Murat Oğuz Arcan, managing director at Sabanci Climate Ventures, is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2026 Powerlist.
In the past year, Murat Oğuz Arcan has quietly reshaped Sabancı Climate Ventures from a conventional corporate VC unit into a more operationally consequential platform for one of Türkiye’s leading conglomerates.
Over the past 18 months, Arcan has emerged on the CVC scene by securing access to some of the most sought-after deals at the intersection of energy and artificial intelligence. These include investments in companies such as Fervo, Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Waabi. In parallel, the unit has taken limited partner positions in venture funds including G2VP, DCVC Climate, Planeteer and Future Energy Ventures, broadening both its reach and strategic insight.
Arcan has constructed a balanced “barbell” strategy for the $200m fund, combining later-stage growth investments – such as 1Komma5 and Fervo – with early-stage, potentially disruptive startups in AI and data, including Hyperion, Aikido and AIDash. This approach spans both the US and Europe, with the potential for further expansion into Türkiye.
Activity in the current year reflects this dual focus. Recent transactions include participation in cybersecurity company Halcyon’s $21m funding round and energy storage provider DG Matrix’s $60m raise. These deals reinforce the unit’s emphasis on technologies adjacent to climate and energy systems, while maintaining exposure to enabling sectors such as cybersecurity.
Over the past 12 months, Sabancı Climate Ventures has sustained a disciplined investment cadence, completing three deals alongside one exit, while extending its international footprint. The unit increasingly serves as a bridge between Türkiye’s developing startup ecosystem and more mature European markets. This positioning – part regional champion, part global connector – has become a defining element of Arcan’s strategy.
Looking ahead, Arcan faces a challenge familiar to many maturing CVC leaders: sustaining momentum without compromising strategic focus. As the portfolio expands beyond its current 20 holdings and internal expectations intensify, maintaining the balance between financial discipline and corporate relevance will become more complex.
However, if the past year is indicative, Sabancı Climate Ventures under Arcan is no longer focused on proving its model – it is actively executing against it.
The GCV Powerlist represents the 100 individuals spearheading the future of the corporate venturing industry.
These individuals excel in terms of their venturing approach and structure, number and quality of portfolio companies and in their contributions to the corporate venturing profession.
Here’s a snapshot of their recent deals:
