kurucular

Kurucu is Turkish for founder or initiator. Kurucular is the plural form, referring to people who establish an organization, movement, institution, or state. The term emphasizes the act of creation and the initial phase of development, rather than ongoing leadership. Etymology: from kurmak "to found" plus the suffix -cu/-cü meaning agent; thus kurucu means the one who establishes.

Founders typically set a founding vision, mobilize resources, design governance structures, and recruit the early leadership and members. They often contribute the initial identity, goals, and legal or organizational form, and influence the direction and culture for years, though they may not always remain in leadership.

Uses and contexts: In politics and history, kurucular refer to those who established a country, movement, or ruling structure; in Turkish discourse, "Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nin kurucuları" is used to denote the founders of the Republic, commonly including Atatürk and colleagues. In business and entrepreneurship, "kurucular" are the founders of a company or startup, sometimes distinguished from employees or later executives. In academia, culture, and civil society, individuals who founded institutions, journals, schools, or movements can be called kurucular.

Notes: The term is descriptive rather than official; it does not by itself imply legal ownership, and related terms include kurucu ortak (co-founder) or kuruculuk (founding role).