Hello friends!
A friend who can help you to build traction and monetize
Open CV
for Collabs
Locations
Tokyo, Japan - Seoul, Korea - Palo Alto, CA, USA
Connect with me on Linkedin
Languages
English - Fluent, Advanced
Japanese - Conversational
Korean - Absolutly beginner
Turkish - Native
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Strategic Partnerships & Collaborations
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Strategic Business Development
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Partner / Startup Ecosystem Development
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Venture Capital Fundraising and Strategy
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Multicultural Communication & Negotiation
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New Businesses Development
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Global Market Expansion
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Go To Market Strategy
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Partnership Development
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Startup Advisor / Mentor
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Startup Accelerator Builder
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Sales & Negotiation
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Public Speaking
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Leadership
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Community building
"My personal goal is to encourage people to solve important problems with practical science, design, and engineering in an economically valuable, become entrepreneurs, and build good businesses"
Helps them validate ideas and build a business.
Helps startups build traction and monetize.
Boosts these reactions and developments.
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Founder/Operator: I’m the Co-founder and CEO of OpenFor.Co, a global platform focused on building partnerships and collaboration to help early-stage startups gain traction with a proven methodology. Despite being a bootstrapped startup, OpenFor.Co has generated a nine-figure economic impact by providing tools like partner program development and boot camps to secure strategic sales and partnerships for startups.
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Orchestra chef: Managing Director of the Founder Institute in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, the world’s largest early-stage accelerator, and biggest startup ecosystem builder. I’ve played a pivotal role in launching and growing a portfolio of over 50 startups, with an estimated portfolio value of over $100 million in less than three years.
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Investor: Founder and GP of Co-capital.co: I am currently building a venture capital firm in the Silicon Valley focusing on investing in startups that demonstrate early traction and boosting them with our guidance to secure future rounds. If no traction advise to use openfor.co.
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Advisory: With over 12 years of experience in international business strategy, go-to-market (GTM), partnerships, sales, and new business development, I’ve advised startups, large enterprises, and governments worldwide. My work is deeply rooted in the global startup ecosystem, fueled by a passion for entrepreneurship and a vast international network. I’ve helped entrepreneurs and businesses across the U.S, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan reach their full potential through strategic insights and mentorship.
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Others, Events, Speaker, etc: In addition to my entrepreneurial work, I have a background in creative consulting, event organization, and public speaking. I’ve organized over 100 events with more than 7,000 attendees, sharing insights and building networks to support innovation.
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My career reflects a creative, strategic, and global mindset, recognized in local media over 10 times for making a significant impact in the startup community. Grounded in values like community, resilience, and continuous learning.
Apr 2018 - Present
Co-Founder & CEO
By starting OpenFor.Co inc, I envisioned and realized a pioneering global partnership development platform, engineered to catalyze startup growth through strategic sales and partnerships. My leadership steered OpenFor.Co to become a beacon of business development innovation, providing a comprehensive suite of support tools tailored to empower startups at various growth stages.
Innovative Selfsustaining Platform Development:
Conceptualized and deployed an array of support mechanisms, including an intuitive partnership program builder, an immersive boot camp, a dynamic promotion program, and targeted incentivization schemes, all designed to fortify the partner ecosystem and streamline startup growth trajectories.
Strategic Network Expansion:
Successfully forged and nurtured a global network of mentors and partners, tapping into personal and professional networks to foster a collaborative environment conducive to startup success and ecosystem development.
Key Achievements:
Global Influence: Strategically expanded OpenFor.Co’s presence across more than 20 countries, demonstrating an unparalleled ability to penetrate and adapt to diverse markets, thereby amplifying our impact on a global scale.
Partnership Excellence: Orchestrated and secured multiple 8-figure partnership deals through organic growth strategies, underscoring my adeptness in identifying, cultivating, and sustaining valuable business relationships that drive mutual success.
Strategic Cost Efficiency: Implemented innovative partnership strategies that effectively saved 7 figures in potential losses, evidencing my skill in utilizing strategic foresight and negotiation to optimize operational efficiencies.
Revenue Growth: Engineered a referral program that generated 6 figures in fees, validating OpenFor.Co’s value proposition and its potent capability to foster revenue growth and financial sustainability.
Portfolio Valuation: Curated and managed an equity portfolio with an estimated value in the 8 figures, showcasing a profound impact on startup valuation enhancement and investment strategy success within the broader business framework.
Mar 2022 - Present
Founder Institute l United States
Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan / Korea
Leveraging a vast personal network and deep understanding of the local startup ecosystems, I co-led the operation and strategic expansion of the Founder Institute Japan/Korea. My role encompassed a broad range of responsibilities from curriculum design to strategic partnership development, with a strong emphasis on using my personal influence to drive the program’s success.
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Orchestrated the program's launch and adaptation in Japan and Korea, carefully customizing it to meet local cultural and business needs through my extensive network and understanding of the market.
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Recruited and onboarded an impressive network of over 150 mentors and more than 50 partners, including investors and industry experts, directly attributed to my personal connections and reputation in the startup community.
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Forged strategic partnerships with key local organizations, universities, and government agencies, significantly enhancing the program's reach and impact, driven by my established relationships and influence.
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Provided personalized mentorship, leveraging my extensive experience to guide startups through their development phases, addressing challenges and maximizing their potential for success.
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Played a pivotal role in startup selection and evaluation, leveraging my expertise to identify high-potential teams and guide them towards achieving their business goals.
Key Achievements:
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Under my leadership and direct influence, the Founder Institute Japan/Korea quickly became a cornerstone of the regional startup ecosystem, localizing legal and business structures effectively to meet the specific needs of Japan and Korea.
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Utilized my personal network to attract hundreds of applications, successfully operating the accelerator without a marketing budget.
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Secured and managed multiple 6-figure exclusive programs, contributing significantly to the local startup ecosystem's growth and development.
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Developed a portfolio of 29 startups within the first two years, culminating in an estimated portfolio value of over $100 million, showcasing the program's success and my ability to foster high-value investments.
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Established over 50 strategic partnerships, enhancing the accelerator's network and resources, largely due to my initiative and personal engagement.
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Facilitated hundreds of collaborations within our diverse community, including partners, investors, governments, and startups, demonstrating the effectiveness of my networking and relationship-building skills.
Sep 2017- Oct 2023
Personal - Worldwide
Startup Mentor/Advisor
My mentorship and advisory roles have been grounded in practical support for startups, leveraging my experience and network to foster their development and success.
Key Achievements:
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Broad Mentorship: Mentored over 200 startups across 20+ countries, offering tailored advice to address diverse market challenges and growth strategies.
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Support Across Stages: Worked with startups ranging from idea stage to scale-ups, including those with over $10 million annual revenue, adapting my guidance to their specific development phase.
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Pitch Evaluations: Listened to pitches from over 500 startups, providing feedback aimed at sharpening their business models, presentation skills, and investor appeal.
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Pitch Event Judging: Served as a judge at dozens of pitch events, offering startups constructive criticism to refine their pitches and business strategies.
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Facilitated Success: My advice and connections have helped startups secure vital funding and forge strategic partnerships, contributing to their growth and market presence.
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Networking Impact: Utilized my extensive network to facilitate introductions between startups, investors, and partners, enhancing their opportunities for success.
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Innovation Encouragement: Encouraged a focus on innovation among startups, supporting them in the development of products and services that address unmet market needs.
2021 - Present
Personal - Worldwide
Event Organizer
Over the past four years, I have taken on the role of an event organizer, orchestrating a wide array of events aimed at fostering community engagement, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities. My efforts have centered on creating meaningful and impactful gatherings that cater to diverse interests and professional backgrounds.
Key Achievements:
Broad Range of Events: Successfully organized more than 50 events, ranging from workshops and seminars to large-scale conferences, covering various topics and industries.
Extensive Participation: These events collectively attracted over 5,000 attendees, demonstrating their relevance and appeal to a wide audience.
Community Building: Played a pivotal role in building and nurturing a community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts, fostering an environment of collaboration and growth.
Logistical Mastery: Mastered the complexities of event planning, including venue selection, speaker coordination, sponsor acquisition, and on-the-day logistics, ensuring smooth and successful event execution.
My tenure as an event organizer has not only been about the logistical aspects of bringing people together but also about creating platforms for learning, networking, and inspiration, contributing significantly to the professional and personal development of attendees.
2022 - Present
Personal - Worldwide
Public Speaker
In the last three years, I have embraced the role of a public speaker, contributing my insights and expertise at various events as an industry expert and thought leader. This journey has allowed me to share my knowledge, experiences, and visions on a wide range of topics, engaging with audiences both locally and internationally.
Key Achievements:
Diverse Speaking Engagements: Participated in around 20 events, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops, sharing my expertise on subjects pertinent to my industry and interests.
Prominent Conferences: Featured as a speaker at three major conferences, highlighting my recognition as a thought leader and my ability to engage with large audiences effectively.
Impactful Presentations: My presentations have sparked discussions, inspired attendees, and facilitated knowledge exchange, contributing to the ongoing dialogue in my field of expertise.
Networking and Influence: Leveraged speaking opportunities to expand my professional network, connect with other leaders, and influence the broader industry discourse.
My public speaking career has been an enriching avenue to influence and inspire, allowing me to connect with diverse groups and contribute to the collective knowledge and advancement of my industry.
Jun 2017- November 2019
EveryCreator.com
Silicon Valley, United States
Founder & CEO - Proudly failed.
As the Founder and CEO of EveryCreator.com, a platform designed to curate user-generated content, I embarked on a journey that, despite its ultimate closure, I regard as a critical learning experience. EveryCreator.com aimed to harness the power of community-created content, providing a space for creators to share, discover, and celebrate diverse forms of expression. This venture, while not successful in the traditional sense, was instrumental in shaping my approach to entrepreneurship and business strategy.
Key Learnings:
Customer Validation: Emphasized the importance of early understanding of market needs and customer preferences to avoid pitfalls and achieve product-market fit, based on EveryCreator.com's experience.
Iterative Development: Learned to develop products iteratively and rapidly for constant feedback and adjustments, minimizing launch risks and aligning closely with user needs and market trends.
Leveraging Partnerships: Experience at EveryCreator.com showed the value of partnerships for accessing resources, expanding reach, and improving products, which drives growth more effectively than solo efforts.
Embracing Failure and Pivoting: The closure of EveryCreator.com taught that failure is an integral part of entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons and contributing to personal and professional growth, thereby acting as a stepping stone toward successfully pivoting into my next company Openfor.co.
Overall Impact: EveryCreator.com served as a crucial learning experience, instilling the importance of agility, community, and the willingness to fail, learn, and iterate in subsequent ventures and business approaches.
2015 - 2019
Freelance Management Consultant
Marketing, Content, GTM, Partnerships, New Biz Dev
Worldwide
As a freelance management consultant, I worked with a wide range of clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies across the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan. My role focused on strategic advisory in areas such as marketing, content strategy, GTM planning, partnerships, and new business development, often working directly with founders and corporate executives.
Key Achievements:
Managed multiple 8-figure projects, demonstrating my ability to oversee large-scale strategic initiatives.
Served a diverse clientele, from innovative startups to globally recognized Fortune 500 companies, showcasing my adaptability and strategic versatility.
Operated internationally, delivering successful projects in various markets including the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan, highlighting my global business acumen.
Engaged directly with decision-makers, ensuring strategies were precisely aligned with each client's specific goals and leading to more effective and efficient outcomes.
This period of consultancy honed my strategic planning and execution skills, directly impacting client success on a global scale.
2009 - 2015
Billimum Creative
Founder, Creative Freelancing Agency - Istanbul
While attending university, I founded Billimum Creative, a freelancing agency brand that offered comprehensive services in web design, photography, graphic design, content creation, and public relations consulting. This venture was a testament to my entrepreneurial spirit and a platform where I applied and expanded my skills in creative and strategic communication.
Role and Responsibilities:
Content Creation: Created diverse and engaging content such as blog posts, social media content, and marketing copy to enhance brand messaging and audience engagement.
Public Relations Consulting: Provided PR consulting, including strategy development, press release crafting, crisis management, and event planning to boost brand reputation and media relations.
Web, Photography & Graphic Design: Offered custom web design, photography, and graphic design services aimed at unified brand storytelling and visual appeal.
Key Achievements:
Broad Clientele: Worked with over 20 clients from startups to established companies, offering creative and strategic solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Brand & ROI Synergy: Achieved a balance between creative work and business results, demonstrating how strategic content and design can improve ROI, engagement, conversion, and loyalty.
Entrepreneurial Success: Managed and grew Billimum Creative while balancing academic responsibilities, and developing skills in time management, multitasking, and strategic planning.
Billimum Creative served as a comprehensive creative and consulting endeavor, emphasizing the fusion of artistic expression with business strategy for impactful business results, laying a solid foundation for my career.
© 2020 Proudly created by Erdinc Ekinci.