GrowthWise

My role as Growth Strategist for tech startups is multifaceted and dynamic, tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of each company. I'm responsible for defining clear growth objectives, conducting comprehensive market research, and implementing strategies to acquire new customers. I closely analyze data to track progress and consistently experiment with various approaches to identify what works best. Collaboration with product development teams ensures that the product aligns with growth strategies, while a focus on user retention and engagement maximizes customer lifetime value. 

I also explore business development opportunities, identify funding sources, and work toward expanding into new markets. My role ranges from specialized marketing functions to broader responsibilities encompassing all aspects of a startup's growth, making adaptability and a continuous learning mindset essential in the fast-paced world of startups.

Co-founder

Riders.ai

Within this prominent ed-tech platform, I serve as a partner overseeing aspects such as business expansion, fostering growth, customer acquisition, and implementing go-to-market strategies in specific, strategically selected markets.

Partner

Riders stands as a premium platform providing an immersive, simulation-driven educational and competitive environment, rich in robotics-related content. My role involved developing and putting into action a growth strategy that encompassed both Turkey and the United States. This included setting up a sales machine, creating a marketing framework focused on growth, managing PR efforts, collaborating with educational institutions, and spearheading the introduction of Turkey's first online robotics league. In essence, I led efforts to foster the company's growth by designing and implementing processes to expand its reach and customer base.

Director of Business Development

İTÜ ARI Teknokent

INNOGATE serves as an International Acceleration Program that facilitates the connection of technology companies with potential customers, investors, and business partners in the US market. This is achieved through the provision of training, consultancy, and coaching, all aimed at assisting these companies in expanding their presence on a global scale. Consequently, INNOGATE empowers businesses to replicate their successes in Turkey on an international level.

As a member of the program management team, my responsibilities encompassed marketing, the selection process for technology-based SMEs within each cohort, as well as the overall organization and operation of the program spanning both Turkey and the United States. I closely monitored and guided the progress of the companies participating in the INNOGATE International Acceleration Program. In more specific terms, my role entailed expediting these companies' entry into the US market by immersing them in key American cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Chicago. I also orchestrated business development meetings with growth partners to enable these companies to pitch their products and forge long-term collaborations. Beyond the US phase, I continued to track the companies' sales and investment status to meet the program's objectives.

Program Manager, International Acceleration Programs

Koç Üniversitesi

I held a position overseeing administrative project management, particularly in relation to various types of grants. In more detail, my responsibilities included:

- Staying updated on project application and guidance document changes from funding authorities.
- Providing information and detailed explanations about different funding options to potential applicants, as well as assisting university staff in the accounting, human resources, and purchasing departments.
- Informing applicants about university rules and procedures for project implementation.
- Organizing workshops for faculty members on project budget preparation and management.
- Conducting an overview of all projects to assess their budgets and related activities, granting approval for submission.
- Collaborating with the Project Coordinator (faculty staff) to plan budget management after the grant agreement was signed.
- Serving as a mediator to resolve conflicts between the funding agency and the university and faculty.
- Aiding in finding solutions for budget deviations during the project application phase.
- Preparing financial reports for submission to the funding authorities.

Project Senior Specialist

During my initial role at Koç University's Technology Transfer Directorate, I served as a Grants Assistant Specialist. In this capacity, my responsibilities included overseeing the project's execution in accordance with the project plan and developing financial reports and records to document project activities. The tasks I successfully carried out comprised monitoring project progress and making necessary adjustments to ensure the project's successful completion. Additionally, I regularly reviewed the quality of work performed by the project team, ensuring alignment with project standards. Over the fiscal period spanning 2014 to 2016, I actively managed EU-funded projects with a combined total budget exceeding 20M TL.

Grants Asst. Specialist

ODS Danışmanlık

While working as a Freelance Project Manager at ODS Consulting, I acquired the ability to oversee a variety of projects, with a significant focus on those tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, cumulatively surpassing a budget of 10 million Turkish Lira. I provided both managerial and technical support to clients to ensure a seamless and trouble-free project implementation process. My responsibilities included representing clients in interactions with governmental organizations and coordinating all stakeholders on their behalf. In my role as a project specialist, I was accountable for preparing interim and final reports that succinctly summarized the activities initially agreed upon within the scope of each project.

Freelance Project Specialist

Yandex

As being part of Yandex Turkey Assessor Team as an assessor, I evaluated the results of Yandex search engine queries to improve the quality of SERP.

Assessor

BAMA TECHNOLOGY

The role of overseeing project management and quality assurance management entails orchestrating the activities necessary to adhere to the quality standards of projects. I was responsible for both monitoring and offering guidance on the performance of the quality management system. I generated data and reported on performance, evaluating it against established standards like the European Conformity and Quality Management Systems (13485, 9001). Additionally, BAMA Tech Co., a startup, secures its financial sustainability through various grants such as KOSGEB, TUBITAK, and AKA. In this context, I was tasked with formulating and executing projects.

Assistant Project Manager

Sandvik Mining and Construction

In my role as a Junior Financial Reporter, I took responsibility for organizing and compiling the necessary reports for review by the General Manager. Subsequently, I ensured their delivery to both the lenders and shareholders, who are essential stakeholders of the business.

Junior Financial Reporter

Sivil Toplum Geliştirme Merkezi - Civil Society Development Center

STGM is a non-governmental organization with a mission to advance civil society in Turkey by providing technical support for the implementation and management of grants related to projects funded by the European Commission and other grant programs. During my training period, my responsibilities included conducting research on IPA Programs, project cycle management, and application guidelines. I also assisted the grants manager in the budgeting process for these projects.

Assistant of UN Projects 

Since 2011, I've dedicated my career to various roles within the tech startup ecosystem. In the early days, when venture capital was just starting to gain traction in Turkey, I played a key role in securing grants for SMBs and startups. My responsibilities during this time included managing both the technical and financial sides of innovation projects, as well as handling grant proposals, project management, and reporting.

My path then led me to INNOGATE, Turkey's premier global accelerator program. Through this experience, I helped numerous scale-up companies in the US develop their growth strategies. I was fortunate to be involved in meetings with venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and advisors.

By 2020, I shifted focus to supporting various tech companies with their go-to-market strategies. Through my GrowthWise consultancy, I assist startups, particularly those with limited resources, in entering new markets. My goal is to help them evolve from non-scalable, limited MRR models into scalable, sustainable businesses.

Hey Folks!
We’re looking for someone to own the outreach workflows 💫
If you love data, structure, and making systems run smoothly, let’s talk!

Ozlem Degirmenci Gulser

Supporting scaleups in crafting and implementing effective growth strategies.

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