Rasmal Ventures, Qatar's first institutionally backed investment firm and a partner trusted by sovereign wealth funds, including the Qatar Investment Authority, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bilişim Vadisi, one of Türkiye's largest technology development zones. The agreement was signed at GITEX Türkiye in Istanbul and establishes a three-year framework for cooperation. It is designed to connect Gulf capital with Türkiye's expanding startup ecosystem through Terminal Istanbul, the campus rising from the former Atatürk Airport.
Strategic Framework
The memorandum sets out a three-year framework for joint innovation programs, investor and business-to-business matchmaking, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. It also supports the two-way flow of startups, experts, and networks between Türkiye and the Gulf. Terminal Istanbul is being developed to host more than 10,000 technology companies, giving the collaboration a substantial operational base.
Institutional Backing
Rasmal Ventures enjoys trust from sovereign wealth funds, including the Qatar Investment Authority, and positions itself as Qatar's first institutionally backed investment firm. That backing gives the firm a distinct mandate to deploy patient capital across early and growth stages. The agreement with Bilişim Vadisi reflects this institutional role by creating a formal corridor for cross-border investment and startup development.
Capital and Talent Connection
For Rasmal Ventures, the partnership reflects its strategy of bridging Gulf capital with innovation across the Middle East, Türkiye, and Asia. Turkish companies gain a structured route into Gulf Cooperation Council markets and capital, while Gulf investors receive a managed channel into Türkiye's deep engineering talent and industrial base. Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures, described Türkiye as one of the world's most exciting startup stories and the Gulf as a major source of patient capital.
Existing Commitment to Türkiye
The agreement deepens an existing commitment by Rasmal Ventures to Türkiye's innovation economy. The firm is already an early backer of Roamless, a Türkiye-rooted travel connectivity company building what it calls the world's first truly global mobile operator. Rasmal led Roamless's US$12 million Series A, and the new memorandum turns that track record into a structured, ecosystem-wide channel between the two markets.
Terminal Istanbul's Gulf Gateway
For Bilişim Vadisi, the agreement extends Terminal Istanbul's role as a meeting point between global entrepreneurs and investors directly into the Gulf. İsmail Erkam Tüzgen, CEO of Bilişim Vadisi, said the campus was built to make Türkiye a gateway between continents for entrepreneurs and investors. He added that partnering with an institutional investor of Rasmal Ventures' caliber opens new opportunities for startups and companies across the ecosystem.
Next Steps
The two institutions will define specific programs and activities under the memorandum over the coming months. Their focus will be on connecting founders, investors, and corporations across the Gulf-Türkiye corridor. This process is expected to convert the framework into practical support for startups seeking market access, capital, and operational partnerships.
The agreement represents a structured attempt to link two complementary innovation markets at a time of rising cross-border activity. By combining Qatar's institutional capital with Türkiye's technology ecosystem, Rasmal Ventures and Bilişim Vadisi aim to reduce the friction that often limits international startup growth. The partnership provides a practical platform for founders and investors to pursue opportunities across the Gulf and Türkiye over the next three years.