Side Events
Side Events are what make Istanbul truly come alive during Slush'D week. Across the city and at the venue, partners and our community host everything from pitch competitions and industry deep-dives to investor breakfasts, Bosphorus dinners and late-night rooftop sessions. Below, you can explore the official Side Events of ISTANBUL Ignited by Slush'D 2026.
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Side Event
10X Your Brand Hackathon
Organized by Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D, supported by Manus AI – Oct 12 · 09:00–17:30
A hands-on branding and marketing hackathon hosted by **Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D**, supported by Manus AI, Apify, and Higgsfield. The event brings together founders, marketers, designers, and creatives to launch brands, develop AI-powered campaigns, and automate marketing workflows. Participants will build real-world solutions using AI tools, receive expert mentorship, and pitch their projects to judges, with **Manus Pro memberships and exclusive merchandise** awarded to winning teams.
Dotshub
Side Event
Build Anything with Codex Hackathon
Organized by Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D x OpenAI – Oct 12 · 09:00–18:00
A full-day, hands-on hackathon hosted by Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D in collaboration with OpenAI, bringing together founders, engineers, designers, and innovators to build real-world solutions using Codex. Participants will turn ideas into working AI-powered products, receive mentorship from industry experts, and pitch their creations to judges. The event features $100 in Codex credits per participant, live demos, networking opportunities, and prizes worth up to $5,000 in OpenAI API credits.
Dotshub
Side Event
Investor Day - Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D
Organized by Metis Ventures – Oct 12 · 12:30–21:00
An exclusive investor gathering hosted by Metis Ventures ahead of Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D. Held at the historic Sait Halim Pasha Mansion on the Bosphorus, the event brings together venture capital funds, angel investors, family offices, and ecosystem leaders from Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. A unique opportunity to exchange insights, build strategic relationships, and explore future investment opportunities.
Sait Halim Paşa Yalısı
Side Event
SIDE QUEST by e2vc x Arcadia x fal
Organized by e2vc x Arcadia x fal – Oct 12 · 19:00–23:00
An exclusive networking evening hosted by e2vc, Arcadia Gaming Partners, and fal.ai during Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D. Bringing together founders, investors, and innovators from the gaming and consumer apps ecosystem, the event offers a relaxed, carnival-inspired atmosphere with cocktails, food, music, and games. A unique opportunity to connect with key industry players, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships.
Beyoğlu
Side Event
Female Founders & Investors Breakfast Istanbul
Organized by Fund F & e2vc – Oct 13 · 09:00–11:30
An exclusive, women-only networking breakfast hosted by **Fund F and e2vc** during Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D. Bringing together a curated group of female founders and investors, the event offers a relaxed setting for meaningful conversations, exchanging experiences, and building valuable connections over coffee and breakfast. A unique opportunity to strengthen relationships within the female entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem.
Beşiktaş
Side Event
AI-Native Talent: How to Spot It & Assess It Led by Puren Uçar
Organized by Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D – Oct 13 · 13:00–14:00
An exclusive, interactive workshop led by **Puren Uçar**, focused on identifying and assessing AI-native talent. Designed for investors, founders, and operators, the session explores evolving hiring benchmarks, AI fluency levels, and practical interview frameworks. Participants will exchange insights, learn actionable assessment techniques, and develop strategies to build high-performing, AI-driven teams.
Rixos Tersane Istanbul
Side Event
Disrupt.com x Slush'd: Builder's Meetup | Istanbul Edition
Organized by Disrupt.com – Oct 13 · 18:00–22:00
An exclusive venture-building showcase hosted by Disrupt during Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D. Meet successful founders, investors, and operators, explore how AI-powered startups go from idea to funded venture, and gain practical insights into building and scaling businesses. Attendees will also have the opportunity to become a Disrupt co-founder with $350K in backing and $100K in AWS credits.
Kolektif House Levent
Side Event
Night By the Bosphorus with Supercell and Laton Ventures
Organized by Supercell and Laton Ventures – Oct 13 · 20:00–23:00
An exclusive, invitation-only networking evening hosted by **Supercell and Laton Ventures**, bringing together gaming industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and game studios from Türkiye and Europe. Set against the Bosphorus in Istanbul, the event offers an opportunity to exchange insights on game development, company building, scaling, and leadership while connecting with key decision-makers from the global gaming ecosystem.
Beşiktaş
Side Event
Capital Allocators Room
Organized by Spark & Fund Outreach AI – Wed · Oct 14 · 16:00–19:00
📆 14 October 2026 | Invitation-only afternoon during Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D Capital is crossing borders in three directions at once. European money is looking outside its own market, Gulf money is moving beyond MENA, Asian money is moving west, and Istanbul is where the three flows physically overlap. This is the second Capital Allocators Room in the city, and the room is built around that overlap.
Şişli, İstanbul
Side Event
Google for Startups Accelerator: MENA-T Demo Day
Organized by Google for Startups Accelerator: MENA-T – Oct 14 · 16:00–20:30
An exclusive Demo Day celebrating the Google for Startups Accelerator: MENA-T, showcasing 15 AI-first startups from the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye. Hosted during Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D, the invite-only event brings together founders, investors, and technology leaders for live startup pitches, product demonstrations, and networking cocktails overlooking the Bosphorus. A unique opportunity to discover emerging AI innovations and connect with high-potential startups.
Rixos Tersane Istanbul
Side Event
Official Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D Closing Party
Organized by Midas and Bek Ventures – Oct 14 · 21:00–1:30
The official closing party of Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D, hosted by **Midas and Bek Ventures** at Frankhan by Selectist. Bringing together founders, investors, operators, and the startup community, the event offers a vibrant evening of networking, live music, DJ performances, and street food. A perfect opportunity to celebrate the event, strengthen connections, and wrap up the Slush’D experience in the heart of Istanbul.
Frankhan by Selectist
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Founders, investors and operators at the bridge between East and West.
02
EDITION
OCT 12-14
DATES
ISTANBUL
LOCATION