trendyol com
The rise of Trendyol feels like a case study you’d hear in a startup masterclass.
What started as a Turkish fashion site is now a $16.5 billion juggernaut shaping how millions shop, pay, and even get dinner delivered. And the story isn’t just about e‑commerce—it’s about how a local startup turned itself into a global heavyweight.
A startup that didn’t stay small for long
Trendyol kicked off in 2010 in Istanbul. Back then, it was a fashion‑focused site with a scrappy vibe—think the Turkish version of early ASOS. But the founders, Demet Mutlu, Evren Üçok, and Begüm Tekin, weren’t aiming for boutique status. Within a year, Trendyol had four million users and $100 million in sales.
Big investors noticed. Tiger Global and Kleiner Perkins poured in cash. Then came Alibaba, which didn’t just invest—they took over 70% of the company. That partnership turned Trendyol into Turkey’s first “decacorn,” a startup worth over $10 billion.
What makes Trendyol different from a regular marketplace?
Trendyol isn’t just a place to buy shoes and kitchenware. It built an entire ecosystem around shopping. There’s Trendyol Express, its own delivery network that handles millions of packages daily. There’s Trendyol Go, which lets you order a latte and have it in your hand 20 minutes later. There’s Trendyol Pay, a wallet that lets people pay, send money, and eventually—if Trendyol gets its way—borrow or invest.
It even owns Dolap, a second‑hand fashion app. Imagine if Amazon owned Depop and you’ll get the picture.
The international push isn’t slowing down
Trendyol didn’t stay confined to Turkey. By 2020, it was already selling into Europe. Then it opened an office in Berlin in 2022 to anchor its expansion. Now, it’s active in 35 countries, including the Gulf states, Azerbaijan, and Eastern Europe.
The numbers are wild: around 250,000 merchants, 200 million products, and tens of millions of active customers each month. It’s no longer just Turkey’s biggest marketplace—it’s a regional player, and it’s looking west and east at the same time.
The Uber deal changed everything
Here’s where it gets interesting. In May 2025, Uber bought an 85% stake in Trendyol Go for $700 million. This isn’t just a “nice partnership.” Trendyol Go had handled over 200 million deliveries in 2024, with $2 billion in gross bookings. Uber saw an engine for growth—and bought it.
The kicker? Trendyol Go will keep its own brand, but Uber’s reach will turbo‑charge the logistics. Imagine Uber Eats with local knowledge and Trendyol’s infrastructure.
Tech isn’t an afterthought—it’s the backbone
A lot of retailers say they’re “tech companies.” Trendyol actually acts like one. It built Trendyol Tech, an R&D unit working on AI, big data, and real‑time analytics. In 2019, it even got official recognition as a research center in Turkey.
Now it’s going bigger. Trendyol is spending $500 million on a Tier‑III data center in Ankara with 48 MW of power capacity. That’s the kind of infrastructure you expect from Amazon Web Services, not a shopping site. The first phase goes live in 2026, and it won’t just serve Trendyol—it’ll host outside enterprise clients too.
Fintech is the next frontier
In July 2025, Trendyol announced a deal that sounded almost like a tech summit lineup: it’s teaming up with Baykar (yes, the drone maker), ADQ (Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund), and Ant International (the fintech arm of Alibaba).
The goal? Build a new fintech platform in Turkey that does more than payments. Think loans for small businesses, micro‑insurance, even investment products. This isn’t just about adding another “Pay” button—it’s about locking people into Trendyol’s world financially.
The challenges aren’t small
For all the growth, Trendyol has hit speed bumps. In 2023, the Turkish Competition Authority slapped the company with a ₺61.3 million fine for manipulating algorithms to gain an unfair edge on its marketplace.
There have also been political tensions and accusations about how it handles influence and media. When you’re this big, scrutiny is part of the deal.
Trendyol isn’t just selling stuff—it’s selling identity
Brand positioning matters. Trendyol didn’t just rely on online ads; it became the sponsor of the Turkish Süper Lig in 2023, plastering its name across stadiums. It even partnered with the UEFA Euro 2024 and the Paris Olympics.
This isn’t random. It’s a play to stay woven into Turkish daily life. When your favorite football team runs out under a Trendyol banner, the name isn’t just an e‑commerce site—it’s a national brand.
Sustainability isn’t a buzzword here
Plenty of companies throw around “sustainability” like a PR term. Trendyol has a detailed Sustainable Impact Plan. They’ve been pushing for circular packaging, traceable production, and carbon reduction in delivery fleets.
It also runs initiatives for women entrepreneurs and rural digitization programs in partnership with the UN. It’s not charity—it’s a way to build goodwill and loyalty in the regions it dominates.
Why Trendyol matters right now
Trendyol isn’t just another Amazon clone. It’s a blueprint for how a local startup can turn into a regional powerhouse by building its own tech stack, delivery fleet, and payments network.
And 2025 is a turning point. Uber’s stake in Trendyol Go and the fintech venture with Baykar, ADQ, and Ant could set up the company for its next leap. If they pull it off, Trendyol could go from “Turkey’s e‑commerce leader” to a serious global name in logistics and fintech.
FAQ
Is Trendyol only in Turkey?
No. It started in Turkey but now ships to over 30 countries, with major growth in Europe and the Gulf region.
Does Trendyol compete with Amazon?
Yes—but not directly everywhere. In Turkey, Trendyol dominates. In new markets, it competes with Amazon, Zalando, and regional players like Hepsiburada.
What’s the deal with Uber and Trendyol Go?
Uber is buying 85% of Trendyol’s food and grocery delivery arm. It’s expected to supercharge Trendyol Go’s growth while plugging Uber Eats deeper into Turkey.
Final thought
Trendyol isn’t just riding the e‑commerce wave—it’s shaping it. From a single fashion site in 2010 to a multi‑billion‑dollar platform spanning shopping, fintech, and logistics, it’s rewriting what a “marketplace” can be. And the next few years might be its boldest chapter yet.
Post a Comment