Türkiye's Karavan hits $410,000 pre-seed for cross-border trade platform
What's the deal? KaravanDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a digital B2B cross-border trade platform based in Türkiye, has closed the second tranche of its pre-seed round from StartupCentrum Alpha Venture Capital Investment Fund. The additional 10 million TL brings its total pre-seed funding to 20 million TL (roughly $410,000), following an initial 10 million TL raised in February 2026.
Why now? The company unlocked the second tranche after meeting performance targets set during the first round. Since launching its platform in July 2026, Karavan has generated more than $1.3 million in gross merchandise volume.
What's the endgame? Karavan connects manufacturers and suppliers in Türkiye with international buyers, consolidating the trade workflow into one platform. That spans matchmaking, quotation requests, deal negotiations, secure payments, freight transport, and customs clearance.
The company plans to onboard more domestic suppliers and expand its network abroad, prioritising Central Asia and the Turkic World.
What they said: "When we founded Karavan, our goal was to simplify export operations for manufacturers and suppliers in Türkiye," said co-founder and chief executive officer Islam Shakhbandarov. He added that the company aims to build "a resilient trade network originating from Türkiye."
The signal: Karavan's staged pre-seed—released in tranches tied to operational milestones—reflects a disciplined approach to early funding, with investors backing traction over promise. Its focus on Central Asia and the Turkic World positions Türkiye as a hub for regional cross-border commerce.
Image credit: tinou bao
