M&A & Strategic Transactions
Trusted advisory services for acquisitions, joint ventures, and restructurings in complex emerging markets – from deal origination through to execution.
Market Entry & Expansion Advisory
End-to-end support for entering and scaling across EMEA and Türkiye, blending regulatory expertise, local intelligence, and senior-level introductions.
Regulatory, Government & Stakeholder Navigation
Discreet guidance through regulatory frameworks and public-sector engagement, leveraging long-standing relationships to mitigate risks and unlock opportunities.
About us
Trusted Expertise in Emerging Markets
Ishtar Advisory provides strategic guidance with complete discretion, enabling senior executives and investors to navigate complex markets with confidence. Our mission is to build lasting trust through tailored, unbureaucratic insights that drive decisive outcomes.
Our team
Led by seasoned professionals with extensive experience across EMEA and Türkiye, our team combines strategic advisory expertise with privileged access to decision-makers. We leverage decades of relationships across government, industry, and finance to provide clients with insights and introductions that drive results.
Ahmet Iplikci
Founder & CEO
Ahmet Iplikci founded Ishtar Advisory to provide discreet, high-level strategic counsel across emerging markets, with particular expertise in government relations and stakeholder engagement throughout Türkiye, CIS, and CEMEA regions.
He currently serves as Board Member at Banco Finantia, Partner at Noctua Partners, and Non-Executive Board Member at Hercules Site Services Plc. He also advises the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey and Fuel Ventures, a UK venture capital firm.
Previously, Mr. Iplikci served as Senior Advisor to both the Turkish Prime Minister’s Office Investment Agency and Kazakh Invest, and managed portfolios at Cargill Financial Markets. He leverages deep institutional networks and cross-border investment expertise to guide clients through complex transactions and regulatory environments.
Duygu Ergin
Partner
Duygu Ergin began her career with PwC in Istanbul before joining Chase Manhattan Bank, where she rose to Treasurer at an early stage, specialising in Treasury and Trading. After relocating to London, she led strategic operations across Eastern Europe and the CIS, including heading Russian Local Markets.
Today, she operates as an angel investor, advisor, and Non-Executive Director, supporting entrepreneurial ventures across emerging markets. Recently appointed Principal Mentor at UCL Hatchery, she is committed to nurturing the next generation of business leaders.
Ms. Ergin holds a degree in Business Management and Finance from Middle East Technical University and brings decades of banking and start-up advisory expertise to her work with Ishtar Advisory.
Burak Basara
PARTNER
Burak Basara brings over 25 years of experience in investment banking, project finance, and digital financial infrastructure. He advises on capital structuring, FX risk management, trade finance, and the integration of digital assets within compliant institutional frameworks.
His career includes senior roles at HSBC and TSKB (Industrial Development Bank of Turkey), where he led cross-border transactions and large-scale project financings. He has since expanded into digital assets, stablecoins, and blockchain-enabled payment systems, guiding companies through the intersection of traditional finance and emerging technologies.
Mr. Basara has overseen over $20 billion in completed projects and currently holds board and advisory positions with innovative firms across Sweden, Türkiye, and Poland. He holds an MBA and combines analytical rigour with forward-thinking strategy in global finance and digital transformation.
Contact us
Ishtar Advisory Limited
