We built a culture where product discussions start the moment you walk through the door. A culture where every team member can touch every part of the product from day one, take ownership, and carry real responsibility. We’ve always believed that entrepreneurship is a long-term game. With that mindset, many of the products whose foundations we laid years ago began to bear fruit in 2025.

Compared to 2024, we grew 100x in 2025. And while numbers are never the goal on their own, this growth validated our way of working. Looking ahead, our ambition for 2026 is another major leap forward, driven by the same principles that brought us here.

We are doers.
We take on every challenge as a team, share responsibility, and dive deep into the details.

Two Exits and Our Entry Into the AI App Era

As AI began to reshape the industry, we acted early.

When photo-based AI applications started gaining traction, we anticipated that video would be the next major frontier. We began researching, experimenting, and building in the video space long before it became mainstream. In April 2024, we launched one of the earliest AI-powered video applications to the market.

The product scaled rapidly, particularly in the United States, reaching the top charts in 44 countries and surpassing 3 million downloads within a short period. With over 300,000 positive reviews, it became known for delivering high-quality outputs and a strong user experience. Less than a year after launch, the app was acquired by a U.S.-based company specialized in photo and video products.

This was our first major AI exit.

Our second exit came from a much longer journey.

Kitup was founded within Univenn in 2018. Over seven years, it grew into one of the largest personal development applications in Turkey and Eastern Europe, reaching more than 20 million users and building a community of nearly 2 million followers on Instagram. In 2022, Kitup chose to continue its growth independently, without external investment, focusing on sustainable, self-funded expansion.

In 2025, after seven years, Univenn exited its stake in Kitup, achieving a 100x return.

These exits didn’t just mark financial milestones. They reshaped our studio vision.

A Shift in Studio Strategy

Moving forward, our focus is clear:
fewer external partnerships, more internally built startups.

We are doubling down on creating companies from within the studio, identifying strong internal drivers, and scaling products with long-term ownership and accountability. This shift allows us to move faster, stay closer to the product, and maintain the culture that defines Univenn.

Building Products We Needed Ourselves: HRPanda

Over the years, we’ve founded many companies, and talent acquisition has always been one of the most critical challenges. We handled hiring largely in-house, but managing CVs, talent pipelines, and decision-making at scale became increasingly complex.

The idea of building a solution for this problem stayed with us for a long time.

In 2024, we launched HRPanda. With Hilal, an experienced professional in HR, joining as a driver, the product quickly took shape. We raised our first investment at the founding stage, followed by a second round at the end of 2025. As the product matured, HRPanda spun out of the studio and became an independent company, with its founding technical team emerging directly from Univenn.

AI-Driven Team and Project Management Transformation

Before transforming products, we are transforming ourselves.

We are rethinking how we organize, manage projects, and produce software through AI, without compromising engineering fundamentals. Every team member is encouraged to automate their work with AI and adopt agentic workflows in their daily processes.

Our team’s average collaboration duration is over five years. Preserving a healthy, sustainable working environment remains a top priority for us. While we are mindful not to let AI hype disrupt this balance, we also refuse to ignore the acceleration and leverage AI brings.

AI is being used carelessly across many domains, and history suggests that one or two major incidents will catalyze serious investment and regulation in responsible AI by the end of 2026. Anticipating this shift, we've designed our products from the outset with clear internal rules and ethical standards.

As a result, the number of products and startups we aim to build annually has increased from 4–8 to 8–16.

Community & Events

In 2025, we continued our long-standing support for Google Developer Group (GDG) events, participating both as sponsors and speakers. Being recognized with a plaque for five years of continued support was a meaningful moment for our team.

We were also invited to a Google event in Brussels. Seeing one of our applications showcased on screen alongside some of the world’s largest apps was a proud reminder of how far focused product execution can take you.

2026 Vision & Predictions

Looking ahead, we see several clear shifts shaping the next phase of products and startups:

• AI-first interaction design

  Many existing products are becoming traditional and misaligned with modern user expectations. We are reimagining our products through AI-native, interaction-based design, asking not “what works today,” but “what will feel natural ten years from now?”

  
  

• Vertical AI will outperform horizontal solutions

  Narrow, problem-specific AI products will generate faster traction than broad enterprise platforms. As indie developers push innovation in these verticals, studios will play a critical role in scaling, distribution, and sustainability.

  
  

• Ethics, privacy, and security will become unavoidable

  AI is currently being used carelessly across many domains. We expect one or two major incidents to act as catalysts, driving serious investment and regulation in responsible AI by the end of 2026.

  
  

• Behavior-driven AI will unlock new unicorns

  We often think of AI as a machine, forgetting how closely it mirrors human behavior. Teams willing to explore untested behavioral patterns and interactions will define the next generation of category leaders.

  
  

• Text and surface-based interfaces will redefine UX

  We are entering a new UX era where interfaces adapt, respond, and evolve dynamically rather than relying on static screens.

  
  

• Distribution will beat perfection

  Products don’t need to be perfect to succeed, but they must solve real problems and reach users fast. In a world of infinite alternatives, speed and clarity matter more than polish.

  
  

• Agentic teams will replace long roadmaps

  Three-year product roadmaps are becoming obsolete. Teams that can respond agentically to customer needs, shipping continuously rather than planning endlessly, will win.

  
  

• Profitability will matter again

  While capital will continue flowing into category-defining companies, profitability is becoming a key signal once more for smaller SaaS and product businesses. Ideas alone are no longer enough, and even strong products will be measured by sustainable returns.

Closing Thoughts

Univenn is entering its next chapter with sharper focus, deeper conviction, and a stronger sense of responsibility. We remain obsessed with building products, empowering teams, and embracing change without losing our foundations.

2025 validated our past decisions. 2026 is about pushing them further.