GEAR UP
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2025
- HeadquartersIstanbul, Türkiye
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
GEAR UP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GEAR UP
- Legal name
- GearUp Corporate Startup Center
- Website
- https://gearup.tr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2025
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GEAR UP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Venture Capital
- akta.pro primary industry
- Captive CVC Fund (Dedicated corporate fund structure) (FSANAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
Keywords
Where GEAR UP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Istanbul
- HQ country
- Türkiye
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GEAR UP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Venture Capital Investment Returns: GearUp allocates capital to early-stage startups from a dedicated $5 million fund over 5 years and seeks returns through equity appreciation, exits, and follow-on investments. Returns are tied to portfolio company performance rather than recurring fees.
- Co-Investment Syndication: GearUp brings in external investors alongside its own capital into portfolio companies. The Yatırımcı Ol page shows investor budget tiers (50k-250k USD, 250k-1M USD, 1M+ USD) indicating ability to syndicate rounds with outside LPs/co-investors.
- Ecosystem & Program Partnership Value: While not a direct revenue stream, GearUp gains reputational and deal-flow value from co-hosting ecosystem events such as the GEV Future Summit and B2B speed networking sessions with Inveo Ventures and startups.watch.
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
GEAR UP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GearUp is a corporate venture capital and startup investment program under Gedik Holding that deploys a USD 5 million, 5-year fund into early-stage startups operating in deep tech, AI, industrial technologies, semiconductors, robotics, and education technology. It combines capital deployment with a 5-stage investment process, an entrepreneur accelerator program, a co-investor network, and an ecosystem news portal, taking minority equity stakes and syndicating rounds with outside strategic investors.
Product overview
GearUp operates as a single corporate-startup-center platform combining several integrated offerings under Gedik Holding: the GearUp Fund as the core early-stage USD 5M investment vehicle, the GearUp Girişimci (Entrepreneur) Program as the accelerator that feeds startups into the fund, the GearUp Yatırımcı (Investor) Network that brings co-investors into the same deal flow, and the GearUp Haberler content platform that provides ecosystem news and analysis. The portfolio showcase (GearUp'lılar) surfaces backed companies such as Corezzle Electronics and Intechne Teknoloji, while the Biz Kimiz (About) section frames the corporate and investment-committee identity behind the platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GearUp Corporate Startup Center: The corporate entity and platform name used in the website footer copyright, representing GearUp's formal identity as Gedik Holding's corporate startup and venture investment program.
Products and services
- GearUp Fund (GearUp Fonu) A USD 5 million, 5-year early-stage venture vehicle that invests in industrial technologies, robotics, AI, semiconductors, and industrial deep-tech startups, providing portfolio companies with capital plus Gedik Holding's industrial network, mentorship, and follow-on funding opportunities.
- GearUp Girişimci Programı (Entrepreneur Program) An entrepreneur onboarding and accelerator program that admits early-stage startups, supporting them with mentorship, idea development, business-model design, networking, industrial connections from Gedik Holding, and conditions for additional follow-on investment.
- GearUp Yatırımcı Ağı (Investor Network) A strategic co-investor onboarding program that brings outside investors into the GearUp ecosystem alongside Gedik Holding's industrial, engineering, and education resources, offering exposure to deep tech, AI, industrial tech, semiconductor, and EdTech deals.
Quantifiable outcome
- 48-hour application response time commitment for evaluation requests
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use GEAR UP
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GEAR UP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
GEAR UP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, supporting and minor.
- Gedik HoldingflagshipGedik Holding is the parent/incubator of GearUp, providing the industrial, engineering, and educational heritage (founded 1963, with Gedik Kaynak) that underpins GearUp's investment thesis. Holding provides portfolio companies with capital, mentorship, industry experience, corporate network, and strategic collaboration opportunities. GearUp extends this legacy into technology and new-generation ventures.
- Inveo VenturescoreCo-hosted the Girişimci & Yatırımcı B2B Buluşmaları (speed networking session) during the 2nd GEV Future Summit on 3 June 2026, hosted by startups.watch. The session directly connected entrepreneurs with investors to generate new collaborations and investment opportunities.
- startups.watchsupportingServed as the host platform ('startups.watch hosted by') for the Girişimci & Yatırımcı B2B Buluşmaları speed networking event co-organized with Inveo Ventures during the 2nd GEV Future Summit. Provides the matching/networking infrastructure for the event.
- Gedik Eğitim Vakfı (Gedik Education Foundation)coreCo-organizer of the 2nd GEV Gelecek Zirvesi (3 June 2026), the event at which GearUp publicly launched its platform. The Foundation's chair, Hülya Gedik, opened the summit with the announcement of GearUp's launch.
- İstanbul Gedik Üniversitesi (Istanbul Gedik University)supportingCo-organizer of the 2nd GEV Gelecek Zirvesi with Gedik Eğitim Vakfı. Provides the academic/educational dimension to the ecosystem platform.
- MEXT Teknoloji MerkeziminorVenue partner for the 2nd GEV Gelecek Zirvesi (3 June 2026), the event where GearUp publicly launched its platform.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GEAR UP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boğaziçi Ventures: Istanbul-based early-stage VC investing in Turkish technology startups with a university-linked (Boğaziçi University) origination model — directly parallel to GearUp's İstanbul Gedik Üniversitesi tie-in. Comparable on geography, stage, and ecosystem role.
- Revo Capital: Turkish VC focused on early-to-growth stage technology investments out of Istanbul. Comparable on geography and stage, with overlap on B2B software and emerging-tech categories.
- Inveo Ventures: Turkish early-stage VC that co-hosts ecosystem events with GearUp (Girişimci & Yatırımcı B2B Buluşmaları) and invests in overlapping deep-tech and B2B software categories in Turkey. Directly comparable on geography, stage, and target verticals.
- ACT Venture Partners: One of Turkey's longest-running early-stage VC funds, investing in technology startups across B2B, fintech, and deep tech from Istanbul. Closely comparable on stage, geography, and target founder profile.
- 212 (212 Ventures): Istanbul-based early-stage VC investing across Turkey, the Balkans, and MENA in B2B software and emerging tech. Comparable on stage, geography, and ecosystem positioning — and is even interviewed on GearUp's news portal, indicating direct ecosystem overlap.
- OiBVenture Mobilite İnovasyon Fonu: Sector-specific Turkish CVC fund (~$25M target) created by the Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters' Association to invest in mobility startups. Comparable as a Turkish corporate/industry-backed CVC targeting industrial deep tech, but with a mobility-only thesis.
Broad incumbents
- Yıldız Holding Innovation Program: Corporate innovation and open-innovation program of Yıldız Holding, a major Turkish conglomerate running an AI-focused startup call (covered on GearUp's news portal). Comparable as a Turkish conglomerate-led innovation/CVC platform at materially larger scale.
- Sabancı Ventures: Corporate venture and innovation arm of Sabancı Holding, one of Turkey's largest industrial conglomerates. Closely parallel to GearUp in being an industrial-conglomerate CVC, but with significantly larger scale and a more diversified portfolio.
- Turkcell Ventures: Corporate venture arm of Turkey's largest mobile operator, investing in telecom-adjacent and broader Turkish tech. Comparable as a corporate-led CVC platform in Turkey with a much larger balance sheet, but less focused on industrial deep tech.
Emerging players
- Aselsan Ventures: Corporate venture and incubation efforts of Turkey's largest defense electronics company, with growing interest in deep-tech and semiconductor adjacencies. Comparable on deep-tech/semiconductor focus and Turkish ecosystem presence, though rooted in defense rather than industrial diversification.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
GEAR UP social profiles
Digital presenceGEAR UP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GEAR UP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
GEAR UP subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
GEAR UP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GEAR UP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GEAR UP
What does GEAR UP do?
GearUp is a corporate venture capital and startup investment program under Gedik Holding that deploys a USD 5 million, 5-year fund into early-stage startups operating in deep tech, AI, industrial technologies, semiconductors, robotics, and education technology. It combines capital deployment with a 5-stage investment process, an entrepreneur accelerator program, a co-investor network, and an ecosystem news portal, taking minority equity stakes and syndicating rounds with outside strategic investors.
Is GEAR UP a public or private company?
GEAR UP is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GEAR UP founded?
GEAR UP was founded in 2025. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is GEAR UP based?
GEAR UP is headquartered in Istanbul, Türkiye, in the Europe region.
How does GEAR UP make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate Venture Capital Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are co-Investment Syndication and ecosystem & Program Partnership Value.
Who are GEAR UP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boğaziçi Ventures, Revo Capital, Inveo Ventures, ACT Venture Partners, 212 (212 Ventures) and OiBVenture Mobilite İnovasyon Fonu. Broad incumbents are Yıldız Holding Innovation Program, Sabancı Ventures and Turkcell Ventures. Aselsan Ventures is listed as an emerging player.
Does GEAR UP have an API?
No public API is recorded for GEAR UP.
What industry is GEAR UP in?
GEAR UP's product category is Corporate Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAB, Captive CVC Fund (Dedicated corporate fund structure), with a secondary code of FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs.