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KWORKS
KWORKS operates as the entrepreneurship research center of Koç University in Istanbul, a private university founded by the Vehbi Koç Foundation.
KWORKS
KWORKS operates as the entrepreneurship research center of Koç University in Istanbul, a private university founded by the Vehbi Koç Foundation. Its mandate sets it apart from a conventional venture fund: it accelerates academic and external startups while providing access to the commercial assets of Koç Holding, the family-controlled group spanning energy, automotive, and consumer durables. The center is physically anchored on Koç University's main Rumelifeneri campus and maintains a commercial outpost at the Koç University Şişli Campus for corporate programming. The program runs a multi-stage acceleration platform capable of supporting ventures from ideation through Series A. Early-stage startups gain entry through the TÜBİTAK BiGG consortium, a public-private entrepreneurship support program that KWORKS leads, which unlocks non-dilutive grants for participating teams. The center also facilitates corporate innovation pilots with Koç Group operating companies such as Arçelik, Ford Otosan, and Tüpraş, giving portfolio startups real-world testing environments across manufacturing, energy, and retail. Confirmed investments and program alumni span enterprise software and digital health, though the portfolio remains largely private. KWORKS leverages a director-led governance model under Mahmut Özdemir, with strategic backing from Koç Holding Chairman Ali Koç. The center does not publish headcount or deployment figures, which limits direct comparability to independent Turkish venture managers. However, its institutional linkage to the Vehbi Koç Foundation and its leadership of the TÜBİTAK consortium position it as an early-stage gatekeeper for technical talent emerging from Turkish research universities. The structural differentiator is the corporate venturing channel: unlike independent seed funds that must sell for access, KWORKS startups negotiate pilot agreements directly with operating companies inside a $40 billion-plus revenue conglomerate. This integration of philanthropic, academic, and commercial interests under one roof makes it an asset manager that behaves like a corporate venture arm, a technology transfer office, and a grant consortium leader simultaneously.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
Turkey
City
Istanbul
Corporate office
Rumelifeneri Yolu, 34450 Sarıyer, Istanbul, Turkey
Additional offices
19 Mayıs Mah. Büyükdere Cad. No: 76, Golden Plaza, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey
Principals
Mahmut Özdemir
Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at KWORKS?
The center is directed by Mahmut Özdemir, who oversees programming and corporate engagement. Investment decisions for direct venture allocation are made by the center's investment committee, drawing on academic faculty and executives from Koç Holding operating companies. KWORKS does not publicly disclose the names of all committee members.
How is KWORKS related to Koç Holding?
KWORKS is a research center housed within Koç University, which itself was established by the Vehbi Koç Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Koç family. The center serves as a formal bridge between the university's academic resources and the commercial units of Koç Holding, Turkey's largest industrial conglomerate. Ali Koç, the third-generation chairman of Koç Holding, is a named supporter of KWORKS initiatives.
Does KWORKS participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
KWORKS is primarily structured as an accelerator and direct startup support platform, not a fund-of-funds allocator. It facilitates direct equity investments in early-stage companies through its own programs and coordinates non-dilutive grant access via the TÜBİTAK BiGG consortium. There is no public record of KWORKS making LP commitments into external venture funds.
How does KWORKS source proprietary deal flow?
Deal flow originates from two main pipelines: the academic ecosystem within Koç University's science and engineering departments, and the open-call application process for its accelerator cohorts. The TÜBİTAK BiGG consortium, which KWORKS leads, acts as an additional sourcing funnel by channeling grant-eligible deep-tech teams into its acceleration programs.
What investment stages does KWORKS typically target?
KWORKS targets pre-seed through Series A, with a heavy concentration on ideation and early validation stages. The center operates a standard accelerator format for early-stage teams and maintains a growth-track program for startups that have achieved product-market fit and are ready for corporate pilot agreements with Koç Group companies.
Which sectors does KWORKS explicitly avoid?
KWORKS does not publish a formal exclusions list. Given its location within a university and its reliance on TÜBİTAK grant consortiums, its portfolio skews toward defensible technology IP rather than asset-heavy industries. It has not signaled activity in extractive industries, defense contracting, or gambling.
Where does the underlying capital for KWORKS operations come from?
Operational funding is provided through Koç University, whose endowment and facilities are backed by the Vehbi Koç Foundation. Investment capital for equity positions is structured separately through co-investment vehicles that may include Koç Holding, TÜBİTAK grants, and third-party angel syndicates. KWORKS does not operate a publicly raised independent fund.
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