Etohum

Etohum is a leading accelerator and seed investor organization in Turkey that helps entrepreneurs bring their innovative ideas to life. Each year, 40 startups are carefully selected from thousands of applicants, and provided with training, mentorship, and seed investment to help them grow and succeed. The organization has invested in over 100 startups in a variety of industries, including ecommerce, mobile, game, and software. In addition to its accelerator program, Etohum also hosts the annual "Startup Turkey" event, bringing together top internet companies and investors in the country to support and celebrate the success of Turkish startups.

Founder

Vestelnet

Head of Ecommerce

Interbank

Corporate Banking

Founder of Startup Istanbul

Burak Büyükdemir is a well-known investor, startup ecosystem builder, author, and founder. He is the founder of Etohum, a leading accelerator and seed investor organization in Turkey, as well as the founder of Startup Istanbul and Startup Turkey. Through these programs, he has supported and invested in over 100 startups, providing training, mentorship, and seed investment to help them grow and develop. He is known for his work supporting the global startup ecosystem and has a strong global network of contacts in the startup world. In addition to his work with startups, Burak has also written a book about the founding stories of internet startups in Turkey and has served as a part-time lecturer at Istanbul Technical University and Bahcesehir University.

90% of Founders Fail Here — Steve Blank Explains Why

Burak Buyukdemir

Everything They Teach at YCombinator in 10 Minutes

BURAK BUYUKDEMIR

Talks about #startup, #accelerator, #angelinvesting, #venturecapital, and #entrepreneurship

I asked a simple question in my recent conversation with Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride:

“If the American Dream is now mathematically almost impossible for most people… why do we still sell it as a story?”

The answer surprised me.

We talk about opportunity, merit, hard work, and mobility —
yet the data shows that moving up has become harder than ever.

Still… people hold on to the story.

Because stories give hope.
Stories justify belief.
And stories can hide uncomfortable truths about inequality.

In our podcast, we talked about this openly:
the dream, the myth, the reality — and what it means for founders around the world who are building their own futures in completely different systems.

Is it time to update the story we tell about opportunity?
Curious to hear your thoughts.

Podcast episode coming soon. 🎙️
#startups #founders #capitalism #opportunity #entrepreneurship #StartupIstanbul

Thanks Jimmy 🙏 The mindset stays the same — founders rise when they learn they’re eagles, not chickens.

Are you an Eagle living as a Chicken?

Most founders spend years thinking they’re chickens when they’re actually eagles.

Burak Buyukdemir nearly did the same back in 2005.

He was teaching at Istanbul Technical University, watching Turkiye’s startup scene barely form, until a small student competition changed everything. The line wrapped out the door. The energy was unreal. Everyone wanted to build.

That moment pushed Burak to create Etohum, one of Turkiye’s earliest startup programs… and to write a book with a brilliant title:

“Why Can’t an Eagle Fly in the Coop?”

It flopped. 2,000 copies. Bundled with a magazine. Forgotten.

But today, as Burak Buyukdemir shares those lessons on LinkedIn, something is clear:

The fundamentals haven’t changed.

The mindset required to win hasn’t changed.

Only the tools have.

Here’s what founders still need to understand to stop living like chickens and start flying like eagles.

Like my content? Follow me Jimmy Acton for more! 🚀

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I’m hosting Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride today on the Startup Istanbul Podcast.

You may know their earlier book The New Builders.

Their new book Capital Evolution goes deeper into how money, opportunity, and the system shape founders.

We’ll talk about what this means for people building companies in Türkiye and other emerging markets.

Simple question:
What would you like me to ask them?
Comment or message me your questions.

Podcast coming soon. 🎙️
#startups #founders #entrepreneurship #StartupIstanbul

What does work in customer interviews:

→ “Tell me about the last time this was a problem.”
→ “Walk me through how you handle it today.”
→ “What does success look like for you?”

Stop Bad Customer Interviews

Founder @ LION

Founders keep asking the wrong question:

“Would you use this?”

If everyone says yes, that’s not validation, that’s a warning sign.

Future intentions are cheap.

Past behaviour is real.

What does work in customer interviews:

→ “Tell me about the last time this was a problem.”
→ “Walk me through how you handle it today.”
→ “What does success look like for you?”

If people can’t give you specifics, real stories, real spending, real pain, you’re not learning anything.

Red flags:
• Only positive feedback
• No details
• Everyone “would buy”

The simple framework:
1️⃣ Past problems
2️⃣ Current solutions
3️⃣ Time or money spent
4️⃣ What “good” looks like

People make up the future.

They’re honest about the past.

Credit Burak Buyukdemir

This week’s podcast made me ask myself a hard question: who is the system really built for?
Most founders won’t like the answer.

I just published a new newsletter about my conversation with Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride, authors of Capital Evolution.

We talked about opportunity, capitalism, and what the current system really means for people who are trying to build something in emerging markets.

Simple question I ask in the piece:
Who does the system actually work for today — and where does that leave founders?

If you’re interested in this topic, you can read it here.

👇 Curious to hear your thoughts. Do you think the system is fair for builders?

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🧿 More insights for people who build things. Subscribe to follow along.
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Capitalism Is Changing — Here’s What Founders Need to Know (w/ Seth Levine & Elizabeth MacBride)
https://lnkd.in/d7ihK45C

You don’t need all the answers; new paths appear after you take action.

Build After Work If You Want a Project. Quit If You Want a Startup.

From WIRED cover to ‘We’re closed’ in 90 days — here’s the part of startup life nobody puts in the headline.

I have a short prompt that I use often. 

[
Summarize the following text, attached files, or images in bullet points. Use categories and subcategories if needed. Keep it in simple words, easy to read, plain language, and no fluff:
]

Investors Decide in 30 Seconds: Why Your First Slide Can Kill Your Pitch

"The 2AM Test" If you're not thinking about your startup at 2AM, you don't have a startup. You have a hobby. The problems that wake you up are the ones worth solving.

Where you start still matters more than talent.

Entrepreneurship is no longer an open path upward for most people.

People often hide their backgrounds because class shame blocks opportunity.

taplio

Burak Buyukdemir's Linkedin Analytics

Burak Buyukdemir

Performance ScoreBurak Buyukdemir's LinkedIn Performance

Burak Buyukdemir's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

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.css-6ytdur{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39, 43, 72, 1) 0%, rgba(33, 47, 183, 1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Burak Buyukdemir's Linkedin Analytics

Burak Buyukdemir

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Burak Buyukdemir's LinkedIn Performance

Burak Buyukdemir's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Burak Buyukdemir's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreBurak Buyukdemir's LinkedIn Performance

Burak Buyukdemir's Best Posts (last 30 days)