PEAKUP CEO Ahmet Toprakçı Speaks to Start Up: “Vision Alignment Is Our Top Priority”

Ahmet Toprakçı, CEO of PEAKUP, shared key insights into the company’s growth strategy and investor selection criteria in a recent interview published by Start Up magazine.

According to Toprakçı, rapid growth alone is not a measure of success. What truly matters is ensuring that growth aligns with the company’s long-term vision and brand values.

“Vision Alignment Is the Most Critical Factor in Investor Selection”

During the interview, Toprakçı emphasized that vision alignment is the single most important criterion in investment discussions. As PEAKUP continues to expand globally, the company remains cautious about entering partnerships that could compromise its long-term strategic direction.

He noted that short-term financial gains do not necessarily translate into the right collaboration. Instead, PEAKUP prioritizes sustainable, long-term value creation over quick wins.

Brand Value and Strategic Independence Come First

Toprakçı explained that PEAKUP’s decision-making framework is built on three core principles:

  • Protecting the company’s brand identity

  • Preserving strategic independence

  • Ensuring alignment with global growth objectives

“No proposal that fails to align with our global ambitions holds real value for us,” said Toprakçı, underlining the company’s selective and principle-driven approach to growth.

Strong Technical Expertise and Global Positioning

Specializing in digital transformation, cloud technologies, and business applications, PEAKUP delivers scalable and sustainable technology solutions that empower organizations to achieve long-term growth.

The company’s status as Turkey’s first Microsoft Frontier Partner further demonstrates its advanced technical capabilities and its ability to deliver projects at global standards.

The interview published in Start Up reinforces PEAKUP’s position as a technology company that is not only growing, but doing so with clarity of vision, strategic discipline, and carefully chosen partnerships.

PEAKUP Named Again to the Inc. Türkiye 100 List

PEAKUP is proud to once again be recognized among Turkey’s fastest-growing companies in the prestigious Inc. Türkiye Business Magazine 100 list.

This achievement stands as a strong testament to PEAKUP’s sustainable growth strategy, technology-driven approach, and global vision.

Among Turkey’s Fastest-Growing Technology Companies

The Inc. Türkiye 100 list evaluates not only revenue growth but also scalable business models, innovation capacity, and international competitiveness.

Through its expertise in digital transformation, cloud technologies, CRM solutions, and business applications, PEAKUP enables organizations to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen their value chains.

With its proprietary products and comprehensive consulting services, the company continues to expand steadily across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Strong and Sustainable Growth from Local Roots to Global Reach

Being featured once again in the Inc. Türkiye 100 list highlights that PEAKUP’s growth is not only rapid but also built on solid foundations.

Driven by continuous R&D investment, a product-focused mindset, and a highly skilled team, PEAKUP remains committed to innovation and global competitiveness in the technology sector.

We extend our sincere thanks to our employees, customers, and business partners who have contributed to this ongoing success journey.

PEAKUP Becomes the First and Only Microsoft Frontier Partner in Türkiye

PEAKUP is proud to announce that we have been awarded the Frontier Partner designation by Microsoft, the highest level of recognition within Microsoft’s global partner ecosystem, and that we are the first and only Microsoft Partner in Türkiye to receive this distinction.

As a technology and solutions partner that has been supporting organizations on their digital transformation journeys for more than 14 years, PEAKUP is now positioned as the first and only partner in Türkiye to hold Microsoft Frontier Partner status. This recognition reflects the global acknowledgment of our long standing commitment, deep expertise, and leadership driven approach in technology and digital transformation.

What Is Microsoft Frontier Partner

The Microsoft Frontier Partner program represents the highest tier of collaboration within Microsoft’s global partner network and is granted only to a select group of partners worldwide. Technical capability alone is not sufficient to qualify. Frontier Partners are chosen among organizations that create scalable market impact, provide strategic guidance throughout their customers’ transformation journeys, and serve as reference points within the broader ecosystem.

Partners holding this designation approach technology not merely as a tool, but as a foundation for delivering measurable business value and sustainable growth. Within Microsoft’s extensive global partner network, the number of companies recognized at this level remains highly limited.

Our Approach and Impact

Being recognized as a Frontier Partner is the natural outcome of years of consistent effort and a disciplined approach to expertise. With specialized teams across artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and modern business applications, we have delivered end to end digital solutions to more than 1,000 organizations and over 1,000,000 users to date.

We have built a strong portfolio of solutions and services across manufacturing, logistics, retail, and life sciences, including holdings and group companies among Türkiye’s top 500 enterprises. As an organization certified with the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, we evaluate our capabilities not only through technical excellence, but also through scalability, adoption, and long term sustainable impact.

What Does This Recognition Mean

We take great pride in this recognition. The Frontier Partner designation is both a strong indicator of the work we have accomplished to date and a clear signal of the responsibility we carry into the future. We do not view this positioning as a symbolic title, but as an expression of our long term commitment and sense of responsibility toward technology, our customers, and our partners.

Our impact extends beyond the projects we deliver. We play an active role in shaping the direction of digital transformation, contributing to the spread of best practices, and raising standards across the technology ecosystem. As the first and only Frontier Partner in Türkiye, we embrace the responsibility of expanding our impact, guiding transformation, and leading the ecosystem forward.

Looking ahead, we are fully aware that this responsibility will continue to grow. Beyond addressing today’s needs, PEAKUP remains committed to moving forward with confidence and determination, playing an active role in shaping the technological transformations that define the business models of the future.

EA Volume Discounts Are Ending: A New Era in Microsoft Licensing Strategy

Starting November 1, 2025, Microsoft is making a significant change to its Enterprise Agreement (EA) licensing model. With this update, the automatic volume discount tiers (Levels B–D) applied to Online Services such as Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Azure, Windows 365, and others will be removed. From now on, all commercial customers will be licensed under a single price level — Level A, meaning the full list price applies.

This marks one of the most substantial commercial changes in Microsoft licensing in recent years. But what does it really mean for organizations? How will they be affected — and can this change be turned into a strategic advantage?

Why Did Microsoft Remove Volume Discounts?

Microsoft is shifting from its long-standing volume-based discount model to a value-based model. This change reinforces Microsoft’s cloud-first strategy and aims to simplify commercial licensing processes.

In short: It’s no longer about “how many users you have,” but “how much value you generate and how you use the cloud.”

This move reflects Microsoft’s intent to create a more dynamic and scalable model — both for partners and enterprise customers.

What’s Changing?

1. All organizations now move to Level A pricing

Previously:

  • 250–2,399 users: Level A
  • 2,400–5,999 users: Level B
  • 6,000–14,999 users: Level C
  • 15,000+ users: Level D

Now:

All commercial customers will be charged at Level A (list price). This means an average cost increase of 6–12%.

2. Only Online Services are affected

This change applies to cloud-based services such as:

  • Microsoft 365
  • Dynamics 365
  • Azure
  • Windows 365
  • Power Platform

On-premises products (e.g., Windows Server, SQL Server) remain unaffected for now and keep their existing discount structure.

3. Education and Government customers are excluded

Microsoft confirmed that this update applies only to commercial EA agreements. Therefore, government and education institutions will continue under their current EA terms.

What Should Organizations Do?

1. Review your EA agreement

Check your EA expiry date, current price level, and Online Services coverage. Any new service added after November 1 will be licensed at Level A pricing.

2. Model the potential cost impact

Moving from Level B or C to Level A typically results in a 6–12% increase. Analyze how this change affects your annual total cost. Our expert team is available to help you forecast costs and identify optimization opportunities in your current setup.

3. Optimize your licensing

  • Remove unused or inactive users
  • Change your plan for inactive licenses
  • Balance Power Platform and Azure resource usage
  • Contact us for license deployments and to activate inactive features

4. Consider the CSP Model

With the new pricing approach, Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) model is emerging as the preferred path for many organizations. CSP is no longer just an alternative — it’s becoming the strategic choice for modern licensing.

CSP Model: The New Definition of Flexibility and Control

Feature EA Model CSP Model
Contract Term Fixed 3 years 1 month / 1 year / 3 years (flexible)
Payment Model Annual or upfront Monthly, annual, pay-as-you-go
Flexibility Fixed number of users Add/remove users easily
Pricing Volume-based Usage-based
Management Direct with Microsoft Through authorized partner
Support Microsoft Partner-supported, localized solutions

EA or CSP? Key Considerations

If your EA renewal date is approaching, evaluate early transition opportunities. Under Microsoft’s New Commerce Experience (NCE), moving to CSP offers both operational flexibility and cost control.

At PEAKUP, we help organizations with:

  • License optimization
  • Proactive license management
  • Smooth transition to CSP

— delivering a more strategic and cost-efficient licensing framework.

PEAKUP’s Perspective: A Strategic Opportunity, Not a Constraint

While Microsoft’s EA pricing update may seem like a cost increase at first glance, it’s actually a strategic opportunity for organizations ready to optimize their cloud investments. At PEAKUP, we see this shift as: “A period to optimize cloud investments, simplify licensing processes, and build smarter decision mechanisms.”

We support our enterprise customers through:

  • Comprehensive EA agreement assessments
  • CSP transition planning
  • Guidance on license optimization and governance

Conclusion: As the EA Era Ends, CSP Becomes the Key to Agility

The removal of EA volume discounts signifies Microsoft’s transition from “volume to value” in its commercial strategy. Cloud success is no longer measured by scale of usage, but by strategic management capability.

Now is the time to ask the right question: “Are we still planning to renew our EA — or are we ready to move toward a future-proof CSP model?”

At PEAKUP, we’re here to help organizations turn this shift from a risk into a strategic advantage. For more information or a CSP transition assessment, feel free to contact us.

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A Powerful Start to FY26: Ready for the Future with Our LNCH Event

On September 19th, we came together at Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus for our LNCH event, a night to embrace our new goals, celebrate achievements, and experience PEAKUP culture as one. This special evening marked more than just the beginning of a new fiscal year; it was a collective step into shared goals, high motivation, and a strong vision. With its elegant atmosphere, thoughtfully designed flow, and meaningful moments, LNCH became a truly unforgettable experience for all of us.

Our event opened with inspiring keynote speeches from our CEO Ahmet Toprakçı and CSO KadirCan Toprakçı. They presented PEAKUP’s strategic roadmap for FY26, highlighting key growth areas and cultural priorities. Together, we discussed not only where we are headed, but how we will build this journey as one team.

Later in the evening, we honored outstanding teammates with special awards, recognizing not only individual success, but our culture of collective achievement at PEAKUP. Following the award ceremony and dinner, the night concluded with a vibrant concert that energized the entire team.

 

The LNCH night was a powerful reminder of what makes PEAKUP special: Growing together, succeeding together, and celebrating together. With this motivation fueling us forward, we’ll continue to move toward our vision of carrying society into the future with technology throughout FY26.

We Completed the Business & Human Rights Accelerator Program

In today’s corporate world, transformation is not only about technology but also about values. At PEAKUP, we have taken an important step to place human rights at the heart of our corporate culture in line with our global sustainability vision.

In this context, our Legal & Compliance Director Demet Ceylan Demircan and Senior Project Manager Gamze Mıhçı participated in the Business & Human Rights Accelerator program organized by UN Global Compact Türkiye, further advancing our corporate awareness in this field.

Integrating Human Rights into Business Processes

This six-month global program, joined by 26 companies, aims to help businesses turn their United Nations Sustainable Development commitments into concrete action plans, establish systematic evaluation processes, and ensure alignment with global standards. Throughout the program:

  • Human rights risks were identified,

  • In-depth studies were carried out on how to integrate them into processes,

  • Comparative analyses with international examples were conducted,

  • A tailored Human Rights Action Plan was created for our company.

 

“Human Rights–Oriented Business Models Are the Foundation of a Sustainable Future”

After the program, Demet Ceylan Demircan shared the following insight:

“Thanks to the Business & Human Rights Accelerator program, we deepened our awareness of the role of human rights in the business world. We are excited to integrate this approach into PEAKUP’s practices. I believe that human rights–oriented business models are one of the cornerstones of a sustainable future.”

By joining this program, we have once again demonstrated our commitment not only to technology-driven solutions but also to building an ethical, transparent, and inclusive corporate culture. From employee experience to customer relations, we embrace responsible business models that respect human rights in every aspect of our work.

Climbing Higher on the Turkishtime R&D 500 List

Turkishtime has announced its R&D 500 list, one of Turkey’s most comprehensive research studies on R&D. According to the results, PEAKUP secured a spot among the top 500 companies with the highest R&D investments in Turkey, moving up from 246th place last year to 230th this year, further solidifying its success.

 

A Vision Strengthened by Technology Investment

At PEAKUP, we continuously increase our R&D investments in line with our vision of preparing society for the future through technology. With our products Velocity, SIGNandGO, and PassGate, we support organizations in their digital transformation journeys, while our AI solutions, automation technologies, and innovative projects bring added value to the business world.

The projects we carry out in our R&D center aim to boost organizational efficiency, enhance employee experience, and deliver sustainable solutions for businesses. We design technology not only to meet today’s needs but also to address the demands of the future, remaining a reliable partner in companies’ digital journeys.

This achievement is not only a testament to our dedication to R&D but also a reflection of the PEAKUP team’s hard work and commitment. We thank all our colleagues who made this possible and will continue to shape technology with innovative ideas both in Turkey and in global markets.

 

We Have Earned the “Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure Advanced Specialization” Status!

As developments in the IT world continue rapidly, the need for organizations to modernize their technological infrastructure is increasing. Providing the right solutions to meet this need and supporting organizations in their technology transformation is becoming more important every day. At PEAKUP, we continue to expand our competencies to accompany our customers’ transformations in the safest and most efficient way possible.

In this context, we are proud to announce that we have earned the “Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure Advanced Specialization” status. With this new expertise, we support organizations in smoothly migrating their infrastructure and databases to Microsoft Azure, offering strategic consultancy that ensures cost savings and operational efficiency.

With this new specialization, we reinforce our commitment to deliver top-tier services and continue preparing society for the future through technology.

Along with this new achievement, we are honored to hold the following Microsoft expert badges:

  • Modern Work

  • Security

  • Data and AI (Azure)

  • Digital and App Innovation (Azure)

  • Infrastructure (Azure)

and the following advanced specialization certifications:

  • Advanced Specialization: Low Code Application Development

  • Advanced Specialization: AI & Machine Learning on Microsoft Azure

  • Advanced Specialization: Information Protection & Governance

  • Advanced Specialization: Threat Protection

  • Advanced Specialization: Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure

 

What Do Microsoft Badges Mean?

  • Modern Work: Providing solutions to meet the demands of the modern workplace, enabling businesses to work more efficiently and flexibly.

  • Security: Delivering security solutions to protect business data and create a safe digital working environment.

  • Data and AI (Azure): Optimizing decision-making processes and fostering innovation with data and AI solutions.

  • Digital and App Innovation (Azure): Enhancing business competitiveness through digital transformation and app innovation solutions.

  • Infrastructure (Azure): Strengthening technological infrastructure to increase operational efficiency.

We Have Earned the “Threat Protection Advanced Specialization” Status!

The continuous advancement of technology brings new threats and increases the importance of protecting against them. Moreover, the growing variety of security threats requires expertise and knowledge from different domains to take effective measures. In this context, we continuously adapt to change and take necessary precautions to protect against new threats.

We are proud to announce that we have earned the “Threat Protection Advanced Specialization” status, which validates our competencies in data security and threat management. Through our solutions, we prevent threats and protect data, enabling secure technology transformation for our customers.

With this new specialization, we reinforce our commitment to deliver top-tier services and continue preparing society for the future through technology.

Along with this new achievement, we are honored to hold the following Microsoft expert badges:

  • Modern Work

  • Security

  • Data and AI (Azure)

  • Digital and App Innovation (Azure)

  • Infrastructure (Azure)

and the following advanced specialization certifications:

  • Advanced Specialization: Low Code Application Development

  • Advanced Specialization: AI & Machine Learning on Microsoft Azure

  • Advanced Specialization: Information Protection & Governance

  • Advanced Specialization: Threat Protection

 

What Do Microsoft Badges Mean?

  • Modern Work: Providing solutions to meet the demands of the modern workplace, enabling businesses to work more efficiently and flexibly.

  • Security: Delivering security solutions to protect business data and create a safe digital working environment.

  • Data and AI (Azure): Optimizing decision-making processes and fostering innovation with data and AI solutions.

  • Digital and App Innovation (Azure): Enhancing business competitiveness through digital transformation and app innovation solutions.

  • Infrastructure (Azure): Strengthening technological infrastructure to increase operational efficiency.

PEAKUP Earns “Information Protection & Governance Advanced Specialization” Status!

At PEAKUP, alongside our existing Security Solutions expert badge, we are proud to announce that we have earned the “Information Protection & Governance Advanced Specialization” status, which further validates our expertise in data security and management.

With this new specialization, we reinforce our commitment to delivering top-tier services to our customers and continue preparing society for the future through technology. We are honored to be the FIRST PARTNER in Turkey among local partners to hold the following Microsoft expert badges:

  • Modern Work

  • Security

  • Data and AI (Azure)

  • Digital and App Innovation (Azure)

  • Infrastructure (Azure)

as well as the following advanced specialization certificates:

  • Advanced Specialization: Low Code Application Development

  • AI & Machine Learning on Microsoft Azure Advanced Specialization

  • Information Protection & Governance Advanced Specialization

What Do Microsoft Badges Mean?

  • Modern Work: Providing solutions tailored to the needs of the modern workplace, enabling businesses to work more efficiently and flexibly.

  • Security: Delivering security solutions to protect business data and create a safe digital work environment.

  • Data and AI (Azure): Enhancing decision-making and driving innovation through data and artificial intelligence solutions.

  • Digital and App Innovation (Azure): Increasing business competitiveness through digital transformation and app innovation.

  • Infrastructure (Azure): Strengthening technological infrastructure to boost operational efficiency.

We look forward to continuing our journey supporting customers in their digital transformation with confidence and excellence.