İş Private Equity is a capital market institution linking entrepreneurs to the capital markets.

One of the main factors which stifle firms' growth and competitiveness in Turkey is a lack of alternative financing methods. Private equity is one such alternative financing method.

İş Private Equity aims to support high-growth potential SMEs during their development, enabling them to surpass their capital requirement.

The first attempts at private equity activities in Turkey were made under state authority in the 1980s. However, the real private equity activities began with the investments of foreign venture capital/private equity funds in Turkey.

The first attempts to arrange legal issues surrounding private equity activities in Turkey were undertaken in 1993 and a Capital Markets Board (CMB) Decree dated July 6, 1993 enabled private equity companies to be established in the form of Investment Trusts.

The idea of establishing a private equity fund under the umbrella of the İşbank Group was first put on the agenda in 1999. In June 2000, İş Private Equity Investment Trust applied to the Capital Markets Board to be approved as a venture investment trust. Subsequently, on October 5, 2000 the CMB approved the application and İş Private Equity Investment Trust began operations. Advisory support during the establishment of İş Private Equity was given by the World Bank.

As of January 2001, İş Private Equity had fully completed its organizational structure and began operational work in assessing investment projects.

As of October 2004, 37.69% stake of İş Private Equity went public on Istanbul Stock Exchange at US$ 57.78 million market capitalization.

As of December 2009, İş Private Equity had invested US$60.9 million of equity in its portfolio companies and also supported US$140.5 million of debt placement, creating resources of a total of US$201.4 million. İş Private Equity contributes to employment creation: During partnership with İş Private Equity, the total number of employees at the portfolio companies increased by 1,133 employees (as of 2009 year-end at current portfolio companies and as of exit date at realized portfolio companies), implying a 79% growth.