How angel investing actually works - TRVC 23
Inside GBA, one of Turkey’s most active angel networks with Ata Uzunhasan
In the latest episode of TRVC – The Turkish VC Podcast, I sat down with Ata Uzunhasan, Managing Director at Galata Business Angels, one of the most active angel networks in Turkey. (This episode in English.)
Since 2012, GBA has backed 60+ startups, including early investment in Insider.
But what stood out in our conversation wasn’t the amazing outcomes—it was the mechanism behind them.
Early-stage investing is not about access to deals.
It’s about access to founders.
And that access doesn’t come from brand or capital alone.
It comes from something much harder to systematize:
personal trust and direct engagement.
We get into:
Why angel networks can outperform traditional VC structures at the earliest stages
The limits of “platform” and “value-add” narratives
How exits actually materialize (and why they’re rarely predictable)
Why many startups struggle to move beyond their home market
What LPs should really look for when evaluating early-stage exposure
If you’re allocating to venture—or thinking about it—this is a conversation worth listening to.
👉 Listen here: Youtube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts
TRVC – The Turkish VC Podcast
Conversations with the people shaping venture in Turkey