The InMerge Innovation Summit, bringing together companies from the global technology ecosystem along with government bodies, NGOs, and professional organizations, continued into its second day in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku.
Organized by Pasha Holding with the support of Trendyol, the summit opened yesterday at the Baku Conference Center and features panels, presentations, and showcases. Global technology leaders are sharing their insights with participants while also engaging with the media.
At one session, Barış Aldanmaz, TikTok’s Head of Global Business Solutions for Turkey, Central and South Asia, highlighted the platform’s role in shaping business, culture, and creativity worldwide. Speaking afterward, Aldanmaz told Anadolu Agency that TikTok began its Turkey operations about five years ago and has since turned the country into an innovation hub for the platform.
“We brought our engineers from abroad to Turkey and developed new business together. A year ago, we also entered Azerbaijan with the aim of replicating what we achieved in Turkey and contributing to the ecosystem here,” he said. “In today’s digitalized world, it is very important for brands to speak the language of users and adapt to their realities. At TikTok, we attach great importance to this.”
Agahuseyn Ahmadov, Head of Investments and Ecosystem Support at the Azerbaijan Innovation and Digital Development Agency, emphasized the summit’s significance, noting that it unites the financial infrastructure supporting innovation across all sectors of the economy.
“Azerbaijan has made significant strides in venture capital. With our agency’s support, Caucasus Ventures has invested in 30 startups so far. Yesterday, we launched a new investment vehicle in partnership with White Hill Capital, expanding opportunities for both entrepreneurs and investors,” Ahmadov said, adding that the summit’s discussions will contribute to building Azerbaijan’s innovation ecosystem.
Meanwhile, İrem Çağrı Yılandil, Trendyol’s Head of International Growth, spoke at a session about leading e-commerce companies’ cross-border activities.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök