AI Startup Factory

What AI Startup Factory does

AI Startup Factory (Yapay Zeka Fabrikası / YZF), legally Yüzüncü Yıl Teknoloji Girişimleri Anonim Şirketi, is a Turkey-based AI-focused investment fund and ecosystem developer established in 2022 and headquartered at İş Kuleleri in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. The fund was created by Türkiye İş Bankası, Turkey's largest private bank, and operates as the bank's dedicated vehicle for investing in Turkish AI startups with global growth potential. As of the latest reporting, YZF has invested in 36 portfolio companies spanning 15 sectors with a combined portfolio valuation exceeding $5 billion, including generative AI platforms (Fal.ai, Cuebric, Novus), computer vision providers (Vispera, Syntonym), predictive analytics (B2Metric, RNV Analytics), and agentic AI tooling (Opnova).

The fund's core operations combine Pre-Series A equity investment with operational acceleration through the Workup and Workup AStart programs, which provide 3–6 month mentorship, PoC facilitation, and corporate introductions. Portfolio companies gain access to technology infrastructure packages valued at over $600,000 in aggregate via partnerships with AWS, Microsoft, Google, and IBM. The Türkiye İş Bankası corporate network functions as a distribution channel, enabling portfolio companies to secure enterprise PoCs and commercial contracts within the bank's customer base and group companies (e.g., Anadolu Sigorta, Softtech). The fund supplements investment activity with ecosystem-development functions, including the annual Turkish AI Ecosystem and Global Impact Report (co-published with Endeavor Türkiye and Startups.watch), YZF Awards, and international meetups in London, San Francisco, and Paris (VivaTech).

Revenue is generated through equity appreciation and exit events (IPOs, acquisitions, secondary sales) rather than product sales or management fees disclosed publicly. The firm is privately held, single-LP-anchored to the İş Bankası group, and operates with 11–50 employees across investment, program, BD, marketing, and legal functions. Strategic alignment with the İş Bankası investment committee (including Softtech executives) gives the fund institutional-grade governance, while its portfolio companies co-invest with leading Turkish VCs such as Revo Capital, APY Ventures, and the Türkiye Development Fund.

Name

AI Startup Factory

Legal name

Yüzüncü Yıl Teknoloji Girişimleri Anonim Şirketi

Website

https://yapayzekafabrikasi.com.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AI Startup Factory (Yapay Zeka Fabrikası) is Turkey's first AI-focused investment fund, backed by Türkiye İş Bankası, that provides Pre-Series A capital, acceleration programs, and corporate network access to 36 Turkish AI startups across 15 sectors with global growth potential.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital / AI Investment Fund

NAICS

All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI), Foundation Model Developers (LLM/Multimodal Model Labs) (HDAAACAA), Enterprise Foundation Model Integration & APIs (Connectors, Governance, Deployment) (HDAAACAO), Financial Services / Fintech Growth Equity (FSANACAE)

Keywords

• Venture capital funding
• AI startup investment
• Accelerator programs
• Pre-Series A investment
• Startup ecosystem development

Headquarters

HQ city

Besiktas

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: The fund generates returns through equity investments in AI startups, providing capital in exchange for ownership stakes. Returns are realized through exits via IPOs, acquisitions, or secondary sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AI Startup Factory (Yapay Zeka Fabrikası) is Turkey's first AI-focused investment fund that provides Pre-Series A capital investment alongside acceleration programs (Workup and AStart), technology infrastructure credits ($600,000+), and strategic corporate partnership introductions to Turkish AI startups. The fund operates as an ecosystem developer connecting portfolio companies with Türkiye İş Bankası's corporate network for PoC opportunities, global technology partners (AWS, Microsoft, Google, IBM), and international investor networks to accelerate global scaling.

Product overview

AI Startup Factory (Yapay Zeka Fabrikası) is Turkey's first AI-focused investment fund, operating as a holistic ecosystem developer that connects academia, business, entrepreneurs, government, and investors. The organization provides financial investment and strategic support to AI startups, including acceleration programs (Workup and AStart), technology infrastructure partnerships (AWS, Microsoft, Google, IBM), and a 600,000 USD+ technology/software support package. As an investment fund, it does not offer a standalone software product but supports 36 portfolio companies across 15 sectors with a combined valuation exceeding 5 billion USD. The fund also publishes the annual 'Turk Yapay Zeka Ekosistemi ve Global Etki Raporu' (Turkish AI Ecosystem and Global Impact Report).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Startup Factory (Yapay Zeka Fabrikası) Investment Fund AI-focused investment fund providing Pre-Series A capital, strategic resources, business partnerships, and acceleration programs to Turkish AI startups with global scaling potential. The fund invests in exchange for equity ownership stakes across 15 sectors.
• Workup & AStart Acceleration Programs Acceleration programs providing 3-6 month intensive support to early-stage AI startups including mentorship from business, academia, and government representatives; workshops; PoC opportunities with corporate partners; and connection to investors and ecosystem stakeholders.
• 2025 Turkish AI Ecosystem and Global Impact Report Annual publication documenting Turkey's AI ecosystem status, showcasing Turkish founders' global impact, and identifying growth verticals across the AI startup landscape.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 AI startups invested
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability15 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Endeavor TürkiyemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the annual Turkish AI Ecosystem and Global Impact Report, providing research and analytical support to showcase Turkish AI startups internationally.
• Startups.watchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerData partner for the Turkish AI Ecosystem and Global Impact Report, providing market intelligence and startup data.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology infrastructure partner providing cloud services, credits, and technical support to portfolio companies through YZF program.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology infrastructure partner providing cloud services, credits, and technical support to portfolio companies through YZF program.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology infrastructure partner providing cloud services, credits, and technical support to portfolio companies through YZF program.
• IBMcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology infrastructure partner providing cloud services, credits, and technical support to portfolio companies through YZF program.
• WorkupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAcceleration program run by YZF that supports early-stage startups with mentorship, workshops, PoC opportunities, and corporate connections. YZF executes the Workup program.
• Workup AStartmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVertical-focused acceleration program in partnership with Anadolu Sigorta, Türkiye İş Bankası, and YZF, supporting impact-focused startups in insurance/fintech vertical.
• Anadolu SigortamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner in the Workup AStart acceleration program, providing insurance sector expertise and corporate partnership opportunities for startups.
• Yüzüncü Yıl Teknoloji Girişimleri A.Ş.coreOthersLegal entity name of AI Startup Factory (Yapay Zeka Fabrikası), the joint venture company established by Türkiye İş Bankası.
• TÜBİTAKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish government science and technology institution providing grants and support for portfolio companies.
• KOSGEBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish government SME development organization providing grants and employment support for startups.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ACT Venture Partners: Early-stage Turkish VC fund with deep exposure to software and AI startups; competes with YZF for pre-Series A Turkish AI deals and has a comparable LP base of Turkish institutional investors.
• Inveo Ventures: Turkish early-stage VC supporting technology and AI-enabled startups; competes with YZF for early-stage Turkish AI deals and shares a similar corporate-introduction-led value proposition.
• Revo Capital: Istanbul-based VC fund actively investing in Turkish tech and AI startups; co-leads/co-invests with YZF (e.g., Flowla seed round) and is a direct competitor for AI deal flow in the same geography and stage.
• Hummingbird Ventures: Istanbul/London-based early-stage VC with significant exposure to Turkish AI/data startups (Peak, BluTV alumni); directly competes with YZF for Turkish-origin AI founders at seed and Series A.
• TechOne Venture Capital: Turkey-focused early-stage VC investing across software, AI, and deep tech; competes with YZF for Turkish AI founders and operates a comparable pre-Series A mandate.

Broad incumbents

• CommerzVentures: Corporate-backed European fintech VC; co-invests in Turkish-origin fintech/AI startups alongside YZF (e.g., Flowla syndicate) and competes for the same enterprise-software deal flow.
• Speedinvest: European early-stage VC with a focused AI/ML and deep-tech vertical; actively invests in Turkish AI founders expanding into Europe, making it a cross-border competitor to YZF.
• Earlybird Venture Capital: Pan-European VC with a dedicated AI/ML investment thesis; serves as an external competitor for Turkish AI startups raising at Series A and beyond, often co-investing or displacing local funds.
• 500 Global (500 Startups): Global accelerator/VC with a Turkey program that invests in pre-seed and seed AI startups; broader portfolio and capital base make it a larger-scale incumbent operating in YZF's same stage and geography.

Others

• TTGV (Technology Development Foundation of Turkey): Turkish government-linked technology development foundation providing grants and pre-seed capital to deep-tech and AI startups; serves as a complementary, not directly competing, capital source in YZF's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@YapayZekaFabrikasi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ai-startup-factory-yapay-zeka-girişim-fabrikası
• Instagraminstagram.com/yapayzekafabrikasi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments56 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AI Startup Factory