212 Updates #140 | May 12th
NYC | Board Meeting | Turkish Philanthropy Funds
After a productive week in New York, I landed in Istanbul this morning and walked straight into a hectic schedule. Between meetings, events, and moving into a new apartment, this week’s already off to a fast start.
Last week, we wrapped up the SOCRadar Board of Directors meeting. The company continues to grow steadily, with the founders building an extraordinary team to take things to the next level. It’s been rewarding to witness their progress firsthand.
Kıvanç and I also hosted a dinner with potential investors. It was a great evening filled with thoughtful conversations and new connections — a reminder of the power of shared vision over a shared table.
While in New York, I attended the Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) Gala at the New York Public Library. I’ve followed TPF for years as one of the founding members is a close friend of mine. I was once again struck by the strength of community and the lasting impact of giving back.
Last but not least, we will kick off Techstars Istanbul this week. I’m excited to be part of the Steering Committee, and I look forward to continuing to support the next generation of founders coming out of the region. More on that soon.
Meet the Team
Say hello to Ozge Sevim from Regional Fund Investment Team. Ozge joined 212 in April 2022.
Q&A Spotlight:
If you could bring one guest to the 212 annual party, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would take the annual party to Led Zeppelin’s Kennedy Center Honors Tribute 2012. Because it was awesome? I don't want to hear another tech mogul, sorry.
What’s one technology or trend you think is dramatically underrated right now?
- One-person companies with AI workforces. If I were a software engineer right now, I’d be a little worried—those jobs are the first to be impacted by AI. If I weren’t working in AI, I’d look for opportunities in the most underserved industries.
- alternative payments—anything that accelerates the payment process (whether it’s crypto-powered systems or not). The average American still waits 1-3 business days to receive money.
Ozge's Picks:
If you could describe your job at 212 with a movie title, what would it be and why?
The Karate Kid. The grind, the patience, the quiet learning moments—it’s all there, just with fewer karate kicks.
What’s your favorite office tradition at 212, and Why?
Serkan abi's tea, Thanksgiving dinner.Last Week
Investment teams interacted with 65 companies.
I was in New York to attend SOCRadar board meeting and meet with our new Fund III investment.
Ali attended Fund I AGM in Amsterdam.
This Week and Next
Selma will be a guest at BloombergHT podcast on Tuesday, May 13th.
Gizem and Caglar will attend Deep Tech Momentum from Tuesday, May 13th, in Berlin.
Selma and Ali will be panelists at E-Girisim Summit on Wednesday, May 14th
Ozge will be at Onlayer Fintek Meetup on Wednesday, May 14th.
I will be on the jury at WeShape Demoday on Thursday, May 15th.
Some News
Searches on Safari dipped for the first time in 22 years, Apple’s Eddy Cue admits, and it’s because more people are using AI instead of Google. Read more…
OpenAI reverses course, says its nonprofit will remain in control of its business operations. Read more…