GLOBAL award show

Edition X

📍Esma Sultan Yalısı

GLOBAL

Winners edition x

  Istanbul, Türkiye

  • Eratani

    Indonesia

    Startup of the year

  • Cyclizm

    Turkey

    Best Newcomer

  • Tech Buzz Hub

    Uganda

    Best Co-working space

  • BasiGo

    Kenya

    Best GreenTech

  • Fumbi

    Slovakia

    People's Choice

  • Hadeer Shalaby

    Egypt

    Founder of the Year

  • Tech Istanbul

    Turkey

    Accelerator/Incubator Program

  • Soulmates Ventures

    Czechia

    VC of the year.

  • Nexstem

    India

    Best Health Tech

  • Momint

    South Africa

    Best Web3.0 Startup

  • Mari Luukkainen

    Finland

    Diversity Role Model of the Year 2023

  • Mya Thandar

    Myanmar

    Ecosystem Hero of the Year 2023

Main Sponsor

Main Sponsor

Official Sponsor

HOSTED IN THE HEART OF Türkiye

Global Innovation at the Crossroads of Continents

We gathered in Istanbul for the Global Startup Awards Grand Finale, where the world's brightest ideas converge at the epicenter of East meets West. Celebrated the power of global entrepreneurship in a city that bridges continents, cultures, and creative minds. Witnessed history in the making at the world's largest independent startup awards.

Istanbul was where your global journey began!

EDITION X

In Roman numerals, 'X' stood for ten, which gave a subtle nod to our rich history of ten incredible years at Global Startup Awards. So, while X might have marked the spot on a pirate map, at GSA, it marked a decade of celebrating brilliant minds and groundbreaking ideas

Joined us as we decoded more 'Xciting' innovations in our 10th Edition!

🎉 Were you there for the Finale Days? 🎉

THE VENUE

Esma Sultan Yalısı was located in the heart of Istanbul, Türkiye. It was situated in Ortaköy, next to the Great Mecidiye Mosque. The waterside mansion was built by Sarkis Balyan for Esma Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Abdülaziz, between 1873 and 1875.

Was it your first time in Istanbul?

numbers fROM last year’s competition

Nominations

+32,000

public votes

+110,000

Countries

120

CHECK how it went last year

THE PROGRAM

WELCOME

Pre-networking

award show

break & dinner

after party

Welcome to an unforgettable evening!

As the doors open, guests are greeted by a harmonious blend of music, setting the stage for a seamless check-in experience that promises to be both quick and welcoming.

A Moment to Mingle and Capture Memories

From the moment you step inside, the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees and capture memorable moments awaits, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.

The Highlight of the Evening

Prepare for a captivating showcase on the Grand Finale Stage, where the spotlight will shine on our esteemed finalists and winners. The evening will unfold with a mix of engaging interviews, entertaining performances, and moments of joyous celebration.

Culinary and Cultural Delights

As the night progresses, guests will be treated to a spectacular array of entertainment, ranging from mesmerizing acts to stunning acrobatic displays, all while savoring a sumptuous meal.

Dance the Night Away!

The celebration continues as we invite everyone to hit the dance floor, with our DJ spinning a mix of beloved classics and today’s hits, ensuring a night filled with energy, laughter, and dancing.

Join us for a night where every moment is designed to surprise, delight, and celebrate our global community.

gala dinner

The evening culminated in a gala dinner, offering a curated menu that celebrated the rich culinary heritage of the region, followed by an exclusive after-party where guests enjoyed Istanbul's vibrant nightlife and networked with luminaries from around the globe.

after party

Following the gala dinner, the after-party featured not only entertainment but also provided a sophisticated setting for professionals to connect, share ideas, and forge new collaborations.

the finalists

The Global Startup Awards is the largest independent startup ecosystem competition, dedicated to discovering, recognizing, and connecting the innovators shaping the future of the digital age worldwide. The GSA network spans 123 countries across 4 continents.

The global Grand Finale represents the culmination of all regional competitions.

ORGANIZED BY

TURKISH INVESTORS THAT ATTENDED THE GLOBAL GRAND FINALE DAYS

GLOBAL CATEGORIES

Startup Of The Year

  • A startup that inspires the next generation of founders while positively impacting the economy and the world in general. It is a product and/or service which is already a success on the market, disrupting its industry with an innovative approach.

BEST HEALTH TECH STARTUP

  • A startup that inspires the next generation of founders by positively impacting the economy and the world in general. It should have a product and/or service that is already a success on the market, disrupting its industry with an innovative approach.

best newcomer

  • A startup that inspires the next generation of founders by positively impacting the economy and the world in general. It should have a product and/or service that is already a success on the market, disrupting its industry with an innovative approach.

FOUNDER OF THE YEAR

  • A startup founder or co-founder who has shown strong leadership skills and achieved exceptional business results while being an inspiration to their team and a role model for the next generation of founders.

Best green tech STARTUP

  • A startup that inspires the next generation of founders by positively impacting the economy and the world in general. It should have a product and/or service that is already a success on the market, disrupting its industry with an innovative approach.

VC OF THE YEAR

  • An individual or company that has displayed the best investment acumen over the last year. This could be through an exit, early investment of a notable startup, or realization of an earlier investment.

BEST COWORKING SPACE

  • A co-working space that deserves the recognition for its services, support, and resources to fast-growth startups, and for creating a culture and environment that fosters innovation and focuses on positively impacting the world.

DIVERSITY ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR

  • An individual who is known for their outstanding achievements and contribution to the mission of empowering more women and/or members of underrepresented groups to become founders, investors and leaders in their local and/or international startup and innovation ecosystem.

ECOSYSTEM HERO OF
THE YEAR

  • An individual known by its passion for entrepreneurship and ability as well as willingness to help startups and entrepreneurship grow.

Best WEB 3.0 and AI Startup

  • A startup with an innovative addition to the global Web 3.0 or AI Scene that incorporates decentralization, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics at the core of its added value, in addition to a commitment to increased data security, scalability, and enhanced privacy.

BEST ACCELERATOR/
INCUBATOR PROGRAM

  • A fixed-term, cohort-based, mentorship-driven program that helps and empowers entrepreneurs to foster the growth of their innovative companies by providing tools, resources, connections, knowledge and expertise.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE

  • A startup that got the most accumulated votes throughout the round.

WINNEr INTERVIEWS from last season

KUBIK - STARTUP OF THE YEAR

DRAPER B51 - VC OF THE YEAR

PETRA WOLKENSTEIN - ECOSYSTEM HERO OF
THE YEAR

STARTUP WISE GUYS - BEST ACCELERATOR/
INCUBATOR PROGRAM

EMATA - BEST NEWCOMER

BOWER - PEOPLE'S CHOICE

SPIRII - BEST GREEN TECH STARTUP

CEREBRA.AI - BEST VER-TECH

gallery from the award show 2023