?
Fongogo operates a multi-model crowdfunding marketplace that enables Turkish startups and creative projects to raise capital through equity-based (GSYF), reward-based (Ödül), and recurring subscription-based (Kumbara) campaigns. Entrepreneurs self-register, launch campaigns, and reach a member base of 100,000+ investors and backers, with the platform collecting transaction and service fees on funded amounts.
Is Fongogo a public or private company?
Fongogo is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fongogo founded?
Fongogo was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fongogo based?
Fongogo is headquartered in Istanbul.
How does Fongogo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Kumbara Service Fee is the primary driver. The others are platform Membership and Campaign Fees and GSYF (Equity Crowdfunding) Platform Fees.
Who are Fongogo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seedrs, Patreon, StartEngine, Republic, Kickstarter, Wefunder, Crowdcube, Indiegogo and Fonbulucu. Crowdcube Türkiye / Turkish alt platformlar is listed as a regional player.
Does Fongogo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fongogo.
What industry is Fongogo in?
Fongogo's product category is Crowdfunding Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAFAJ, Creator Fundraising & Crowdfunding Platforms (Recurring/Project-Based), with a secondary code of FSAKAHAI, Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 7372.