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Day two of three

Bridge Day programme

A morning on the Bosphorus at Galatasaray Üniversitesi: a deep dive into Türkiye's tech ecosystem, a founder's story, and a panel on Central Asia and the corridor that runs through Türkiye.

Date Thursday 8 October 2026
Time 09:30–12:45, then lunch
Venue Galatasaray Üniversitesi, Ortaköy, Istanbul

Photos

Bridge Day, as it happened

Thursday 8 October at Galatasaray Üniversitesi, on the Bosphorus. The arrival at the university, the opening, the deep dive into Türkiye, İpek Çeliksöz’s story, the Central Asia panel, lunch on the water and the afternoon on the Bosphorus, from the day’s film and the phone. Twelve to start with; the full set of 63 follows.

  • The delegation on the Bosphorus
  • The lectern at Galatasaray Üniversitesi, set for Bridge Day
  • The day’s speakers on the screen in the foyer
  • Galatasaray Üniversitesi, Ortaköy, on the morning of Bridge Day
  • The gate of Galatasaray Üniversitesi
  • The Bosphorus from Galatasaray Üniversitesi
  • The Bosphorus Bridge from the university waterfront
  • Delegates on the waterfront before the opening
  • Delegates on the waterfront at Galatasaray Üniversitesi
  • The delegation arrives on the Bosphorus at Galatasaray Üniversitesi
  • On the waterfront before Bridge Day, the Bosphorus Bridge behind
  • Rie Hamaguchi, Dr HC Cristina Amor Maclang and Jeanette Carlsson on the Bosphorus
  • In the Aydın Doğan auditorium before the opening
  • Chandila Fernando, Anders Nilsson and Richard Lowe arrive at Galatasaray Üniversitesi
  • Through the campus to the Aydın Doğan auditorium
  • Coffee before the opening
  • Coffee in the foyer
  • Before the opening
  • Ata Argüder opens Bridge Day
  • Russ Shaw CBE takes the floor in the Aydın Doğan auditorium
  • Russ Shaw CBE
  • Russ Shaw CBE maps the Global Tech Advocates network
  • Russ Shaw CBE, Founder of Global Tech Advocates
  • Deep dive into Türkiye: Ata Argüder, Dr Yıldız Tuğba Kara and Baran Kılıçer
  • Ata Argüder, Dr Yıldız Tuğba Kara and Baran Kılıçer, Co-Leads of Tech Türkiye Advocates
  • Ata Argüder, Co-Lead of Tech Türkiye Advocates
  • Russ Shaw CBE moderates from the floor
  • Russ Shaw CBE takes questions
  • Richard Lowe from the floor
  • A question from the floor
  • John Zai from the floor
  • The Tech Türkiye Advocates team with Russ Shaw CBE after the deep dive
  • İpek Çeliksöz, Director of Istanbul Slush’D: from chemical engineering to frontier tech
  • İpek Çeliksöz, Director of Istanbul Slush’D
  • İpek Çeliksöz on taking Turkish founders to San Francisco
  • Ata Argüder introduces İpek Çeliksöz
  • Central Asia and the corridor through Türkiye
  • Ata Argüder with Özgün Ünaldı of DOMiNO Ventures and Sabina Babayeva of Tenity
  • Ata Argüder with Özgün Ünaldı, Sabina Babayeva and Dinara Abdizhaparova
  • Dinara Abdizhaparova, Founder and CEO of Alem
  • The auditorium at the close of Bridge Day
  • The Bridge Day delegation in the Aydın Doğan auditorium
  • Lunch on the terrace above the Bosphorus
  • Lunch on the terrace above the Bosphorus
  • The delegation at lunch, the Bosphorus Bridge behind
  • Lunch with the Bosphorus Bridge behind
  • The delegation at lunch
  • Over lunch
  • Lunch on the Bosphorus
  • On the water after Bridge Day
  • The delegation on the Bosphorus
  • Setting off from Ortaköy
  • Ortaköy Mosque from the water
  • Russ Shaw CBE and Anders Nilsson on the Bosphorus
  • Up the Bosphorus
  • Rumeli Fortress from the water
  • Richard Lowe, Russ Shaw CBE and Chandila Fernando on deck
  • On deck under the Bosphorus Bridge
  • The delegation on the water
  • Sunset over the Golden Horn
  • The historic peninsula at sunset
  • At Galatasaray Üniversitesi after Bridge Day
  • The Bosphorus from Ortaköy

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Running order

09:30 –10:00

Arrival and coffee

10:00 –10:15

Morning

Opening

  1. 10:00

    Welcome from Galatasaray Üniversitesi

    • TürkiyeProf. Dr. Abdurrahman Muhammed Uludağ · Rector, Galatasaray Üniversitesi
  2. 10:05

    Opening remarks: a recap of the Opening Day

    What the network did on day one, and what day two sets out to do.

    • United KingdomUnited StatesRuss Shaw CBE · Founder, Global Tech Advocates

10:15 –11:15

Panel

Deep dive into Türkiye

The Tech Türkiye Advocates team on stage: an overview of Türkiye's tech ecosystem and how it got here, then further into the Turkish market, its founders, its capital and its place between Europe and Asia. Further panellists to be announced.

  • United KingdomUnited StatesRuss Shaw CBE · Founder, Global Tech Advocates · Moderator
  • United KingdomTürkiyeAta Argüder · Co-Lead, Tech Türkiye Advocates
  • United KingdomTürkiyeDr Yıldız Tuğba Kara · Co-Lead, Tech Türkiye Advocates
  • TürkiyeBaran Kılıçer · Co-Lead, Tech Türkiye Advocates

11:15 –11:30

Coffee break

11:30 –11:50

Member spotlight

A personal journey: from chemical engineering to frontier tech

From growing Kolektif House from eight people to fifty-five, through five years at 212 and a fellowship with Peter Diamandis's Abundance programme, to building a frontier tech fund that takes Turkish founders to San Francisco.

  • Türkiyeİpek Çeliksöz · Director, Istanbul Slush'D

11:50 –12:35

Panel

Central Asia and the corridor through Türkiye

Investors and innovators working between Türkiye, the Caucasus and Central Asia on where the region's tech ecosystems are heading, and how GTA can connect them to the rest of the network.

  • United KingdomTürkiyeAta Argüder · Co-Lead, Tech Türkiye Advocates · Moderator
  • TürkiyeOrganization of Turkic StatesÖzgün Ünaldı · Vice President, DOMiNO Ventures
  • TürkiyeAzerbaijanSabina Babayeva · Head of Hub, Tenity
  • KazakhstanDinara Abdizhaparova · Founder & CEO, Alem

12:35 –12:45

Close

Closing remarks

  • United KingdomUnited StatesRuss Shaw CBE · Founder, Global Tech Advocates

12:45

Lunch and group photo on the Bosphorus

Registration for Bridge Day has closed. The day is for the summit's international delegates and invited guests.

Programme as of 29 September 2026 and subject to change. Further speakers are announced as they are confirmed.

Bridge Day

Thursday 8 October

Bridge Day is for the summit's international delegates and invited guests. Registration has closed.

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