1. Subscriptions: - Since the beginning, I have always included the RSS subscription button on the upper left corner, as well as a Feedblitz Emailer button on the right sidebar. As of this post, Grandstanding Traction has around 70 feed readers, 21 of which are Feedblitz email readers. As a publisher, I just want to thank you for your readership. Please feel free to pass it on to your friends, or don't be afraid to comment on all posts.
   
   
2. Venture Capital/Private Equity Links: - One of the main reasons I started Grandstanding Traction was to have one source for all VC related Funds and Firms in Turkey or of those that invest in Turkey. I envisioned a place where entrepreneurs could come and be able to locate a VC and pitch their ideas. At this time, I might as well update this with a few more VCs and PE Funds:
   
   
   • KOBI A.Ş. - A small fund of 20 million YTL paid-in capital, this fund is the funding arm of TTGV, the Turkish Technology Entrepreneurship Fund for legal reasons. So far they have three investments. Apparently, they want exits in 5 years.
   
   
   • Le Venture - This fund appeared in the last year, with its partners based out of England and Germany. They just closed their first round of funding in July 2007 and partnered with the European Founders Fund of Germany. So far, they already have 5 investments in Turkish Internet companies.
   
   
   • The Ottoman Fund - Though definitely not VC, and typically not private equity, The Ottoman Fund is a publicly traded fund on the AIM totally focused on real estate investment in Turkey. I provide a link simply because it represents foreign investment in Turkish projects (not to mention that they've taken a great name). I admit the real estate market in Turkey is booming, and the amount of interest in real estate investment trusts as well as shopping centers/commercial property merits its own site entirely. Unfortunately, due to time, I will try and slowly add these features to the site.
   
   
3. Comments: - Over the last year, I have tried to put forth such topics that readers could comment on. Unfortunately, readers are either too intimidated or simply do not feel commenting is necessary - for that I apologize. In addition, if I failed to get all the facts, I ask my readers to please set the record straight either my emailing me or making a comment.



4. Labels or Technorati Tags? - Since my first post, I have provided Technorati Tags at the end of each post so that the reader may simply click a tag and drill down on that topic at Technorati - a portal that ranks and indexes blogs. However, I cannot guarantee that the content you find on Technorati will be applicable or existant. For example, if I tag a post with "Mr. Joe VC", there may not be anything regarding him on Technorati. In addition, because of the pinging nature of Technorati and the Atom/RSS feed confusion of Blogger, Technorati has trouble updating its index. Some, this writer included, may even question Technorati's usefulness.
   
   On the other hand, if the reader clicks the Blogger "Labels", you will successfully drill down to all other Grandstanding posts on that topic/subject.



5. Search Grandstanding Traction (and/or all community links) with Lejit! - In the right sidebar, you will see the Lejit Search Widget. By typing in a search topic, you will not only successfully search all Grandstanding posts but also all websites in my community. This includes all VC sites listed on this page (Ask the VC, Feld Thoughts, Sortipreneur, etc.). Also, if you're curious about one of its "fairly pretty", but "somewhat useful" features, click "Explore" and see how Grandstanding Traction is connected. You, too, can add yourself by simply adding a Grandstanding Traction link to your blog or website.



6. Finally, Traffic... - What can I say? For a part-time blogger, there is nothing more satisfying than increased traffic/readership subscriptions and struggling to maintain the status quo. For those interested (on inquiry only), I can provide a more detailed analysis of my visitors, but for now, the breakdown is generally as follows:
   
   
   This is a representation of IPs that resolve to static corporate/commerical domains, and therefore can be categorized and labeled. However, this only represents 20% of total traffic.

Labels: Grandstanding Traction, statistics

The European Investment Fund (EIF), together with the Technology Foundation of Turkey (TTGV), the SME Development Organisation of Turkey (KOSGEB) and the public Development Bank of Turkey (TKB) are jointly launching a target EUR 200m dedicated fund of funds and co-investment programme in Turkey. The Istanbul Venture Capital Initiative, or “iVCi” as the programme is known, aims to serve as a catalyst for the development of the private equity industry in this country whilst achieving good returns for its investors. iVCi is to be advised by the EIF.

iVCi further consolidates EIF’s risk capital activities in Turkey, where it already has invested in Actera Partners and Turkish Private Equity Fund II. EIF's Chief Executive, Francis Carpenter, said: "we are extremely proud of supporting and being advisor to this pioneering initiative in Turkey. We have first class local partners and are confident that iVCi will accelerate the development of a sector which is key to the development of the Turkish economy."

Sahir Cortoglu, TTGV's Secretary General, added: "this fund is a crucial starting point for formation of a risk capital market and culture which we believe will further serve as a means of technology development in Turkey" To this, Mustafa Colakoglu, Vice President of KOSGEB further commented "iVCi allows us to deliver to SMEs in Turkey top quality finance to support them reaching global markets through what has been historically an under-developed asset class in this country."

TKB reflected on the importance of iVCi for the development of the domestic institutional investor base. Adbullah Çelik, Chairman of TKB said: "the majority of current institutional investors in Turkish private equity funds are foreign, iVCi provides a secure and sustainable environment for Turkish institutions, both public and private, to become involved as investors without hampering the corporate governance of the underlying funds." Currently, the majority of institutional investors in Turkish private equity funds are foreign based. iVCi shall provide access for its investors to the increasing number of Turkish private equity players. EIF is expected to invite a small select group of blue chip Turkish and international institutions to participate in this programme.

First closing of iVCi took place in Luxembourg on 13 November 2007 at EUR 150m. Official public launch is envisaged in the first quarter of 2008.

Labels: Fund Closings, Fund of Funds, fundraising, iVCi, Venture Capital