Slayz founder John Nevzat Erdem has transformed his investment journey, begun in his youth, into a next-generation finance platform expanding from Turkey to the world, with the goal of rendering the investment experience simple, swift, and globally accessible.
Stepping into the financial realm at just 14 or 15, John Nevzat Erdem evolved the idea of adapting advanced U.S. investment platforms for Turkey into a concrete vision over the years. Today, through Slayz, he delivers a modern investment experience offering seamless global market access to both novice young investors and seasoned users.
What is the origin story of Slayz?
For years, I closely observed applications in both Turkey and the U.S. platforms emerging in America far surpassed those in Turkey in user experience, speed, and technology. The question “Why not bring this concept to Turkish investors too?” formed in my mind early on. With three generations of my family in finance—bolstered by our brokerage firm and financial tech companies—this dream gained a solid foundation. I aimed to extend services accessible only to high-net-worth investors in Turkey to young ones with modest capital, thus laying Slayz’s groundwork. Today, our team advances this vision by integrating features absent in competitors.
What sets Slayz apart from other investment apps?
Slayz stands out through its fusion of technology, data analytics, and user-centric design in crafting the investment experience. We boast a young, visionary team that swiftly discerns and adopts global trends. Beyond local products, we offer Turkish investors global ETFs, U.S. stocks, and soon Asian and European exchanges—all from a single screen—with a perspective that prioritizes user needs via simple yet potent product design. In the near future, we’ll incorporate stocks and crypto to evolve into a true financial super app. Three core values further distinguish us: first, technological mastery and speed—we’re a youthful, trend-savvy team that analyzes and integrates innovations without months-long delays; second, a global outlook, spanning U.S. exchanges, international ETFs, and forthcoming Asian and European markets for a vast investment universe; third, a simple yet powerful user experience—Slayz eschews complexity, functioning like an intuitive mobile tool with low entry barriers, clutter-free interfaces, and streamlined decision-making.
Who comprises your user base?
Slayz appeals most to young, tech-savvy users new to investing, but experienced investors also flock to our intuitive interface, competitive costs, and expansive market reach.
How do you simplify access to international stocks? What is your regulatory framework?
Our mission: “Investing in the world should be just one click away.” We provide single-account, single-app access to U.S. and Turkish markets via an intuitive, Turkish-supported interface. Investments on Borsa İstanbul (stock market Istanbul) and U.S. exchanges are custodied and executed per capital markets regulations. For overseas assets, we partner with SIPC-member firms to ensure secure, protected experiences.
How does your USD/TRY interest accrual feature work? What are the benefits?
Slayz accrues interest not just on TRY but on USD balances too—idle dollars in user accounts grow via competitive rates instead of sitting dormant.
Do you provide content for financial literacy?
Absolutely. Slayz transcends a mere investment app to become a financial awareness platform. Through news, analyses, guides, and in-app nudges, we empower users—conscious investors fuel robust economies. On social media, our priority is elevating financial literacy with level-appropriate, clear, reliable content. Within the app, curated news appears in digestible formats, alongside model portfolios and buy/sell recommendations to guide users, especially in U.S. markets.
What are your growth ambitions?
Short-term, we refine the user experience to meet daily financial needs in one screen. Medium- to long-term goals are bolder: transform Slayz into a global investment gateway by adding Asian, European, and Middle Eastern exchanges; forge a super app uniting investing, payments, and spending; and build Turkey’s most advanced fintech product to global standards. Slayz’s roadmap aspires beyond investing to a next-gen financial life platform.
How do you address security?
As a Turkey-based app, global solutions present both opportunities and hurdles, yet our robust regulations ensure top-tier user safety. With broad brokerage licensing and cutting-edge tech, we align with national and international standards.
Carrying Forward Family Legacy
Born in New York in 1999, John Nevzat Erdem lived in the U.S. until age eight, then returned to Turkey for his education, graduating from Koç University’s Industrial Engineering program. With finance ingrained via family—financial instruments, capital markets, and investment culture as early constants—Erdem began trading at 14–15. He reflects on later years: “University sharpened my entrepreneurial edge; I founded Big Drip TR, scaling significant sneaker trade volume. Yet personal passion and family influence drew me back to fintech. Analyzing U.S. platforms revealed Turkey’s gaps crystal-clear, birthing Slayz’s vision.”