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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.