TRVC19: Haluk Nişli on Inveo Ventures: Inside One of Turkey’s Most Active CVCs

In this episode of TRVC, I sit down with Haluk Nişli, General Manager of Inveo Ventures, one of Turkey’s most active and forward-thinking corporate venture capital funds. We discuss Haluk’s career journey through StartersHub, his hands-on experience as an operator at Thread in Motion, and his return to venture through the formation of Inveo Ventures.

We dive deep into what makes Inveo different from traditional CVCs — their sector-agnostic strategy, their unique balance between corporate roots and VC flexibility, and their ambition to become the most effective CVC in the region. Haluk also shares how they support startups with more than just capital: offering perks, follow-on fund relationships, IPO readiness support, and international exposure.

We also dive into challenges for Turkish startups, what makes a real tech company, and why Inveo wants to be a long-term regional thought leader.

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro & guest welcome
01:30 – Haluk's background: from StartersHub to Thread in Motion
04:40 – Founding of Inveo Ventures and ties to Gedik Yatırım
06:10 – What makes Inveo a different kind of CVC
08:00 – Sector focus: fintech, cybersecurity, B2B SaaS
09:20 – Defining a “real” tech startup
11:00 – Fund structure: evergreen & open to outside LPs
13:40 – Fund-of-Funds strategy and co-investments
15:30 – Turkish cybersecurity talent and startup potential
18:00 – Exit landscape: IPOs, Borsa Istanbul, and Haluk’s IPO dream
20:50 – How Inveo adds value beyond capital
23:30 – Common challenges for Turkish startups
26:00 – Inveo’s vision for regional leadership in venture
28:10 – Myth.ai and the thesis behind their AI/fashion investment
30:00 – Advice for founders & long-term thinking
32:00 – Books, stories, and why patience matters

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