# KWORKS

KWORKS is an Asset Manager based in Istanbul, Turkey.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** Istanbul, Turkey
- **Region:** Middle East
- **Address:** Rumelifeneri Yolu, 34450 Sarıyer, Istanbul, Turkey
- **Founded:** 2015
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** kworks.ku.edu.tr
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/kworkscenter

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

KWORKS is an investment company that focuses on technology-based Turkish startups in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. It is an accelerator/incubator based in Istanbul, Turkey.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- AI/ML
- FinTech
- Digital Health

## Offices

- 19 Mayıs Mah. Büyükdere Cad. No: 76, Golden Plaza, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey

## People

- Mahmut Özdemir — Director

## 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.

## Related profiles

- [KV Private Equity](https://altss.com/profile/kv-private-equity)
- [Kyber Capital](https://altss.com/profile/kyber-capital)

---

Last updated: 2026-05-29T21:48:33.598Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/kworks

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology