7–9 October 2026 · Istanbul
The global technology network meets on the bridge between Europe and Asia.
7–9 October 2026 · Istanbul
The summit has taken placeThree days, two continents, one network. Thank you, Istanbul.
Hosted and supported by
Hosted and supported by
Gallery
Three days, in pictures
The photographs and films from each day and evening of the summit, event by event. The summit film, with highlights from all three days, follows.
Bridge Day begins in
Travelling to Istanbul
Came to Istanbul from
Nordics · Netherlands · Italy · China · Japan · Philippines · Florida · Ghana · West England · GTA Quantum · Türkiye
39 leaders confirmed 11 GTA chapters 4 continents
Speakers & delegates
Chapter leaders from four continents
Speakers and delegates travelling to Istanbul from the Nordics, the Netherlands, Italy, China, Japan and the Philippines, from Ghana, from Florida and West England, and from GTA Quantum.
Speakers and delegates who came to Istanbul from the Nordics, the Netherlands, Italy, China, Japan and the Philippines, from Ghana, from Florida and West England, and from GTA Quantum.
About the summit
Türkiye, the regional anchor
Global Tech Advocates brings its worldwide network of chapter leaders, investors and founders to Istanbul for the first GTA Global Summit in Türkiye.
The Opening Day, hosted by the Services Exporters' Association (HİB) at the Türkiye Exporters Assembly, puts Türkiye's technology ecosystem in front of an international audience drawn from GTA chapters across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. The morning opens with Türkiye's hosts and government and the introduction of the Centre for Global Tech Advocacy, followed by a ClimateTech keynote and panel led by Future Energy Ventures, and a welcome on stage for the delegates who have travelled to Istanbul.
The afternoon belongs to the GTA community: a World Tour of the network's markets, from Türkiye and Central Asia to Southeast Asia, China, Europe, the Americas and Japan; the announcement of new GTA groups; the working groups that connect the network, including the new GTA Cyber and GTA Innovation Funding groups; and a look at the GTA Summits so far.
Global Tech Advocates brought its worldwide network of chapter leaders, investors and founders to Istanbul for the first GTA Global Summit in Türkiye, from 7 to 9 October 2026.
The Opening Day, hosted by the Services Exporters' Association (HİB) at the Türkiye Exporters Assembly, put Türkiye's technology ecosystem in front of an international audience drawn from GTA chapters across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America: Türkiye's hosts and government, the introduction of the Centre for Global Tech Advocacy, a ClimateTech keynote and panel led by Future Energy Ventures, and the GTA World Tour of the network's markets.
Bridge Day at Galatasaray Üniversitesi took a deep dive into Türkiye and the corridor to Central Asia, and the Ecosystem Visits closed the summit with a day across the city: StartGate, MEXT and The Peninsula Istanbul.
See the full Opening Day programme
This is not a conference. It is a meeting point — where ideas travel, and leaders from across geographies leave with something they could not have found at home.
Why come
What you will leave with
A market you can actually act on
Not a country overview. Named funds, named programmes, named founders, and the public-sector people who can open doors — in the room, for three days.
The network in one room
The GTA network rarely convenes in full. Chapter leaders from Europe, Asia and the Americas share one stage in the GTA World Tour, and are in the room together all day.
A stake in what comes next
The Centre for Global Tech Advocacy is introduced here and opens for pledges, alongside new GTA groups and working groups — shaped with the people who will deliver them, not presented to them afterwards.
Who should attend
Built for people who build
Chapter leads
GTA and TLA chapter leaders looking for partners, corridors and a stake in the network's next chapter.
Founders & CEOs
Startup and scale-up leaders expanding across the Europe–Asia corridor, or looking at Türkiye for the first time.
Investors
Funds and angels assessing Türkiye and the wider region, and the growth capital gap between Seed and Series A.
Policy & institutions
Ministries, agencies and trade bodies building international routes for their ecosystems.
Corporates & enterprise
Innovation, strategy and venture teams inside large companies looking for partners, suppliers and acquisition targets across the region.
Technoparks & universities
Technopark management, technology transfer offices and university innovation teams seeking international programmes and exchange for their companies.
The summit days
Two days in Istanbul
The Opening Day has taken place, and registration for Bridge Day has closed. Both programmes are below.
Opening Day
Held at the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) in Yenibosna, hosted by HİB: the official opening, ClimateTech investors and the GTA world tour of chapters.
See the Opening Day programmeRegistration closed
Bridge Day
At Galatasaray Üniversitesi in Ortaköy, on the Bosphorus: a deep dive into Türkiye, a member spotlight and the Central Asia panel. For the summit's international delegates and invited guests.
See the Bridge Day programmeRegistration closed
The summit
Three days in Istanbul
7–9 October 2026. The programme for each day, with the speakers and hosts who made it.
Opening Day
At the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) in Yenibosna, hosted by HİB: the official opening, ClimateTech investors and the GTA world tour of chapters.
Opening Day programmeBridge Day
At Galatasaray Üniversitesi in Ortaköy, on the Bosphorus: a deep dive into Türkiye, a member spotlight and the Central Asia panel.
Bridge Day programmeEcosystem Visits
Three stops across Istanbul by coach: StartGate in Maslak, MEXT in Ataşehir and The Peninsula Istanbul in Karaköy.
Ecosystem Visits itineraryTravel & logistics
Getting to Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST) is one of the best-connected hubs in the world, with direct flights from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas — and Turkish Airlines reaches more countries than any other carrier.
Most delegates will not need a visa, and those who do can usually apply online in minutes.
