G20 Executive Talk Series
Mobile Technology
Authored by: Anne Harris
Silicon Valley’s Cousin: Mobile Technology Development in Turkey
Turkey is being hailed as the new Silicon Valley, due to a massive surge of mobile tech development in the area.
Turkey is being hailed as the new Silicon Valley, due to a massive surge of mobile tech development in the area. An astoundingly young and well-educated population has cultivated an environment ripe with startups and entrepreneurial think tanks. Turkey’s young population finds itself adopting only the latest and greatest devices, allowing for endless opportunity to develop new applications for emerging platforms. In fact, some of the fastest growing companies in Turkey are based in mobile technology.
A Unique Environment for Tech Development
Turkey’s incredibly young population helps create an environment of innovation for new and emerging tech. Half the population of Turkey is under thirty, and a whopping eighty-four percent of Turkish citizens own a mobile device. The use of mobile applications, such as Hepsiburada, for shopping, banking, and conducting business continues to skyrocket, as desktop use becomes a thing of the past. The incentive for prioritizing mobile application development is a result of the desire to streamline user compatibility in an emerging mobile market.
Think Tanks and Incubators
Another contributing factor to the prominence of mobile tech is the numerous think tanks spread throughout the country. Because Turkey is located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, its location is prime for incubating technology in the global market. Turkey is home to Teknopark Istanbul, one of the largest technological think-tanks in the world. In addition to spurring development of advanced electronics and mobile tech, Teknopark Istanbul also assists in the advancement of clean energy and aeronautics. Another prominent incubation center, Endeavor, is working to expand jobs in the tech field and help develop entrepreneurial solutions. It is within these thought incubators that some of Turkey’s most successful startups are born.
E-commerce
Companies conducting business on mobile devices have seen massive growth over the past year. One of Turkey’s fastest growing companies, 4play, specializes in mobile solutions for businesses hoping to develop a presence on mobile platforms. As the fifth fastest-growing Turkish company in 2015, 4play has capitalized on the prominence of mobile expansion. Companies are turning toward mobile application as a means of adapting business to suit a tech-savvy population. Application-based businesses such as BiTaksi, a cab-calling service, and Yemeksepeti, a food delivery service, have seen massive growth since their formation. Additionally, online retail apps are well received, and companies conducting business over mobile devices are flourishing. It has become almost necessary for businesses to develop a mobile presence, as Turkey’s uniquely high mobile use sees extraordinary growth in these markets.
E-commerce
Companies conducting business on mobile devices have seen massive growth over the past year. One of Turkey’s fastest growing companies, 4play, specializes in mobile solutions for businesses hoping to develop a presence on mobile platforms. As the fifth fastest-growing Turkish company in 2015, 4play has capitalized on the prominence of mobile expansion. Companies are turning toward mobile application as a means of adapting business to suit a tech-savvy population. Application-based businesses such as BiTaksi, a cab-calling service, and Yemeksepeti, a food delivery service, have seen massive growth since their formation. Additionally, online retail apps are well received, and companies conducting business over mobile devices are flourishing. It has become almost necessary for businesses to develop a mobile presence, as Turkey’s uniquely high mobile use sees extraordinary growth in these markets.
Expansion Opportunities
Turkey has already cemented its status as a prominent global leader in developing mobile tech. With the legacy of Constantinople, Turkey’s location provides endless opportunities for the expansion of emerging Turkish businesses. Many investors have already taken great interest in Turkey’s thriving global tech market, as early financiers sensed a goldmine of formidable startups and emerging technologies, waiting to be unearthed by the rest of the world. For Turkey, this would mean the solidification of trade expansion and economic upturn, as the influence of their mobile tech spreads to all corners of the globe.
Expansion Opportunities
Turkey has already cemented its status as a prominent global leader in developing mobile tech. With the legacy of Constantinople, Turkey’s location provides endless opportunities for the expansion of emerging Turkish businesses. Many investors have already taken great interest in Turkey’s thriving global tech market, as early financiers sensed a goldmine of formidable startups and emerging technologies, waiting to be unearthed by the rest of the world. For Turkey, this would mean the solidification of trade expansion and economic upturn, as the influence of their mobile tech spreads to all corners of the globe.
Anne Harris is a Contributor to Diplomatic Courier Magazine in Washington, DC.