Open the App Store, and you’ll notice something surprising.

A huge number of trending AI apps – from note takers to chatting companions – have one thing in common: they’re built by Turkish studios.

But it’s not just about talent or timing. There’s a hidden force driving this wave of success – and it’s something most app builders around the world don’t have access to.

Let’s break it down.

Government-Backed Growth

The Turkish government offers some of the most generous incentives for app developers anywhere in the world.

These aren’t small perks. We’re talking about serious financial support that completely changes the economics of building and scaling an app:

• 70% ad spend refunded, up to $400,000 per app

• 50% of engineer salaries covered

• App store commission refunds, up to $80,000

For early-stage teams, this funding acts like rocket fuel. It removes the biggest growth barrier – cash – and gives these studios the freedom to test, iterate, and scale fast.

Built on Paid Growth

Most of these AI apps don’t rely on virality.

Instead, they lean into aggressive paid acquisition – especially on TikTok, Facebook, and Apple Search Ads.

Just take a look at their ad libraries:
Each app runs hundreds, sometimes thousands of ad creatives. Every variation – from format to hook to actor – is tested and optimized with ruthless precision.

With the government covering a big chunk of ad spend, they can out-test and out-scale almost anyone.

A Few Examples

This strategy has already produced multiple breakout hits:

• Learna AI – an AI English tutor running over 1,000 FB ads and monetizing through soft paywalls

• Smart Noter – an AI note taking app that grew to $80K monthly revenue in 4 months.

• Drama Pops – gamified short-form drama reels monetized through aggressive paywalls and ad rewards

Each of these apps used the same playbook: rapid testing, paid growth, clean onboarding and government-backed cash flow.

What Makes It Work

What you’re seeing is a system:

• Easy access to capital (via incentives)

• Fast hiring (with salary support)

• Scalable paid marketing (with ad refunds)

• Retention-focused design (with monetization baked in)

It’s a national growth strategy that helps startups think and act like scaleups – from Day 1.