In this episode recorded at Istanbul Slush’D, we sit down with Stefan Klestil, General Partner at Speedinvest, to explore the Turkish FinTech ecosystem, venture capital, and the realities of building and scaling startups in emerging markets.

From early-stage investing to cross-border growth, this conversation examines why Turkey represents a massive standalone ecosystem — powered not only by local talent but also by a globally connected entrepreneurial diaspora.

Recorded live at Slush’D Istanbul, this episode features Stefan Klestil sharing insights from Speedinvest’s experience across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. We discuss why trust is the cornerstone of founder–investor relationships, why valuation should never come at the expense of transparency, and how long-term partnerships are built through crises.

The conversation also dives into the impact of AI on venture capital and startup building, the growing role of regulation as a competitive moat in fintech, and why unicorns should be understood as real, profitable companies — not just hype-driven milestones.

Looking ahead, the episode offers candid advice for aspiring founders: building sustainable, profitable companies, choosing investors wisely, and understanding the responsibility that comes with entrepreneurship.

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Timestamps

[00:00 ] – Welcome & opening at Slush’D Istanbul
[01:30 ] – Turkey as a standalone startup ecosystem
[04:00 ] – Turkish founders, diaspora & global impact
[05:45 ] – Scaling beyond Turkey & cross-border growth
[07:30 ] – Trust between founders and investors
[09:30 ] – Crisis management & long-term partnerships
[10:40 ] – Unicorns, profitability & real companies
[12:50 ] – Founder patterns, resilience & leadership
[14:55 ] – AI in startups and venture capital
[15:55 ] – Regulation as fintech’s long-term moat
[17:20 ] – Advice for aspiring founders
[19:00 ] – Closing remarks

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New episodes from Istanbul Slush’D Podcast coming soon — featuring investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders shaping the next wave of innovation.

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Credits
Host:  ⁠Aykut İbrişim⁠ - ⁠Poddict⁠  Co founder 
Guest: Stefan Klestil
Recorded at: Istanbul Slush’D 2025⁠ – ⁠KoProduction Podcast Studio⁠ 
Production:  ⁠Poddict⁠⁠