Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D is returning in 2026 with a larger program following the strong momentum it achieved in its first year. Taking place at Rixos Tersane Istanbul on October 12–14 with Akbank and Togg as main sponsors, the event will bring together leading technology companies from around the world, including OpenAI and NVIDIA, in Istanbul this year.
The Turkish edition of the Slush’D series, Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D, which brings the spirit of Slush to local ecosystems, is being held for the second time. Slush was launched in Helsinki in 2008 on a volunteer basis and is today considered one of Europe’s most influential entrepreneurship gatherings. Akbank and Togg are supporting the event as main sponsors.
Last year, the event welcomed more than 1,700 participants at 100% capacity, hosted more than 1,000 investor-founder meetings, and brought more than 75 global investment funds to Istanbul. Fifty percent of participants came from abroad, while the event significantly increased the international visibility of Türkiye’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. This year, the event aims to bring together more than 3,000 participants, over 1,400 startups, and more than 600 investors.
This year, our program is shaped around three main themes: Sovereignty & Resilience, where we will explore how stronger and more independent systems can be built, from supply chains to technology infrastructure; AI as Infrastructure, focusing on the transformation of artificial intelligence into the foundational infrastructure for new products and business models; and The Human Edge, examining why human qualities such as creativity, judgment, and intuition remain decisive even as artificial intelligence continues to accelerate.
This year, with the core team doubling in size and the volunteer team also expanding, the first announced group of speakers includes partners and senior executives from leading global investment funds and technology companies such as Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Anthropic, Astra, BEK Ventures, ElevenLabs, Felix Capital, General Catalyst, Grand Games, Hilbert, HV Capital, Index Ventures, Manus, Midas, Molten Ventures, Mubadala, Neko Health, OpenAI, Oura, Periodic Labs, PIF, Scopely, Scribble Ventures, Shorooq, Speedinvest, Tripledot Studios, Viktor.com, and Visionaries. The first announced names include Accel Partner Zhenya Loginov, Periodic Labs Co-Founder and Co-CEO Ekin Doğuş Çubuk, and Langdock Co-CEO and Visionaries Senior Partner Judith Dada. Additional speakers will be announced gradually over the coming weeks.
Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D Co-Founder Şan Yalman said:
“This year, as we bring leading technology leaders from around the world together in Istanbul for the second time, we are also scaling our program to a larger level. Through this gathering, which will include individuals visiting Türkiye for the first time, we aim to create in Istanbul the level of access and dialogue that is only possible in a few major technology and entrepreneurship hubs around the world.”
Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D Co-Founder Melisa Çağlar said:
“My journey with Slush began as a volunteer during my high school years in Helsinki. This experience showed me how a strong ecosystem and the right connections can create new opportunities for young talent. This year, with our larger team and strong partnerships, we are taking this commitment even further, aiming to become a hub that connects Turkish and regional entrepreneurs with investment, opportunities, and global markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.”
Tickets are now on sale: istanbulslushd.com/tickets
For updates: istanbulslushd.com · Instagram: @ist.ignitedslushd · LinkedIn: Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D
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About Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D:
Founded in Helsinki in 2008 on a volunteer basis, Slush today brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and technology leaders as one of the world’s most prestigious entrepreneurship and technology events. Istanbul Slush'D, the Turkish edition of the licensed Slush'D event series that brings the spirit of Slush to local ecosystems, was held for the first time in 2025 at Rixos Tersane Istanbul, reaching 100% capacity with more than 1,700 participants, over 1,000 meetings, and 50% international participation. The second Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D will take place again at Rixos Tersane Istanbul on October 12–14, 2026 (Investor Day and Hackathon exclusively for invited guests on October 12, followed by the main conference on October 13–14). istanbulslushd.com
