The Deep Tech Playbook Most VCs Don’t Understand - Gizem Yağız (212 NexT)
TRVC's 25th episode - covering over $1B in investments in the Turkish ecosystem
Last week on TRVC, I sat down with Gizem Yağız, General Partner at 212 NexT — a fund focused on startups in advanced materials and deep tech. Backed by industrial leaders like Akkök Holding, 212 NexT invests globally in early-stage startups building breakthrough technologies across chemicals, materials, and circular systems.
This is also a small milestone: episode #25 of TRVC.
Across these first 25 episodes, the GPs I’ve hosted have collectively invested over $1B into Turkish startups. It’s been a front-row seat to how this ecosystem has evolved — and where it might be heading next.
💡 What we talked about with Gizem Yağız
Why deep tech (and especially advanced materials) plays by a completely different VC playbook
Why this area, largely overlooked by VC, is one of the biggest markets in the world
How Türkiye’s industrial base is a competitive advantage for deep tech startups
Why deep tech feels slow early on — and why that’s misleading
The importance of pilot plants, scale-up, and commercial milestones
Licensing vs building factories: different paths to scale
Why strategic exits can be more attractive than IPOs in this space
The role of non-dilutive funding (and why Europe is ahead here)
Gaps in Türkiye’s deep tech ecosystem — and what’s needed to unlock it
What kind of support deep tech founders actually need from investors
🔗 Referenced
📚 Recommended
If you’re thinking about where Türkiye can really build an edge in technology — beyond software — this is a conversation worth your time.
As I look forward to the next 75 episodes to reach my 100 episode goal, I believe this podcast has started to establish a real resource of interviews with the investors that make up the Turkish VC ecosystem.
My goal is simple: map the ecosystem through the people building it.
If you’re a GP investing in or from Türkiye, an emerging manager, or raising a new fund — or if you know someone who should be on the podcast — please reach out. I’d love to hear from you.