Wearing my ‘serial founder exploring starting a company’ hat, I advanced my passion project KIP3.
KIP is a seven-year long passion project to tackle the disinformation problem on social media that makes us poor information citizens and polarized neighbors who cannot take collective action in the face of threats like the climate crisis.
It’s a Wikipedia + Wordle for Current Affairs to make better citizens and voters…A comprehensive project that aims to promote trust and transparency in democracy while combating disinformation and corruption.The deliverables can be used individually or collectively to empower citizens with the knowledge and tools needed to critically evaluate information and build a network of trustworthy sources.Another great #entrepreneurship boot camp at Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology at #UCBerkeley!!
This semester, besides #mentoring the teams, I was pleased to give a talk on promoting your product, and run a practice pitch group for seven teams, including the winner of the boot camp, MyPersonalStylist, a company from Brazil.
Here are a few:
A US-based innovation program for growth stage companies to expand globally and increase their revenues and funding opportunities.
London & San Francisco, 16 January 2018 – Startupbootcamp announces the launch of its second Startupbootcamp Scale in San Francisco, an innovation program for growth-stage startups to expand globally and increase their revenue and funding opportunities.
One month after the successful launch of the first Startupbootcamp Scale program in Mexico City, Startupbootcamp adds San Francisco to their global family of innovation programs. Startupbootcamp Scale San Francisco is backed by key players including StartersHub, a world-class entrepreneurship platform, and Starcamp, a consortium of 5 prestigious universities with cross-border mentor and investor network located in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The program will target and scout growth-stage technology-based startups across a wide range of industries including Digital Health, Big Data & Analytics, AI & Machine Learning, IoT & Connectivity, Travel & Logistics, FinTech and many others.
The 8 participating companies will benefit from a variety of workshops and networking events, including skill building masterclasses and business development showcases.
The program will:
Facilitate collaboration with corporate partners in developing tools for selected startups to scale-up quickly in new markets or develop businesses in existing markets;
Require the startups to be on-site over a period of 6 months for various activities, including workshops and masterclasses; mentor meetings; strategic partnership support and networking events.
Provide opportunities for startups to showcase their progress throughout the 6 month period;
Provide $40,000 financial support per team to cover living and transportation expenses. Additional to in-cash support, program partners provide perks and discounts in the value of $250,000.
co-invest up to $250,000 during or after the program, together with StartersHub and various investors to outstanding startups.
Take up to 5% equity in each startup
Cigdem Toraman, Managing Director, Startupbootcamp Scale San Francisco, said: I have been running Startupbootcamp acceleration programs for over three years. During my role, I had the unique opportunity to interact with hundreds of startup founders and to realize their need for ongoing support during the globalization phase. We must ensure these companies are fully-equipped for scaling up.
We have also observed that the startups which go to the US, specifically to San Francisco, grow much faster, reach high valuations very quickly, and are able to raise additional funding from more investors. This is why Startupbootcamp joined forces with Starcamp and StartersHub to launch the Scale San Francisco program. This partnership will be officially recognised as “3S Landing Pad” supporting the most promising post-revenue technology startups from all over the world.
Andy Shannon, Head of Global at Startupbootcamp, said:
With so many international programs under our belt, we’ve seen enormous growth in several regions around the world. Still, San Francisco stands as the dominant global ecosystem. No other startup ecosystem comes close to the Bay Area in terms of connectivity and access to advice, money, and ideas. Equipped with extraordinary industry leadership, and with such a large community of alumni ready to take their businesses to the next level, we have decided to expand our mission to San Francisco.
Aydin Birik, Managing Director at Starcamp said: In today’s tech world remote working is very common, but one thing still has not changed: most of the deals are still closed face-to-face. When it comes to tech startups, choosing the right home base makes a huge difference in their early journey.
Partnering with world’s best cross-border funding institutions and mentors, Starcamp provides effortless access to secure funding and mentorship in the Bay Area. We are very happy to collaborate with Startupbootcamp and StartersHub towards achieving the same goal to carry startups into the largest, VC-backed tech ecosystem in the world.
Applications for Startupbootcamp Scale San Francisco officially opens today; interested startups can apply here: www.f6s.com/sbcscalesanfrancisco2018/apply
About Startupbootcamp Scale
Created in 2017, Startupbootcamp Scale is an innovation program for companies post-accelerator stage. Designed as an addition to the traditional Startupbootcamp program, Startupbootcamp Scale provides growth-stage startups with validated business models, the opportunity to expand internationally and to increase revenues and funding opportunities. For more information, visit startupbootcamp.org/scale
About Startupbootcamp
Founded in 2010, Startupbootcamp in the world’s largest network of industry-focused innovation programs. With 20+ programs in Europe, Asia, North & South America, MENA & Africa, selected startups gain access to the most relevant mentors, partners and investors in their industry.
About StartersHub
StartersHub is a leading early-stage technology seed fund based in Istanbul. StartersHub offers startups everything they need to become a rapidly-growing global company, including funding, mentorship, networking, strategic partnership support and an inspiring workplace. StartersHub targets startups from Turkey, Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition to technology agnostic acceleration programs, StartersHub also runs industry-specific venture building programs with strategic partners.
About Starcamp
Located at the heart of Silicon Valley Palo Alto -2 minutes walking distance to the world's venture capital headquarters' Sand Hill Road and Stanford University - STARCAMP is an acceleration program, established with the support of KOSGEB, which is taken together with five universities; Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul Technical University, Gebze Technical University, Hasan Kalyoncu University and Bahcesehir University. STARCAMP opens its doors to applicants from each segment. Large and medium-sized companies, start-up companies and even entrepreneurial university students can apply and have programs that tailored to their needs.
These reviews were for a pre-release version of the book in December 2004.
“The Expat Harem promises a world closed and sacrosanct, morphing its occupants into a new hybrid of East and West.”
--Alev Croutier, Turkish-American author of international bestseller Harem: The World Behind the Veil
“Funny, moving and unusual, the essays in this collection transcend postcard views and prejudice to show the rich cultural tapestry of Turkish society.”
--Nicole Pope, co-author of Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey and correspondent for Le Monde
“An extraordinary collection of women trying to make sense of their own lives through another culture. From the disillusioned missionary to the lady roustabout, what unites them is not their backgrounds or personalities but affection for an adopted Turkish homeland. The entrance to the harem is ajar. An addictive set of insights.”
--Andrew Finkel, author of Turkish State, Turkish Society and longtime correspondent in Turkey who has worked for Time magazine, CNN and the Times of London
"Contrary to common misperceptions of Turkey as daunting and dangerous, Tales from the Expat Harem reveals the country’s warm Mediterranean culture. This peek through the lattice-work into the Turkish lives of foreign-born women exposes their encounters with the deep-seated gentility of Turks. A must-read for anyone who thinks all Muslim cultures are identical."
--Jennifer Lawler, author of Encyclopedia of the Byzantine Empire, and the Dojo Wisdom series
“In the harem, Ottoman women could take off their veils and tell their stories. Accomplished modern women in Tales from the Expat Harem tell us much more. Varied, absorbing personal adventures reveal today's Turkey--modern and familiar, traditional and exotic--with a depth, sincerity and delight found nowhere else. They fling open the doors of an unknown world and let us see everything. I've been waiting a long time for this book!”
--Tom Brosnahan, veteran Berlitz, Frommer’s and Lonely Planet guidebook author, originator of Lonely Planet Turkey, founder of the Turkey Travel Planner website and author of travel memoir Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea
“A most enjoyable book. Mixing humor with sharp insight into Turkish society, family, and the role of women, it encourages us to open our hearts to this great nation.”
--Charlotte McPherson, author of Culture Smart! Turkey
"These women have done such a good job, even if the Turkish government spent millions of dollars on public relations it couldn't achieve the same impact that this book will."
--Nazire Kalkan, political reporter for premiere Turkish newsweekly magazine Tempo
“Charming, warm-hearted and vivid, Expat Harem is not only a significant contribution to the understanding of Turkish life and culture, but also provides a compelling insight into the hearts and minds of foreign women who come to Turkey for love, work or travel. Their profound soul-searching makes for a definite must-read for everyone pondering the question of what it is we call 'home'.”
--Stine Jensen, literary critic for Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad and author of Mijn hondvis, mijn moskeetj:Een liefde in Turkije, a book about love between Turks and Europeans
That time the New York Times reviewed a short story I wrote for a hot New York insider website and book. I was also interviewed and narrated my story for a film documentary based on the book.
I used to be a techno utopian. No longer.
Here's a recent WIRED story on the "dystopian post-truth world of propaganda and dark ads" we now associate with Facebook algorithms gone astray..
The semester is over! Time for an all-star pitch competition at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology, run by Melissa Glass.
Along with cojudges Stephen Torres from UCB, Luke Kowalski of Oracle, and Peter Nachbaur from Keen IO, I was honored to judge the afternoon Fall Showcase at UC Berkeley.
We heard and gave feedback on all-star business pitches from teams from various classes with distinct approaches:
Technology Entrepreneurship, and the Management of Technology Innovation Program with Naeem Zafar,
Product Management with Ken Sandy,
and finally, some familiar-to-me teams (hi, Acuity & CoffeeX!) from the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship Bootcamp with Gigi Wang.
Some highlights:
