Aegean Young Businessmen Association (EGİAD) and EGİAD The delegation, consisting of members of the Investment Angels Network, attended important events in Paris as part of the business visit to France between 10-13 June 2025. The program included the participation in VivaTech 2025, Europe's largest technology and entrepreneurship fair. EGİAD The delegation observed the latest technology trends on site and established international connections at the fair. EGİADBy bringing the traditional Trade Bridge of France to France, the first step of important cooperation was taken by coming together with representatives of the French and Turkish business world under the "International Trade Bridge". In the meeting held with the Trade Counselor of the Paris Embassy, cooperation opportunities between the two countries were evaluated.
The business trip concluded with a visit to the energy management and automation giant Schneider Electric's "The Hive" center. EGİAD Chairman of the Board of Directors M. Kaan Özhelvacı, in his evaluations throughout the program, drew attention to the importance of digitalization and artificial intelligence for the future of the business world.
Kaan Özhelvacı: “We Have to Keep Up with Digital Transformation”
EGİAD Chairman of the Board of Directors M. Kaan Özhelvacı, in his evaluations during the France business visit program, drew attention to the fact that the dizzying transformation experienced in technology has reshaped the business world. Özhelvacı reminded us once again that we need to be prepared for the process of “creative destruction” in which outdated approaches in economies and business models are replaced by innovative and efficient models. EGİAD The President stated that integrating artificial intelligence and robotic technologies into businesses is no longer a choice but a necessity. Özhelvacı stated that businesses need to adopt new technologies and make investments to increase efficiency in production in order not to fall behind in global competition, and shared the message, “We see a new breakthrough every day in the technological race between America and China. In order to catch up with these developments and not fall behind, we constantly give the same message to our members: We have to adapt artificial intelligence, automation, and digital infrastructures to our business processes.” EGİAD He stated that they attach importance to the participation of their members in international technology events with this vision and said, “We aim to create a business person profile integrated with the world. The contacts in Paris are also a part of this goal. We will continue to take visionary steps towards the business world of the future. We will continue to organize similar international programs to facilitate the access of young business people to global networks. This comprehensive business visit to France, EGİADIt was one of the important steps that strengthened the association's position in the international arena during this period when it celebrated its 35th anniversary. The future of the business world will be shaped by our ability to adapt to technological innovations and sustainability principles. EGİAD “As a company, we will continue to provide all the support we can to our members to keep up with this transformation and to connect them with the world,” he said.
In the Global Technology Arena with VivaTech 2025 EGİAD
EGİAD The delegation closely examined the technology ecosystem at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition area within the scope of VivaTech 2025. EGİAD ve EGİAD Members of the Angels represented Türkiye and the Izmir business world at the Viva Technology 2025 (VivaTech) Fair. VivaTech is Europe's largest startup and technology event that brings together startups, technology leaders, large companies and investors to accelerate innovation. Thousands of startups, investors and industry professionals from 146 countries, including Türkiye, participated in the fair this year; 16 Turkish technology startups and more than 60 delegations had the opportunity to introduce the Turkish entrepreneurship ecosystem to investors from different countries.
EGİAD It also draws attention as the first Turkish civil society organization to participate in VivaTech at the NGO level, EGİAD During the fair, the delegation made contacts with leading figures of the international entrepreneurship and technology ecosystem and evaluated cooperation opportunities. EGİAD Melekleri Yatırım Ağı participated in the “Investor Office Hours” sessions within the scope of the fair and held one-on-one meetings with startup representatives. In this way, EGİAD Angels had the opportunity to get to know global startups and evaluate potential investments. As part of VivaTech 2025, current topics such as artificial intelligence, climate technologies, deep technology, and digital transformation were discussed through presentations and panels. EGİAD The delegation had the opportunity to observe the four main technology trends that stood out at the fair once again. The themes of decarbonization, circular economy, artificial intelligence and augmented reality were the notable topics throughout the fair.
Innovative products, especially those focused on artificial intelligence and sustainability, attracted great attention at the stands at the fair; EGİAD Chairman of the Board Kaan Özhelvacı expressed his pleasure in taking part in such an important global technology meeting and said, “We participated in VivaTech to bring together our entrepreneurial work in İzmir with companies and investors worldwide and to establish new contacts. We observed at the fair that entrepreneurs were looking for partners to implement their products and services. EGİAD “As VivaTech, we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves worldwide and closely follow the latest technologies of innovative companies through this fair,” he said. Özhelvacı stated that the rich content program of the fair included many famous speakers and that groundbreaking innovations were exhibited, and drew attention to the role VivaTech plays in building a more inclusive society with the positive impact of innovation and technology.
Meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey
EGİAD Chairman of the Board of Directors M. Kaan Özhelvacı also held a meeting with the General Manager of National Technology of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Industry and Technology, Sadullah Uzun, at the VivaTech Paris 2025 Fair.
During the meeting, EGİAD's activities in the field of entrepreneurship, innovation and technology EGİAD Uzun was informed about the Angels Investment Network. Additionally, potential areas of cooperation were discussed within the framework of the “Turcorn 100 Program” conducted by the General Directorate of National Technology.
The Turcorn 100 Program aims to support technology-focused startups operating in Türkiye that have reached billion-dollar valuations. These startups, called “Turcorns,” consist of companies that have successfully completed their early stages, have high growth potential, and aim to expand into global markets. The program aims to accelerate the scaling of these startups and increase global success stories in Türkiye’s technology entrepreneurship ecosystem.
EGİAD Thanks to their fair experience, the delegation gained comprehensive information about the latest trends worldwide and gained important insights into technologies that are transforming the business world, especially artificial intelligence applications.
Turkish and French Ecosystems Meet with France International Trade Bridge
EGİAD Another important leg of the business travel program was the France International Trade Bridge event held in Paris. Hosted by UNION Business Club and held at Hôtel Belleval, this meeting brought together representatives of the Turkish and French business world with the contribution of stakeholders such as La French Tech Istanbul and İş Bankası Artificial Intelligence Factory. EGİAD ve EGİAD The delegation, consisting of 35 members from the Angels, exchanged information on the entrepreneurship and investment environment between Türkiye and France at the event.
Participants, particularly those operating in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology initiatives, held meetings with the aim of establishing "trade bridges" between the startup ecosystems of the two countries. EGİAD Members of the Angels Investment Network took an active role in the event as angel investors, conveying the dynamics of the Turkish entrepreneurship ecosystem to their French counterparts and evaluating joint investment opportunities. The International Trade Bridge event was an important platform that paved the way for new collaboration opportunities between Turkish and French entrepreneurs and investors.
The opening speeches of the event were made by UNION Business Club Coordinator Sinan Özkök, İş Bankası Artificial Intelligence Factory Deputy General Manager Kübra Boz Binzat and EGİAD Chairman of the Board of Directors M. Kaan Özhelvacı made the statement.
The event, attended by more than 90 investors, entrepreneurs and institution representatives, contributed to the strengthening of the international connections of the Turkish entrepreneurship ecosystem. EGİAD ve EGİAD The groundwork was laid for the members of the Angels Investment Network to have collaboration opportunities with international entrepreneurship and technology projects. EGİAD At this meeting, the delegation had the chance to get to know the innovation and business environment in France and had the opportunity to introduce their own members' projects and companies to international participants. At the end of the event, young business people from both countries expressed their wishes to come together with similar organizations in the future and increase the mutual trade volume. EGİAD Representatives emphasized that they attach great importance to establishing such trade bridges within the framework of the association's international vision and stated that they will take an active role in similar networking events in the coming period.
Cooperation Meeting with the Paris Embassy Commercial Counselor
EGİAD With Chairman of the Board M. Kaan Özhelvacı EGİAD Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors and EGİAD Melekleri Chief Executive Officer Arda Yılmaz also visited the Turkish Embassy in Paris, Office of the Commercial Counselor. During the visit, a comprehensive meeting was held with Chief Commercial Counselor Murat Gören and Commercial Counselor Gonca Köksal Ensari.
EGİAD In this meeting organized within the framework of the France Business Visit Program, EGİADWith its entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and internationalization focused work, EGİAD Information was shared about the Angels Investment Network. Also, EGİAD Activities carried out to open up its members to global markets, increase export capacity and develop international trade relations were discussed. Within this framework, areas of cooperation that could be developed with the Paris Trade Counselor were discussed. In the contacts held at the Embassy, steps that could be taken with the aim of increasing the trade volume between Turkey and France were evaluated. It was agreed to keep the communication channels between the business worlds of the two countries open and to ensure the mutual flow of information.
Visit to Schneider Electric “The Hive”
EGİAD On the last day of its France business visit program, the delegation visited “The Hive”, the headquarters of Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, near Paris. EGİAD The delegation was welcomed by Schneider Electric Europe Strategy Director Sevim Muradaermiş, Industry Program Manager Moiz Meseri, Industry Commercial Manager Yves Daumas and Innovation Center Director My-Linh Franzi. EGİAD The delegation examined the “The Hive” building on site and gained comprehensive information about the role of artificial intelligence-supported building automation systems in reducing carbon emissions. Designed with the principle of sustainability, the center stands out as a global exemplary structure with its advanced technology applications. Within the scope of the visit EGİAD While how digital transformation is integrated with sustainability and efficiency goals was conveyed to its members in detail, in the presentations made by Schneider Electric officials, concrete examples were given on how artificial intelligence-supported energy management solutions and Internet of Things (IoT)-based systems provide energy savings in buildings and industrial facilities. It was emphasized that the company offers global solutions in many areas such as green buildings, smart transportation, waste management and sustainable electricity production with the technologies it has developed in line with the net zero carbon target. With over 150 thousand employees, a turnover exceeding 38 billion Euros and a deep-rooted history exceeding 200 years, the level Schneider Electric has reached in the field of R&D and innovation, EGİAD members. First-hand information was obtained about the integration of artificial intelligence into the company's products and services; its applications in critical areas such as industrial automation, cybersecurity and building management. Speaking during the visit, EGİAD Chairman of the Board of Directors M. Kaan Özhelvacı, EGİADHe stated that 's adopted green growth and sustainability as one of its main priorities. Özhelvacı said that such technical contacts with global actors such as Schneider Electric, EGİAD He stated that it offers important opportunities for its members and paves the way for future collaborations.
