About
An ancient name, a global circle.
TU:KUE is an invitation-only society of Turkish business leaders, founded in 2026. It brings founders and executives who export added value from Türkiye to the same table as Turkish entrepreneurs who have built major businesses abroad.
At a glance
- Founded
- 2026
- Type
- Invitation-only society of business leaders
- Members
- Value-added exporters from Türkiye and Turkish business leaders based abroad
- Membership
- By invitation only. Applications are not accepted.
- Origin of the name
- 突厥 (Tu-kue), Book of Zhou, AD 636
- AI
- TU:KUE Bilge, open-source intelligence
- Web
- tu-kue.com
Who we are
TU:KUE was founded to bring the two wings of Turkish enterprise together. On one side are those who make in Türkiye and sell their brand, technology and design to the world. On the other are Turkish entrepreneurs who have earned a voice in the economies of London, New York, Dubai and Berlin. Both share the same roots and the same language, yet they rarely sit at the same table.
We are setting that table. Our members open trusted doors for one another, enter new markets together, pass their experience on to the next generation and carry Türkiye's good name wherever they are.
TU:KUE is not a crowded network. It is a small circle of carefully chosen people. That is why we select our members ourselves and invite each of them personally.
The origin of our name
In the 6th century, Chinese chroniclers wrote of a people who worked iron on the southern slopes of the Altai Mountains and recorded them as 突厥. Today the word is read Tūjué. Western sources render it as T'u-chüeh, Tou-kiue or Tu-kue. It is the earliest securely attested written record of the name Türk.
金山形似兜鍪，其俗謂兜鍪為突厥，遂因以為號焉。
“The Golden Mountain was shaped like a helmet. In their tongue a helmet was called Tu-kue, and so they took it as their name.”周書Book of Zhou, vol. 50 · AD 636
According to the Book of Zhou, the name comes from a helmet. The Golden Mountain where the people lived was shaped like one, and in their language a helmet was called Tu-kue. The helmet in our emblem is the legacy of that first record.
- 545
First contact
A Western Wei envoy reaches the Türks. The Book of Zhou records them as Tu-kue.
- 552
The Khaganate
Bumin Qaghan founds the Göktürk Khaganate.
- 732·735
Carved in stone
In the Orkhon inscriptions, the name is carved in its own script.
- 2026
TU:KUE
The ancient name becomes the inner circle of global Turkish enterprise.
Two centuries later the Türks carved their own name in stone, in their own alphabet. In the Orkhon inscriptions it appears as 𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰜 (Türük). TU:KUE carries both records: the first name written by outsiders and the name we wrote with our own hands.
Why we were founded
Türkiye has raised a generation that takes its manufacturing strength to the world. Over the same years, more and more Turks have built companies abroad, grown them and gained a voice in the business life of their host countries. Yet these two generations have often worked without knowing one another.
When an exporter looks for a trusted partner in a new market, a Turkish entrepreneur who has worked in that market for years is often just a phone call away. TU:KUE exists to close that distance. We describe our purpose in three verbs:
- Unite. Bring the intellect, reputation and networks of Turkish capital under one roof.
- Elevate. Raise Türkiye's commercial and intellectual standing in the world.
- Pass on. Open knowledge, experience and doors to the next generation of Turkish founders.
What we do
Our programmes take their names from the enduring institutions of the Turkic state tradition. Each is designed to deepen trust among our members and make it easier to do business together.
- KurultayThe great assembly
- A closed summit held once a year. Members and distinguished guests discuss trade, technology, geopolitics and culture. The year is reviewed and the next year's agenda is set here.
- SofraThe shared table
- Intimate private dinners in the world's great cities. Long conversations, lasting relationships.
- KervanSetting out together
- Trade delegations, buyer meetings and site visits to open new markets together.
- OtağThe khan's tent
- A members-only digital salon. Trusted introductions, co-investment opportunities and the member directory.
- AtabeyThe prince's mentor
- Mentorship for the next generation of Turkish founders. Experience is passed on, doors are opened.
- TU:KUE BilgeOpen-source intelligence
- An AI built for our senior members. It researches, in depth, the counterparty a member is about to trade with in the country where they do business, and reports its findings with their sources. Meet Bilge
How we work
The Founding Council sets TU:KUE's direction. The Council identifies new members, approves invitations and watches over the töre. Every review is carried out in confidence.
- Founding Council. Sets the society's direction, approves invitations and safeguards the töre.
- Kurultay. The yearly gathering of all members. The year is reviewed and the next year's agenda is set here.
- Töre. The word our members give to one another and to Türkiye, in seven principles. Read the töre
What is said at the table stays at the table. Our members' identities are shared only if they choose.
Our emblem
The helmet. According to the Book of Zhou, the source of our name. Its pointed, fluted bowl draws on early Turkic helmets of Central Asia.
The T. The brow band and the nasal guard together form the letter T.
The two dots. The mark between the two syllables of our name is the word separator used in the Orkhon inscriptions.
Sky blue. The colour of the sky, the gök in Göktürk.
Frequently asked questions
What is TU:KUE?
TU:KUE is an invitation-only society of Turkish business leaders, founded in 2026. It brings founders and executives who export added value from Türkiye together with Turkish entrepreneurs who have built major businesses abroad.
What does the name TU:KUE mean?
The name comes from 突厥 (Tu-kue), the earliest written record of the name Türk in Chinese sources. According to the Book of Zhou, completed in AD 636, the word meant helmet in the Turkic language of the time.
Who can become a member?
Founders and senior executives who export added value from Türkiye, and Turkish entrepreneurs who have built major businesses abroad. The details are on our Membership page.
Can I apply to TU:KUE?
No. TU:KUE does not accept applications. Members are identified by the Founding Council and through the recommendations of existing members, and are invited personally.
What is TU:KUE Bilge?
TU:KUE Bilge is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) AI built for our senior members. It researches the counterparty a member is about to trade with in the country where they do business, using only public and lawful sources, and reports its findings with their sources.
How can I contact TU:KUE?
For press and institutional enquiries, write to iletisim@tu-kue.com. Membership applications are not accepted through this address.
Sources
- Linghu Defen (ed.), Book of Zhou (周書), vol. 50, Yiyu zhuan. Wikisource
- “Göktürks”, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
- “Orkhon inscriptions”, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
- “Old Turkic script”, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org