The Long Walk Home — And What’s Next

After a year-long sabbatical filled with unexpected turns, I wanted to share where I am today — and what’s next. This will probably be my last personal post for a while. Many of you have been wondering, so here’s the update, from the heart.

Life Changed in an Instant

As many of you know, I lost my mom recently. It was sudden, and it left a deep mark — especially since I lost my dad years ago, both at the same age: 63. That moment changed everything. Today, it’s just my brother and me from our core family — and I’m deeply grateful for him, and for all the love and support I’ve received from so many of you.

I’ve always thrived on connection — helping founders, supporting others, giving without expectation. That part of me didn’t change. But I had to come home — to myself.

Coming Back to Myself

I moved back to Arnavutköy in just two weeks, a neighborhood I’ve loved for almost 10 years for now. My new apartment is tiny and minimalistic — my bed literally folds into the wall. But I had one non-negotiable: I needed to walk every day in the early mornings. Snow, rain, sun — I walked or ran daily for six months, trying to process the grief and figure out my next steps.

The one constant? Doorstep. Familiar faces. Conversations with strangers who felt like friends. And Ali — with his daily jokes. Every time I walked in, he’d tease:

“Ipek, still in Istanbul? I thought you’d have founded a unicorn by now!”
Or, “You’re back again? Must be my coffee.”
Those little moments made me feel like I belonged. Like I still had a home.

I wasn’t okay. So I made healing my job. I started EMDR therapy to process PTSD. I couldn’t bring myself to do yoga or meditate — but I had the tools I learned in Asia, and now I see that trip was preparing me for this chapter all along.

I said no to job offers. I said yes to slowing down. I lost parts of myself. For the first three months, I could barely move. I was just sitting at home, staring at the wall — in silence. At some point, I honestly believed my brain would never function again. This is the end, I thought.

I was also so far away from the ecosystem, and I was not feeling that I can integrate. The startup ecosystem did not do well that much when I’m gone, but still, not that much changed. However, still I was not aware of what’s going on.

Whenever I felt stuck, I went to Yeniköy to visit Ömer baba. I still see him every week — no matter what. Sometimes he may not have fully understood what I was saying, but he always listened. And that was enough. I was lucky.

I’m lucky.

But you know what?

I tried everything to stand back up. Walk, therapy, workout, run. Repeat. And slowly — painfully — I did. I started moving again.
And I’ve been rebuilding ever since.

Now? I feel stronger than ever.

I started to re-emerge.

• I began supporting early-stage founders in Turkey and the UK with fundraising — not as a job, but as a mission. No retainers, no titles — just aligned values and shared wins.
• I became a Venture Partner at 212 and Sip&Bite Capital.
• I was accepted into the Newton Venture Program at London Business School — with a scholarship. Over the next 9 months, I’ll be in London part-time, exploring bold new ways to launch a fund and expand my global network. London, are you ready for Ipek’s networking skills? Because I’m bringing Turkish coffee energy, founder grit, and zero small talk 😄

I don’t know exactly where the London chapter will lead — but I’m walking it with more strength, clarity, and joy than I’ve felt in a long time. I’m in the flow, embracing all the infinite possibilities ahead.

(Oh — when I told Ali about Newton, guess what he said?
“Are you going to be the instructor?” 😄 Always roasting, always pushing us to dream bigger as he did in 212 for five years.)

And the big news?
We’re bringing Slush to Istanbul this October! Yes, it’s real. Slush’D is coming.

I’m thrilled to be working with an amazing team — Mark, Melisa, San, and Yağız — spread across London, Vienna, and Istanbul, all cooking up something truly special for this country.

Our mission is to connect capital, creativity, and the vibrant founder spirit of this region. To bring global investors here — and show them how we do things. Let them taste our Turkish coffee, listen to our music that blends tradition and freedom, and understand our stories.

At the Crossroads of Continents: Resilient Founders Build the Future

Because investors don’t just back markets — they back cultures they can connect with. And it’s time we tell ours.

We’ll sit around tables and talk about the real challenges this country faces, and how our founders are solving them since they have the grit. This is my ikigai. And I’m lucky to walk this path.

If You’re Building Something Bold…

• Founders in Turkey, the UK, or the US — if you’re fundraising or navigating what’s next, I’m here.
• And if you’ve got creative and bold ideas for Slush’D Istanbul (and I know you do), send them my way.

Before I Go…

Before I leave for London, I’ll be hosting a casual ecosystem get-together at Doorstep in June. No agenda — just hugs, laughs. I’ll share the details soon — would love to see you there.

With love,
İpek