Innovation

Bistek is a pioneering technology company using artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, and deep learning to address modern urban and environmental challenges in an affordable and scalable way. Founded in 2017 in Ankara, Türkiye, Bistek eliminates the need for expensive large-scale infrastructure by using a single smart camera paired with proprietary software. Their system detects and classifies pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles in real-time, making it possible to monitor urban movement efficiently while respecting privacy standards.

The company’s innovation is currently implemented in municipalities, hospitals, and industrial zones, providing real-time data that supports smarter decision-making. By anonymizing and classifying movement data, Bistek contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), encouraging the use of sustainable transportation and reducing carbon emissions. The system enhances public safety by identifying dangerous traffic patterns and enables safer urban environments, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Bistek also provides analytics that can support educational institutions and training centers in urban planning and data science, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education). Moreover, by reducing the energy demands of traditional surveillance systems and integrating energy-efficient hardware, the innovation aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). At its core, Bistek embodies the spirit of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by offering a smart, innovative, and infrastructure-light solution that transforms how cities and institutions collect and use data for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Inspiration

The inspiration behind Bistek’s innovation was born out of a moment of observation and curiosity while the founder was living abroad. Witnessing how smart mobility and AI-powered monitoring systems were being used effectively in cities across Europe, the founder began to ask: “Why not in Türkiye?” This question planted the seed for what would later become Bistek. Upon returning to Türkiye, the founder wasted no time—he approached the Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality with a clear proposal to bring this vision to life. The municipality embraced the idea, and Bistek’s first deployment became a reality.

What initially began as a technical curiosity soon evolved into a deeper mission. “Of course, sustainability and profitability matter,” the founder explains, “but the real satisfaction comes when you see the system making elderly care homes safer, or when you hear feedback from a city that traffic flow has improved thanks to your solution.” These real-world impacts serve as a constant source of motivation for the Bistek team.

Another driving force behind the innovation is the founder’s commitment to empowering youth. Bistek actively includes recent graduates and young professionals in its projects, encouraging them to bring fresh ideas and challenge traditional thinking. This culture of collaborative learning and social responsibility is embedded in the company’s DNA, making Bistek not just a tech firm, but a mission-driven enterprise aiming to create lasting change.

Overall impact

Bistek’s innovation delivers a layered and measurable impact across social, environmental, and economic domains by transforming raw data into meaningful, real-time insights. Socially, systems like HelDet and CareTrack directly improve occupational and healthcare safety. HelDet monitors compliance with personal protective equipment in industrial zones, reducing the risk of workplace injuries. CareTrack, on the other hand, detects anomalies in patient care environments such as elderly homes, increasing the quality and responsiveness of care.

Environmentally, Bistek promotes clean and sustainable urban living. With BisCount, cities monitor bicycle traffic to support smarter, evidence-based infrastructure planning. StepMap tracks pedestrian flows, enabling more walkable, human-centered city design. Additionally, PetCount, which analyzes the number and distribution of pets in urban areas, offers unique environmental and public planning insights. This helps municipalities with responsible pet management, supports local policy on animal welfare, and even guides green space development.

Economically, Bistek systems like PerFlow and CashSpy bring measurable efficiency gains to industrial and retail environments. AgriCast helps farmers forecast harvests with precision, reducing losses and improving productivity. These solutions not only optimize operations in the short term but also enable long-term systemic shifts toward data-informed governance.

Through these applications, Bistek creates an ecosystem where safety, sustainability, and smart decision-making are seamlessly integrated. The result is a future-forward model of innovation that turns artificial intelligence into real-world, inclusive progress.

Business benefit

Bistek started by identifying a critical gap in Türkiye’s urban cycling infrastructure. After seeing practical bicycle-related innovations abroad, the founder returned home and began building solutions with local manufacturing support. The first major sale to Konya Municipality confirmed product-market fit, and soon after, Bistek had expanded its reach to over 40 municipalities across Türkiye. With success in hardware came demand for more advanced services, such as bike counters and traffic analysis systems. By securing grants from TÜBİTAK, KOSGEB, and the EU, the company pivoted toward AI-based video analytics. This shift brought not only higher-value products but also opened up new sectors including smart traffic, health monitoring, and workplace safety.

This innovation significantly improved the company’s business outcomes. While initial hardware products like bike repair stations sold for around ₺25,000, AI-powered solutions now sell at ₺500,000 and above, enabling scalable revenue. Bistek grew its team to 8–10 full-time engineers, primarily hiring recent graduates to foster innovation and create employment opportunities. The firm also expanded internationally, shipping to countries like Cyprus and Georgia. The flexibility of the AI-driven system allowed Bistek to develop tailored solutions for elderly care, children’s safety, factory performance, and urban planning. In doing so, the company built a sustainable business that combines profitability with social impact. As the founder puts it: “We started by counting bicycles. Now we can analyze nearly everything a camera sees — from safety helmets to human behavior — and help make better decisions at every level.”

Social and environmental benefit

Socially, Bistek contributes to public safety, inclusive mobility, and youth employment. Their projects reflect a commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and enhancing the quality of life in urban environments. Environmentally, the company prioritizes sustainable transportation, energy-efficient systems, and urban planning practices that reduce ecological impact. These efforts align with global development goals and reflect a broader vision for environmentally responsible innovation.

Interview

Musab Talha Akpinar, CEO