212 Updates #145 | Jun 23rd
Events and Business Trips
It was a week packed with events around the world, ranging from Baku to Athens. As part of our lead generation, we make it a priority to attend relevant events and to network with all ecosystem stakeholders, from founders to fellow investors, corporate executives to potential limited partners. While expanding our network is both enjoyable and undeniably valuable, the demands of extensive travel and constant high-level socializing can take a personal toll.
One of the most challenging tasks is to continue daily responsibilities and duties while traveling for an event. For example, Ozge attended a two-day event in Baku last week. She took a flight on Wednesday afternoon and flew back on Friday night. While she was in Baku attending Demo Days, listening to founders’ pitches and participating in panel discussions, she also had to continue fulfilling her routine responsibilities. She received and responded to a multitude of emails and took numerous calls from founders asking questions or seeking advice. I alone spoke with her twice and exchanged dozens of Slack messages and emails. The work associated with the trip was in addition to her usual daily tasks. Needless to say, she handled them all with utmost poise and effectiveness.
It takes two things to thrive in this fast-paced, demanding environment: a genuine passion for the work and the support of an exceptional team. At 212, we are fortunate to have both.
Meet the Team
Say hello to Zeynep Şener from Simya Investment Team. Zeynep joined 212 in June 2024.
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 bring Roger Federer. I grew up appreciating his game and the way he carries himself - calm, passionate yet never greedy, always graceful, with a great sense of humor to match. To me, he’s the definition of a true sportsman, and his approach to both tennis and life has always stood out to me.
What’s one technology or trend you think is dramatically underrated right now?
Self-healing materials. They have the potential to transform industries by extending the lifespan of everything from buildings to electronics, reducing waste, and making maintenance almost effortless. Despite their game-changing impact, I don’t believe they get nearly enough attention.
Zeynep's Picks:
If you could describe your job at 212 with a movie title, what would it be and why?
I would say Forrest Gump. I’m always experiencing new things and taking on responsibilities as I go. There’s a certain curiosity in Forrest's character that resonates with how I approach my work. I may not have all the answers from the start, but I’m always learning, growing, and tackling challenges as I adapt along the way.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and how has it helped you at 212?
It’s not exactly advice I received, but a concept that’s stuck with me is festina lente, 'make haste slowly.' I’ve always been a bit impatient, wanting quick results. But in VC, things take time and best outcomes come from a steady, thoughtful approach. Keeping this in mind has helped me stay patient and focused on the bigger picture.Last Week
Investment teams interacted with 63 companies.
Selma attended TRAI Startup Day.
Ozge attended Baku ID.
Ali and Idil were at Tech Tour Investor Summit 2025 in Athens.
I attended SOCRadar Annual Summit.
This Week and Next
Ozge and Selma will join KWorks Event on Tuesday, June 24th
Ali, Ozge, and Selma will attend Next Play Meetup on Wednesday, June 25th.
Selma will be at BTM for Simya VC Investor Desk on Monday, June 23rd.
Ali and Selma will be at ITU Ari Teknokent Mentor Meetup on Thursday, June 26th.
Some News
Masa Son Pitches $1 Trillion US AI Hub to TSMC, Trump Team. Read more…
6-month-old, solo-owned vibe coder Base44 sells to Wix for $80M cash. Read more…