Ahmet Utku Yavuz

Recruiter for Early-Stage Startups and Trading Companies

Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye

About

Being a change maker means dedicating every effort to improving the lives of others — empowering people, creating opportunities, and building communities that make life better for everyone involved. Believing that the future is ours to shape, my work centers on helping people unlock their potential, connect with the right opportunities, and grow together. From building tech communities like inzva to matching early-stage startups with founding engineers through Zen Talent, I aim to design ecosystems where curiosity, ownership, and purpose thrive — driven by the simple love of making things better. www.inzva.com / A tech community dedicated to AI and algorithms based in Istanbul, supported by an education foundation www.algoleague.com / A community-driven competitive programming platform for algorithm contests and skill-building www.zentalent.tech / Sourcing and connecting top tech talent with startups, managing the full recruitment cycle and building trusted partnerships.

Experience

  • Recruiter at Zen Talent
    Jul 2023 - Present · 3 yrs

    Supports early-stage startup founders in building strong tech teams by connecting them with the right candidates — Founding engineers, Frontend/Backend/Full Stack Developers, and Data, AI, and ML Engineers — who bring ownership, curiosity, and startup experience. Manages end-to-end recruitment processes, from sourcing and screening to offer negotiation and onboarding, ensuring a strong fit between talent and opportunity. We are building early teams for Wealt, Hilbert’s, Growdash, Upsonic, Enhencer, Eatron, Complizen.ai, Spacture AI, Shipday, tingz, integral gmbh

  • Talent Acquisition Partner at Melvon Group
    Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

    We bring the right people together — at the right time, for the right reason.

  • inzva (Hybrid)
    • Community Volunteer
      Aug 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

      Advises on strategy, community engagement, and program development for inzva, a non-profit tech community that empowers developers, researchers, and students through algorithm camps, research groups, and workshops.

    • Co-Founder and General Manager
      Jul 2017 - Aug 2024 · 7 yrs 2 mos

      Established in 2017, inzva is a top talent tech community based in Istanbul, Turkey. Leads a non-profit tech community that unites engineers, researchers, and students to advance knowledge-sharing and skill-building in emerging technologies. Oversees strategic partnerships, program design, and community development, with an emphasis on collaboration through algorithm camps, AI research groups, bootcamps and workshops. Dedicated to empowering the next generation of tech talent and strengthening the ecosystem through open, inclusive, and impactful events and initiatives.

    • Community Manager
      Jun 2022 - Jun 2024 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Responsible for building and maintaining strong connections across the inzva community, alumni network, universities, and industry partners. Focused on designing and delivering events, workshops, and collaborative programs that bring together students, graduates, and professionals.

  • Career Consultant at UNDP
    May 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

    Provided career consultancy services for the UNDP Frontier Tech Leaders Programme and Samsung Innovation Campus, supporting over 200 students through one-on-one career coaching, detailed CV and LinkedIn profile reviews, and structured mock interview training. Enabled young talent to access practical tools for long-term career development and professional growth.

  • Chief Executive Officer at algoleague
    Mar 2020 - Jun 2025 · 5 yrs 4 mos

    Built algoleague.com from the ground up, leveraging the collective experience and insights of the algorithm community. The platform brings together students, developers, and tech enthusiasts through algorithm contests, coding challenges, and learning opportunities. Oversees vision, growth, and partnerships with universities, student organizations, and industry leaders to create an active ecosystem where participants develop problem-solving skills, connect with peers, and unlock career opportunities in tech.