OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: GLOBAL STARTUP AWARDS EDITION X
Global Startup Awards Celebrates Innovation at the Global Grand Finale Days in Istanbul
The Global Startup Awards (GSA) celebrated a spectacular conclusion to its Global Grand Finale Days in Istanbul, bringing together some of the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem enablers. This two-day event shone a spotlight on the best of the global startup ecosystem, culminating in a prestigious Award Show where the year’s Global Winners were unveiled.
Held at the iconic Esma Sultan Yalısı in the heart of Istanbul on the night of the Award Show, the event days welcomed over 1,100 guests from more than 100 nationalities, including 90 VCs, 14 embassy representatives, and members from over 1,000 companies. This diverse gathering was a strong reflection of the GSA's mission to promote global collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurial excellence.
A key moment of the event was the appearance and participation of the Mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu. Mr. İmamoğlu addressed the attendees, reinforcing Istanbul’s role as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship:
“We have mobilized all our resources to ensure that Istanbul reaches the position it deserves in the world of entrepreneurship, and that the projects developed by the bright minds of our country gain recognition on a global scale. In this process, we aim to strengthen Istanbul's entrepreneurial culture and to create human resources, ideas, products, and services by leveraging the opportunities brought by emerging technologies. I believe we can achieve the goals we have set thanks to the dynamic energy of our young entrepreneurs. The world needs more people like you who make a difference.”
Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Major Announcements: Launch of GSA Ventures and Expanded Global Reach
A key highlight of the event was the official launch of GSA Ventures, introduced during the exclusive Investor Delegation Meetup. Investors from the GSA network were among the first to learn about this new initiative, which promises to deliver high-quality deal flow directly from the competition. GSA Ventures will leverage the vast GSA network to provide unique opportunities for both startups and investors, supporting investments and driving startups’ international growth.
“GSA Ventures offers a trusted, curated network that ensures access to the most promising startups,” said GSA Founding Partner and CEO, Kim Balle. "With this initiative, we are positioned to fuel the growth of startups across the globe, empowering entrepreneurs and investors alike to make a lasting impact.”
In addition to the launch of GSA Ventures, Global Startup Awards revealed plans for the competition’s expansion into 30+ new countries and 6 new regions, providing more startups worldwide the chance to showcase their groundbreaking innovations on a global scale.
The list of new countries includes:
Japan, China, and Korea from Asia.
Germany and The UK from Europe.
Canada and The United States from North America
Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina from South America
Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and more..
“The Global Startup Awards is not just a celebration—it’s a platform that connects the brightest minds in innovation from every corner of the world. Hosting the Global Grand Finale Days in Istanbul, a city that has historically bridged East and West, was the perfect venue to highlight the creativity and diversity fueling global entrepreneurship. We are thrilled to welcome more than 30 new countries to the competition this year, and to launch GSA Ventures, which will further accelerate the global startup ecosystem.
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Celebrating Excellence in Global Entrepreneurship
The event days reached their pinnacle with the announcement of the 12 Global Winners at the much-anticipated Award Show, honouring the most visionary and innovative startups and ecosystem stakeholders from around the globe. These awards celebrated the talent and determination driving the future of technology and entrepreneurship worldwide. The excitement was palpable during the winners' speeches, and it was evident that this recognition held immense significance:
''The Global Startup Awards is an incredible platform to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship. It's inspiring to see how startups from around the world are pushing boundaries and driving positive change. I'm thrilled to be part of this journey.’’
Andrew Soeherman, Eratani.
Startup of the Year - Edition X
‘‘We’re honored that Fumbi won the Global Startup Awards in the People's Choice category! Thank you to everyone who voted for us. It’s been amazing to be in Istanbul among inspiring innovators. This recognition reflects the trust our clients and community place in Fumbi, and we’re excited to advance cryptocurrency investments further.’’
Boris Hasko, Fumbi.
People’s Choice - Edition X
RECORD-BREAKING COMPETITION NUMBERS
This edition also attracted an unprecedented 36,000+ nominations from 120+ countries, with a record-breaking 340,000+ public votes, demonstrating the Global Startup Awards’ broad international reach and the growing enthusiasm for entrepreneurship across all regions.