In this episode,
sits down with
, co-founder of
and formerly of 500 Istanbul, for a raw and rare conversation about stepping back as a VC partner—and what it takes to switch hats between operator and investor. Together with Enis Hulli, they unpack the story behind Rina’s exit from fund management, her next chapter with
, and the unique DNA behind Turkey’s explosive gaming ecosystem.
This one’s both personal and analytical—a crash course in partnership dynamics, performance-driven ecosystems, and what founders truly need from their VCs (and what they don’t).
Here’s what’s covered:
- 02:00 Rina’s Back-and-Forth Journey: From Private Equity to Peak, Back to VC, and Out Again
- 08:20 The Emotional Weight of Short-Term Partnerships
- 11:15 How to Offboard Gracefully as a VC Partner
- 13:10 What Rina Hated About Venture Capital
- 15:25 Fundraising Fatigue & Convincing Dozens vs. One
- 21:40 Why Gaming Became Turkey’s Breakout Sector
- 24:15 Local vs. Global Success Stories: Turkey, Poland & Beyond
- 29:50 Serial Founders vs. Untapped Talent: The Two Sides of Portfolio Building
- 36:30 Geographic Advantage: Why Local VCs Still Matter
- 41:30 State-Backed Ecosystems: What Works, What Doesn’t
- 49:00 A Candid Ending: Offboarding, Vulnerability & Starting Over
