site.btaBulgarian-Owned Turkish Company Maintains GPS Systems of Turkish Gendarmerie

Bulgarian-owned Turkish transportation and tracking company Mobiliz provides GPS-related services to the Turkish Gendarmerie, said company’s co-owner Hristo Daskalov in an interview with BTA's Ayshe Sali on Wednesday. “It wasn’t easy, but we gained access through proven expertise and dedication from our Ankara team. We're also using AI to assess risk in different urban areas, helping determine patrol locations,” Daskalov explained.

Since 2020, Mobiliz has been co-owned by Bulgarian entrepreneurs Hristo Daskalov and Nikolay Kichev, the minds behind GPS Bulgaria and managing partners in the Ciela Group. Today, Mobiliz maintains GPS systems in nearly 500,000 vehicles across Turkiye, develops artificial intelligence, and, in response to growing workforce needs, recently launched a new educational initiative. Earlier this month, Daskalov and Kichev inaugurated the Turkish branch of SoftUni, providing training in programming and digital skills.

According to Turkiye’s Ministry of Economy, Turkish investments in Bulgaria amount to EUR 2.7 billion. In contrast, information on Bulgarian investments in Turkiye remains limited, typically tied to tourism or medical services for the 3 million Bulgarians visiting the country annually. In this context, the acquisition of a Turkish tech company by Bulgarian investors stands as a notable achievement.

Entering the Turkish market

Having built a successful GPS business in Bulgaria, Daskalov and Kichev explored regional expansion. The opportunity came when investment bankers in London informed them that a leading Turkish company, Mobiliz, was up for sale. The reason: its private equity owner had a seven-year investment exit policy.

In an interview with BTA, Daskalov shared that at that time, they had zero knowledge of Turkiye. “We initially declined to submit an offer, worried it might be perceived as too low. But they insisted, asking to see our business plan and share theirs. Within 3 to 4 months, our expectations began to align. Meanwhile, we arranged financing. In March 2020, just as COVID-19 lockdowns began, we signed the share transfer agreement,” he said.

Due to pandemic restrictions, the new owners spent the first 6 to 7 months managing the Turkish offices remotely. “This could have gone very wrong, as we didn’t know the environment. But step by step, we got to know each other. My partner even moved to Istanbul with his family for over a year, and I travel there every month. Gradually, we aligned operations with our vision,” Daskalov said.

Overcoming challenges and building trust

The Bulgarian owners faced hurdles, including adapting legacy management systems and bridging cultural differences. Additionally, economic instability in Turkiye created uncertainty among employees.

“We’ve increased salaries four times in 18 months, inflation makes it necessary. We've invested in the business, not taken from it,” Daskalov noted.

These efforts have paid off. Today, Mobiliz is among the leading players in its sector, experiencing annual growth between 15 and 35%. The company has expanded from 80 to 130 employees and upgraded its office space from 230 to 650 sq.m., based primarily in Ankara’s Bilkent Technopark, an environment offering both tax incentives and a high-tech atmosphere attractive to professionals.

Expanding into new sectors

One of the company’s most notable achievements is its collaboration with key institutions in Turkiye’s growing defence and security industry. Over 40 software engineers at Mobiliz are developing new features aimed at addressing rising client demands. 

“We're moving into industrial software solutions, monitoring temperature, humidity, warehouse movement, and door status. We also have a team working on electrification and EV charging infrastructure,” said Daskalov.

From GPS tracking to AI-powered fleet management

“In the past, vehicles were simply fitted with GPS trackers to transmit their location. Over time, these devices evolved to provide data about engine starts, theft attempts, and later, hundreds of parameters via SIM cards – such as location, usage, and driving behavior,” Daskalov explained. “We now offer digital fleet management systems, cost monitoring, and driver analytics. Without such services, it is nearly impossible to manage fleets effectively, especially when dealing with mixed vehicle types and brands,” he added.

Recognized employer of choice

Since its acquisition, Mobiliz has been named Best Workplace in Turkiye three times, based on an 80-question employee survey conducted by a local benchmarking organization.

Mobiliz General Manager Yetkin Aksoy said that leadership, continuous education, and people-first investment were their goals after the acquisition, and these paid off. He attributes the company’s success to the blend of European professionalism and Turkish emotional connection. “In Turkiye, even in business, personal and family ties influence decisions. The European mindset, especially in Bulgaria, emphasizes discipline and professionalism. Combining both has created a stronger, unified team,” he added.

Daskalov highlighted a shift from previously centralized, top-down management to a culture of employee empowerment. Salaries have been raised 30 to 40%, now aligning with IT sector wages in Bulgaria, a necessary move to remain competitive in Turkiye’s intense talent market, where even State and defence entities recruit aggressively. “In Bulgaria, no government agency can afford to ‘steal’ my employee. In Turkiye, major defence contractors have doubled salaries to lure staff,” he noted.

Looking ahead

Turkiye’s scale and economic potential define the strategic outlook for Mobiliz. The company expects to generate USD 20 million in revenue this year. The owners aim for 40 to 50% growth in operating profit, while General Manager Aksoy envisions regional leadership, including projects in neighboring countries.