Los Angeles, California, United States
My entrepreneurial journey began in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, where I arrived as an immigrant, built my family, and found the inspiration that would later lead me to co-found what became Türkiye’s first e-commerce startup. In 1999, I co-founded and led Deppo.com®️, which grew into one of the country’s leading digital platforms. Building a tech company in the early days of Türkiye’s digital economy shaped not only my career but also my perspective on entrepreneurship: bold ideas matter, but resilience, timing, adaptability, and execution matter just as much. Since then, I have lived and worked across Los Angeles, Miami, Europe, and the Middle East, advising startups, founders, investors, and institutions on global growth, early-stage investment strategy, international positioning, and cross-border expansion. In 2019, I founded GoGlobal in Miami to help tech startups from emerging markets expand internationally by connecting them to strategic capital, global clients, ecosystem partners, and impact-driven growth opportunities. Today, I split my time between Los Angeles and Miami. GoGlobal is headquartered in Miami, while Los Angeles remains an important base for our West Coast presence. Through GoGlobal, we are especially active across the U.S., Mexico, the U.K., Türkiye, and the broader MENA region. More recently, we have been expanding our focus into Latin America, with Mexico as our first strategic stop in the region. I continue to support founders through mentorship, advisory, ecosystem building, and international collaboration. I previously served as Chapter President of Keiretsu Forum Turkey and remain engaged in founder-focused initiatives, including the U.S. Commercial Service’s Select Global Women in Tech, and Arya Investment Platform, where I serve as Founding Lead for Arya Americas and Arya Dubai. I also lecture at universities on innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, and I am a columnist at TurkNetwork Magazine, where I write “Innovate, Inspire, and Lead,” contributing to dialogue around innovation, entrepreneurship, and the Turkish-American community in the United States. I am also the author of “Breaking Boundaries: How I Built a Startup and Paved the Way for Others,” available on Amazon, where I share my entrepreneurial journey and reflections on the early formation of Türkiye’s startup ecosystem. Fluent in three European languages and a proud mother of two, I remain committed to bridging global startup ecosystems with a deep belief in sustainability, inclusion, and bold innovation.
Founded in 2019, GoGlobal is a next-generation boutique advisory firm headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida, with a growing presence in Los Angeles and active engagements across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Under my leadership, GoGlobal empowers tech startups—particularly from emerging markets—to expand globally, scale sustainably, and align with impactful ESG principles. We serve a diverse network of founders, investors, corporations, and institutions, offering strategic advisory across funding, expansion, and partnership development. We’ve supported over 30 impact-driven startups, facilitated nearly $100M in funding, and provided hands-on guidance on market entry, investment readiness, and corporate innovation. Our reach spans startup-friendly cities such as Miami, Los Angeles, London, Istanbul, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Riyadh. GoGlobal's portfolio features a strong representation of women-led and diverse teams, working across sectors such as health tech, fintech, agri-tech, edtech, food tech, climate tech, SaaS, and Gen Z consumer platforms. What sets us apart: Global-local strategy, powered by a trusted network of partners A triple-bottom-line mindset: People, Planet, Profit Strong focus on ESG, sustainability, and inclusive growth Strategic alliances with platforms like SelectUSA Tech, Mana Tech, and Arya Women Investment Platform At GoGlobal, we believe in building long-term value by bridging ecosystems, mobilizing resources, and co-creating opportunity. Our mission is simple but ambitious: to turn innovation into meaningful impact—globally. 🌍 www.goglobaladvisory.com
As a proud SelectUSA Service Provider, I support international startups in navigating U.S. market entry, expansion strategy, and investor readiness. GoGlobal is officially listed in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Service Provider Directory, a recognition that reflects our global impact and expertise in guiding founders through strategic growth in the U.S. In addition, I serve as a mentor for Select Global Women in Tech (SGWIT)—a flagship program connecting international female tech founders with mentors across the U.S. innovation ecosystem. My role focuses on empowering women-led startups to access funding, build strategic networks, and thrive in competitive markets. The annual SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier U.S. platform for foreign direct investment (FDI), where I actively participate as a judge, panelist, and advisor—helping bridge high-potential global startups with U.S.-based investors, economic development organizations, and key stakeholders. 🔗 Learn more: GoGlobal in the SelectUSA Directory -https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/find-service-providers
GoGlobal is thrilled to partner with Mana Tech as a Community Partner in the Miami Immersion Program. This collaboration brings together GoGlobal’s global market expertise and investor readiness services with Mana Tech’s robust ecosystem in Miami, creating unparalleled opportunities for tech startups to scale in the U.S. market. Through this partnership, we aim to empower entrepreneurs by providing them with the strategic support, networking opportunities, and cultural insights needed to thrive in Miami’s vibrant tech community. Together, we are committed to fostering innovation, sustainability, and growth for the next generation of tech leaders. Here are five skills of GoGlobal that complement the Miami Immersion Program: 1. Global Market Expertise: GoGlobal’s deep understanding of international markets equips startups with the insights needed to navigate and succeed in the U.S. market, especially within the diverse and dynamic Miami tech ecosystem. 2. Investor Readiness: With a strong focus on preparing startups for investment, GoGlobal helps entrepreneurs refine their pitches, enhance their business strategies, and connect with potential investors, increasing their chances of securing funding. 3. Strategic Networking: GoGlobal’s extensive network of industry leaders, investors, and business partners provides startups with invaluable connections, facilitating growth and expansion opportunities within the U.S. tech scene. 4. Cultural Adaptation: GoGlobal’s experience in bridging cultural differences ensures that international startups can effectively adapt their products and business strategies to align with U.S. market demands and consumer behaviors. 5. Sustainability and ESG Alignment: GoGlobal’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles helps startups integrate sustainable practices from day one, appealing to modern investors and consumers who prioritize responsible business practices.
As the Founding Lead of Arya Americas, I am spearheading the expansion of Arya Investment Platform across North and South America — building a cross-border ecosystem that supports women investors, founders, and impact leaders. 🌎 Launched Arya Americas in 2025, with a mission to: +Empower female founders across the Americas to access capital, global networks, and strategic mentorship. +Engage new and experienced angel investors within the Arya community +Facilitate knowledge-sharing and investment opportunities between the U.S., Latin America, and Türkiye 📌 Key initiatives include: +Monthly member meetings featuring pitch sessions, expert speakers, and curated deal flow +Arya Growth Circles to support founders with U.S. expansion and investor readiness +Strategic collaboration with Arya Türkiye and Arya Fund to ensure cross-border synergy Proud to co-lead this chapter with Sibel Kulaksız, Chapter President, and to grow a community that embodies inclusive leadership and gender-lens investing.
As the Founding Lead of Arya Dubai, I guide the strategic development of Arya Women Investment Platform’s first chapter in the MENA region. My role focuses on advancing gender equality in entrepreneurship and investment, while supporting our Co-Presidents in building an inclusive and values-driven community from the ground up. I actively contribute to: - Shaping the chapter’s vision, growth strategy, and positioning within the regional startup ecosystem - Supporting community-building through local programs, strategic partnerships, and cross-border collaboration - Mentoring early-stage founders and fostering inclusive innovation practices - Providing education and thought leadership to cultivate new angel investors—through lectures and sessions on early-stage investing and ecosystem engagement - Expanding the reach of Arya VC—Arya’s early-stage investment fund—across the UAE and broader MENA region, with a focus on diverse, high-impact startups Arya Dubai is a key part of Arya Women Investment Platform, Türkiye’s leading investment network promoting gender equality in business. I also serve on Arya’s global Board, where I contribute to ecosystem development and international expansion efforts.