The deal links Qatar’s institutional capital with a rapidly growing startup ecosystem and its main hub, Terminal Istanbul.
DOHA, QATAR, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Rasmal Ventures, the first institutionally backed investment firm in Qatar, which enjoys the confidence of sovereign wealth funds such as the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bilişim Vadisi, among Türkiye’s biggest technology development zones, aimed at bolstering the startup and innovation landscape across both regions. The signing took place at GITEX Türkiye in Istanbul.
This MoU sets up a three-year collaboration framework linking Rasmal Ventures with Bilişim Vadisi — as well as its primary entrepreneurship center, Terminal Istanbul, a campus rising from the former Atatürk Airport site designed to accommodate over 10,000 technology enterprises. Through this arrangement, the two entities will work together on shared innovation initiatives, investor and B2B networking, information sharing, capacity development, and the bidirectional movement of startups, specialists, and contacts between Türkiye and the Gulf.
For Rasmal Ventures, this alliance directly embodies its approach: serving as a conduit connecting Gulf funds with innovation emerging throughout MENA, Türkiye, and Asia. As Gulf capital increasingly seeks opportunities beyond its own region and Türkiye strengthens its status among the globe’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems, the agreement offers founders on both sides a structured pathway for crossover — Turkish firms accessing GCC markets and investment, and Gulf investors obtaining a managed route into Türkiye’s substantial engineering expertise and manufacturing foundation. “Türkiye is one of the most exciting startup stories in the world right now, and the Gulf holds one of the largest pools of patient capital anywhere,” stated Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures. “This partnership with Bilişim Vadisi lets us connect the two at ecosystem scale — giving Turkish founders a real bridge into GCC markets and capital, and our region access to some of the best engineering talent in the world. It reflects exactly how we work: we validate market access before we commit capital.”
The agreement builds on a prior commitment. Rasmal Ventures has already participated in Türkiye’s innovation economy as an early supporter of Roamless — the Türkiye-based travel-connectivity company developing what it terms the first truly global mobile operator — whose USD 12 million Series A was led by Rasmal. The MoU with Bilişim Vadisi converts that history into a formal, ecosystem-wide link connecting the two markets.
For Bilişim Vadisi, this deal expands Terminal Istanbul’s function as a convergence point for global entrepreneurs and investors, reaching directly into the Gulf. “Terminal Istanbul was built to make Türkiye a gateway between continents for entrepreneurs and investors,” commented İsmail Erkam Tüzgen, CEO of Bilişim Vadisi. “Partnering with an institutional investor of Rasmal Ventures’ calibre extends that gateway directly into one of the world’s most dynamic capital markets, and opens new opportunities for the startups and companies across our ecosystem.”
Over the coming months, the two organizations will outline specific programs and activities under the MoU, concentrating on linking founders, investors, and corporations across the Gulf–Türkiye corridor.
About Rasmal Ventures
Rasmal Ventures is Qatar’s first institutionally backed investment firm, trusted by sovereign wealth funds including the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Investing across MENA, Türkiye, and Asia, Rasmal connects Gulf capital and market access with high-growth founders, validating Gulf market access before committing capital. Its partners have previously delivered a 5x fund return and backed some of the region’s most significant technology exits, including Careem and Snoonu.
About Bilişim Vadisi & Terminal Istanbul
Bilişim Vadisi is one of Türkiye’s largest technology development zones, driving the growth of the country’s technology and innovation ecosystem with a focus on civilian technologies. Today, it is home to more than 800 technology companies.
Located on the former Atatürk Airport campus, Terminal Istanbul is being developed as a global technology and entrepreneurship hub connecting Türkiye’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with the world. With the capacity to host more than 10,000 technology companies, Terminal Istanbul aims to bring together startups, entrepreneurs, investors, and key players from the global technology ecosystem in Istanbul.
TAREK AHMED
Narrative One
+ +971 50 312 9989
tfouad@n1comms.com
