Cigdem Toraman
About Cigdem Toraman
Cigdem Toraman has more than 30 years of experience across venture capital, finance, technology, media and retail. She studied computer engineering at Istanbul University and holds an MBA from Yeditepe University. Her early roles included programmer and systems analyst positions in Turkey, and she later served as General Manager at Hepsiburada and Turkey Managing Director at Phorm.
Before Treeo VC she was Managing Director of Startupbootcamp Scale San Francisco, and she founded StartersHub US. Treeo's team page says she was also Managing Partner at Startupbootcamp Scale in San Francisco and Istanbul and at StartersHub Türkiye. Crunchbase counts one company founded by her.
She is a General Partner at Treeo VC, alongside Arzu Tekir and Didem Altop. Her LinkedIn and X profiles list New York, and the firm is registered in Florida. She is also a member of the National Venture Capital Association.
Crunchbase lists only one investment for her, so it undercounts her activity. Treeo's team page says she has made over 100 investments and supported 45 startups entering and scaling in the US market.
Profile aggregators list advisory and investor roles dating from 2018. They include Mimiq (from May 2018), Decktopus AI as strategic advisor (from July 2020), BeforeSunset AI (from September 2021) and buybuddy (from July 2023). They also list Seamflow (from July 2025). These dates come from third-party profile sites, not from her own announcements.
Treeo describes itself as backing AI-native, B2B startups. Her listed holdings include Decktopus AI, Finsmart AI and BeforeSunset AI. Treeo's portfolio includes Tamarind Bio, which an NFX Signal page lists as a Series A of $14M in February 2026 with her named as a co-investor. Other Treeo portfolio names on her LinkedIn include Rankai, vly.ai and Eachlabs.
Treeo VC invests at pre-seed and seed, usually as a co-investor. It focuses on AI-native B2B companies, including life sciences, deep tech and service-as-a-software, founded by immigrant and Turkish founders building in the US. Crunchbase lists her investor stage as early stage venture and seed.
Her NFX Signal profile lists an investment range of $100K to $1M with a sweet spot of $300K. Its listed areas include Tech/AI, Generative AI, Developer Tools, Future of Work, Supply Chain Tech and FinTech. Her LinkedIn headline mentions AI infrastructure and developer tools with US go-to-market support. Her Crunchbase bio also names Productivity, Agritech, Mobility and RetailTech companies. Treeo's firm profile on OpenVC lists the USA as its investment geography. Treeo has also hosted founder office hours for AI-native B2B companies targeting the US market.
- Decktopus AI: AI presentation tool, where she has been strategic advisor since July 2020.
- Finsmart AI: a FinTech company named in her Crunchbase bio.
- BeforeSunset AI: a productivity company where she has been advisory board member and investor since September 2021.
- BuyBuddy: a RetailTech company where she is strategic advisor and investor, from July 2023.
- Bluedot: a Treeo VC portfolio company named in her Crunchbase bio.
- Claros Farm: an Agritech company named in her Crunchbase bio.
- Paillor: a company named in her Crunchbase bio.
- Tamarind Bio: a Treeo VC portfolio company with a $14M Series A in February 2026, per NFX Signal.
Investing activity
Cigdem Toraman has made 1 investment according to Crunchbase across 1 portfolio company, and has founded 1 company.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Cigdem Toraman
Does Cigdem Toraman invest in AI startups?
Yes. Treeo VC backs AI-native B2B startups, and she is an investor or advisor at Decktopus AI, Finsmart AI and BeforeSunset AI.
What stage does Cigdem Toraman invest in?
Pre-seed and seed. Crunchbase lists her stage as early stage venture and seed, and Treeo says it invests at pre-seed and seed, usually as a co-investor.
What check size does Cigdem Toraman write?
Her NFX Signal profile lists a range of $100K to $1M with a sweet spot of $300K. Treeo VC's OpenVC profile shows the same $100K to $1M range.
What does Treeo VC look for in founders?
Treeo backs AI-native B2B companies, often post-revenue, led by immigrant and Turkish founders building in the US. It says it works with them on US expansion and later funding rounds.
How can founders contact Cigdem Toraman?
She is on LinkedIn and X (@CigdemToraman), and Treeo's team page lists her Treeo VC email. Treeo has also held office hours for founders building AI-native B2B companies for the US market.
Where is Cigdem Toraman based?
Crunchbase lists the United States. Her LinkedIn and X profiles say New York, and Treeo VC is registered in Florida.
Is Cigdem Toraman an angel investor?
Yes. Cigdem Toraman invests personally as an angel. Crunchbase counts 1 investment.
How can founders reach Cigdem Toraman?
Founders on Lounge can see Cigdem Toraman's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add Cigdem Toraman to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.