TRVC #05: Bulent Celebi, founder and angel
Yunus Celebiler connects with the founder of Airties for some straight talk on the Turkish venture ecosystem
In this episode, I sit down with special guest Bulent Celebi, a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor with deep roots in the Turkish tech ecosystem.
Bulent shares his journey from growing up abroad to returning to Turkey in 2004 to found Airties, a pioneering wireless technology company that was recently acquired by private equity. With rich insights into building and scaling a tech company in Turkey, he reflects on the evolution of the startup landscape, lessons from leadership, and his experience as an investor and board member.
We discuss:
What inspired him to start Airties
Navigating the startup ecosystem in Turkey in the early 2000s
His transition from founder to investor
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
The future of tech and investment in the region
This episode offers a front-row seat to the story of a visionary who helped shape Turkey’s digital infrastructure and continues to support the next generation of innovators.
Follow the links below for the episode. Whichever platform you choose to listen on, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe etc for more conversations on startups, venture capital and innovation in Turkey and beyond. Also happy to connect on LinkedIn, and would love to get any suggestions of other GPs to speak with, and what you found interesting, or what you’d like to hear.