Turkey & Eurasia Business — 2026-08-18

Key Highlights

• National AI plan launched: Türkiye officially introduced a comprehensive AI action plan focused on advancing technological capabilities and positioning the country as a global artificial-intelligence center.

  

• kayIQ.ai raises seed funding: Turkish AI startup kayIQ.ai secured $500,000 in seed funding. The company develops autonomous AI agents for software testing and quality assurance and plans to use the funding to support global expansion.

  

• Fintech remains Istanbul’s leading funded vertical: Startup Genome reported that fintech was Istanbul’s most funded startup vertical in 2025. Fintech and gaming together accounted for 68% of total startup funding, while Midas’ $80 million Series B was cited as a major financing event.

  

• Economic and trade data: No recent verified economic or trade data available for this section.

1 sources

startupgenome.com

Ecosystem Startup Genome | Building world-class startup ecosystems

Analysis

The launch of the national AI action plan is the week’s most significant business development because it establishes a policy framework around a market that is already attracting private capital. The combination of a government-led technology-sovereignty agenda and new funding for an AI software-testing company suggests that Türkiye’s AI opportunity is developing on both the policy and commercial fronts.

For investors, the immediate question is whether the action plan will translate into measurable support for startups, research, infrastructure and international commercialization. kayIQ.ai’s expansion plans provide an early example of a Turkish AI company seeking customers beyond the domestic market.

What to Watch

• Implementation of the AI action plan: Watch for specific programs, financing mechanisms and institutional responsibilities following the plan’s launch.

• International expansion by Turkish AI startups: kayIQ.ai’s seed round places global commercialization and execution among the next milestones for Türkiye’s emerging AI companies.

• Capital concentration in fintech and gaming: Startup Genome’s figures indicate that Istanbul’s funding market remains concentrated in these two sectors, making the distribution of future investment across AI and other technology categories worth monitoring.