The region’s largest innovation platform, INMerge, launched its 2026 Roadshow series in Istanbul. Bringing together leading figures from the technology and startup world, the INMerge Innovation Gathering addressed the cultural codes of transformation, growth strategies, and scaling dynamics. Innovative business ideas also competed during the event.
As the largest innovation platform in the Central Eurasia region—annually uniting global business and startup ecosystem leaders in Baku—INMerge held the first event of its 2026 series in Istanbul as part of its global expansion strategy. Organized for the second time in Türkiye, the INMerge Innovation Gathering convened prominent representatives of the business and entrepreneurship world. While innovation, growth, and scaling were key themes, promising startups pitched before a jury. Omnitive won the competition, while B2Metric and Wellbees, sharing second place, earned the right to participate in the main summit in Baku.
Emphasis on the Importance of the Startup Ecosystem
The event opened with remarks by PASHA Holding Innovation Leader Tughra Musayeva and continued with a keynote speech by Brett King, Founder and CEO of The Futurists Network, recognized among the world’s top 10 global futurists.
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In the panel titled “Capital and Capability: Leadership Choices Shaping Long-Term Economic Power,” moderated by Engin Guven, Global Partner at Egon Zehnder, PASHA Holding CEO Jalal Gasimov and Fiba Group Chairman Murat Ozyeğin shared their insights.
The panel “Scaling Digital Winners: Growth, Trust, and Platform Management,” moderated by Özgür Tanrıkulu, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, featured Farid Mammadov, CEO of PASHA Financial Holding, and Erdem İnan, Group CEO of Trendyol.
The summit’s final session, “Building Resilient Giants: How Large Companies Achieve Scalable Transformation,” was moderated by Deniz Guven, Board Member of Wamo, and included Elchin Ibadov, CEO of SOCAR Türkiye; Bülent Tekmen, Co-Founder of Colendi; Egem Eraslan, Founder and CEO of Midas; and Alper Akcan, Co-Founder and CEO of Fingate.io.
Keynote speeches and panels covered critical topics ranging from digital transformation and corporate culture to large-scale transformation strategies and ecosystem collaboration. The importance of the startup ecosystem for Türkiye and the broader region was strongly emphasized.
Gasimov: “We Contribute to the Growth of the Regional Innovation Ecosystem”
Jalal Gasimov, CEO of PASHA Holding, commented:
“Since launching INMerge in 2021, our goal has never been to organize just a conference. We aimed to build a platform that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, companies, and innovation leaders—offering collaboration, investment, and scaling opportunities, and contributing to the growth of the regional innovation ecosystem. INMerge was designed as a sustainable platform supporting innovation-driven growth in the long term. Today, we aim to expand INMerge beyond Azerbaijan, building a strong regional network that connects ecosystems and strengthens Central Eurasia as an integrated and globally competitive innovation hub.”
About INMerge
Organized since 2021 by Azerbaijan’s largest business group, PASHA Holding, INMerge is a dynamic platform that supports bold ideas, fosters regional collaboration, and creates lasting impact. Strategically focusing on Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, as well as the broader MENA and Eastern Europe regions, INMerge hosts regional events in addition to its flagship summit in Baku, helping innovative projects expand into new markets and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.
