Core Team
Our core team is the backbone of our vision, bringing together expertise, innovation, and leadership to drive impactful results.
Özgür ŞAKAR
Industrial Engineer w. MBA
20 Years Experience
Strategy & Business Dev.
Project Management
Automotive – Defence – IT
Founder & Managing Director
With over 20 years of extensive experience, Özgür Şakar has worked at the intersection of automotive, defense, and digitalization. From managing multi-hundred-million-dollar international programs to leading strategic business development initiatives, Özgür has consistently demonstrated adeptness in program management, business development, technology transfer, and digital transformation.
Özgür began his professional journey in 2005, leveraging his background in optimization, artificial intelligence and software development. During his time in the UK from 2007 to 2009, he honed his expertise in digitalization and software optimization, including specialized training from Preactor (now Siemens) on advanced planning and scheduling systems. Upon his return to Turkey, he applied his skills at a start-up, spearheading solutions powered by genetic algorithms to optimize production planning and machine sequencing.
An innovator by nature, Özgür has consistently integrated software solutions to automate and enhance processes across his career. Notable achievements include delivering cutting-edge Industry 4.0 initiatives, integrating ERP, PLM, and CRM systems, and developing user-centric digital platforms to improve operational efficiency and business process excellence. This reflects his lifelong commitment to combining technology with practical business solutions.
Özgür holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Kocaeli University and an MBA from Koç University. Throughout his tenure, he has managed and executed complex international projects across multiple domains, such as armored vehicle manufacturing and advanced digital transformation programs. His leadership style emphasizes strategic alignment, meticulous planning, and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders, ensuring seamless execution and measurable outcomes.
Sinan BUBİK
MSc. Electric & Electronic Eng.
30 Years Experience
C-Level Management
Sales & Business Dev.
Energy – Heavy Industry – IT
Managing Partner - DACH Region
Sinan Bubik is a highly accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in the energy and information technology sectors. A graduate of Istanbul Technical University with a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, he furthered his education in Informatics (German) at Marmara University's Social Sciences Institute, combining technical expertise with a strong understanding of global business dynamics.
Sinan began his career at Siemens Turkey in 1995, where he steadily rose through the ranks in sales and product management roles within Communication and Information Technologies. By 2009, he had assumed senior leadership positions, managing business units in Power Generation, Renewable Energy, and Energy Distribution. His responsibilities included overseeing large, multi-functional teams, driving strategic growth, and managing projects with revenues exceeding €200 million. In his most recent role at Siemens, he led the Distribution Systems Business Unit as Head of Division, managing a team of 700 employees and delivering impactful solutions across diverse energy sectors.
In 2022, Sinan relocated to Munich, where he took on the role of Business Development Director for Europe at a leading software company, a subsidiary of Siemens in Germany. In this capacity, he drove strategic growth initiatives, strengthened client relationships, and expanded the company’s presence across the European market, leveraging his deep expertise in business development and technology solutions.
Now a Senior Partner at TBNL, Sinan continues to leverage his deep industry knowledge, leadership experience, and global network to support clients in achieving transformative growth. His expertise spans international business development, renewable energy systems, organizational leadership, and strategic change management, making him a key driver of TBNL’s mission to empower high-tech companies in the European market.
Aylin Akça OKAN
PhD Software Eng & MSc
Economics
30+ Years Experience
Project Mgmt. & Business Dev.
Funding & Grants Management
Digital and Social Transformation
IT – Energy – Life Science
Head of Funding & Tenders Management
With over 30 years of experience in digital transformation, project management, and strategic business development, Aylin Akça Okan brings a wealth of expertise to TBNL. Her career spans diverse industries, including healthcare, defense, energy, and information technologies, where she has consistently delivered innovative solutions and driven organizational growth.
Aylin began her professional journey in 1993 as a Research Assistant and Lecturer at Middle East Technical University (METU), specializing in Software Engineering, System Analysis & Design, and Intelligent Agents. During her tenure, she managed and contributed to several high-impact projects, including the Internet Supported Asynchronous Training Project (İ_DEA) and the Ankara University Computerization & Automation Project (AÜBİP).
Her career progressed with roles at leading organizations such as Siemens, Software AG, and Atos, where she honed her skills in large-scale project management, business development, and digital transformation. Notably, as the Business Unit Manager at Atos, Aylin managed a portfolio worth approximately €50 million annually, overseeing 88 employees across public, defense, energy, and R&D sectors. She excelled in strategic planning, resource management, and fostering partnerships, consistently delivering results that aligned with organizational goals.
Aylin’s expertise extends to academia, where she served as a Senior Lecturer at Atılım University, teaching courses on Software Engineering, Project Management, and Digital Transformation. She also supervised MSc theses and contributed to EU ITEA, TUBITAK TEYDEB, and NATO proposal projects, further solidifying her reputation as a thought leader in technology and innovation.
In recent years, Aylin has focused on operational management and strategy building in the healthcare and technology sectors. As the Head of Technology Development Center & Digital Transformation at LÖSANTE Children and Adult Hospital, she spearheaded initiatives to enhance digital capabilities and streamline operations. Her role at ICterra Information and Communication Technologies as Business Unit Director further showcased her ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and drive international business development.
Aylin holds a Ph.D. in Software Engineering from Atılım University, where her research focused on eGovernment Maturity Models and Multi-Criteria Decision Modeling. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU).
At TBNL, Aylin specializes in Grant Applications, leveraging her deep understanding of national and international funding mechanisms to help clients secure resources for their innovative projects. Her strategic approach, combined with her technical expertise and commitment to excellence, makes her an invaluable asset to the team.
Tunç AKBAYAR
Electrical Engineer w. MBA
20+ Years Experience
Brand Building
Marketing Mgmt. & Execution
FMCG – Coffee – Beverages
Senior Consultant – Brand Building & Marketing
With over 20 years of experience in brand building, consumer and trade marketing, digital media management and marketing capability building, Tunç Akbayar has established himself as a strategic leader in the FMCG, particularly in food and beverage industry. His career is marked by a proven track record of building strong brands, delivering impactful marketing strategies and executions that resonate with consumers, hence driving growth and profitability.
Tunç began his professional journey in 2003 as an Assistant Brand Manager at Tat Gıda, where he gained his first “field” experience as a team member in the successful relaunch of the "TAT" brand after 40 years. He promoted to Brand Manager and led the launch of two “raki” brands, which was a new initiative of Koç Holding after the privatization of state-owned monopoly of alcoholic beverages in Türkiye. This new venture achieved 5% market share within two years—a significant accomplishment in a competitive market dominated by the old monopolistic brands.
In 2007, Tunç joined Mey Alcoholic Beverages (now Mey/Diageo) as a Brand Manager, where he managed a diverse portfolio of alcoholic beverages, including Binboa Vodka, Tekirdağ Rakısı, and HARE Fruit and Coffee Liqueurs. His innovative campaigns and strategic initiatives resulted in significant market share growth, increased brand awareness, and industry recognition, including a Silver Effie Award for HARE Liqueurs and a Crystal Apple Award for Binboa Vodka’s cinema advertisement.
Tunç’s expertise expanded further during his 12-year tenure at Nestlé Türkiye, where he held several leadership roles. As the Marketing Manager for the Coffee Category, he led the NESCAFÉ Gold, NESCAFÉ Classic, and Nestlé COFFEE-MATE brands, achieving a 16% CAGR in organic growth over three years. His TVC Campaign “Nescafé Gold, Kokusunda Davet Var” campaign became one of best recognized campaigns of 2015 and 2016 with 82% recognition score (IPSOS), enabled reaching stretch sales targets. His award-winning campaign, "Nescafé Classic ile Sabahları Sen Kimsin?”, earned a Bronze Effie Award and significantly boosted brand image and sales.
In his role as eBusiness Manager (Digital Media & Content Lead), Tunç spearheaded Nestlé Türkiye’s digital marketing strategy across 10 categories, driving e-sales growth and launching innovative eRetail initiatives. He also led the Consumer Engagement Center, achieving an impressive Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 83%. Most recently, as Marketing Capability Manager, he developed and executed a structured marketing capability program, fostering a strong marketing community and representing Türkiye on the Zone-Europe Marketing Capability Board.
Tunç holds an MBA from Koç University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Yıldız Technical University. His certifications in eCommerce and eBusiness from Nestlé further underscore his expertise in digital transformation of consumer engagement.
At TBNL, Tunç brings his extensive experience in marketing, brand management, and digital strategy to help clients navigate the complexities of the European market. His ability to combine data-driven insights with creative solutions makes him a valuable asset to the team.
Pınar Okal Keleşoğlu
Textile Engineer
20+ years experience
Global Sourcing,
Business Development,
Strategic Partnership,
B2B Matchmaking
Sustainability – Textile & Technologies
Strategic Partnerships Director
Pınar Okal Keleşoğlu is a trilingual textile engineer (Turkish, Italian, English) with over 20 years of international experience in textile sourcing, procurement, and business development across Italy, Turkey, and global markets.
Her early involvement in European Union projects led her to Como, Italy, marking the start of her professional journey in Europe in the beginning of 2000’s. Over the years, she has developed a deep understanding of market dynamics, trade networks, and the nuances of cross-cultural business operations.
With a strong commitment to excellence and cultural fluency, Pınar is known for her personalized, strategic approach to connecting like-minded partners and navigating complex international markets. Pinar’s proven track record includes helping companies confidently enter and grow in new markets, optimizing international sales operations, and forging impactful collaborations. She has worked closely with Chambers of Commerce, Global Business Networks, and State Trade Institutions.
Core Expertise
✓ European Market Entry
✓ International Business Development
✓ Cross-Cultural Negotiation
✓ B2B Matchmaking
✓ Trade Fairs & Business Delegation
Coordination
✓ EU Project Support & Institutional Networking
Education
• MSc Textile Engineering, Uludağ University
• BSc Textile Sciences, Uludağ University
At TBNL, Pınar leads strategic initiatives that help clients confidently navigate the European business landscape. Her multidisciplinary perspective ensures that client needs are met with precision, insight, and long-term vision—empowering organizations to thrive across borders, industries, and cultures.
Can Alaz
B.Eng., Information Technology
25+ years experience
Strategy & Business Development
Go-to-Market – Strategy & Alliances
Analyst Relations
Information Technology
Strategic Advisor
A technology executive with over 25 years of international experience, Can Alaz is a results-oriented leader who possesses a unique blend of deep technical expertise and sharp business acumen. He has built a distinguished career by serving as a crucial bridge between technical and business teams, translating complex challenges into strategic growth opportunities.
Can’s professional journey began in France with a strong engineering foundation, first as a Telecommunication R&D Engineer and subsequently as an Application Architect at the multinational technology provider Capgemini in Paris. This early-career experience provided him with a robust technical understanding. Seeking to expand his strategic capabilities, he deliberately transitioned into management consultancy upon returning to Istanbul, taking on roles at IBM and the communications service provider Türk Telekom. This pivotal period culminated in a senior client management role back at IBM, where he successfully connected the dots between his engineering foundations, business strategy, and sales.
His career is marked by impactful roles at both global technology leaders and agile startups. He has managed key accounts for major corporations like Red Hat and driven business development for Dassault Systèmes. At Gartner, he served as a Technology Provider Territory Account Executive, further deepening his expertise in market research and analysis.
In recent years, Can has applied his extensive experience to the dynamic startup ecosystem. As the Head of Strategy & Alliances for Logsign, a cybersecurity SaaS provider, he spearheaded global sales, strategy, and analyst relations. He developed and executed comprehensive business and product strategies that drove significant market expansion. In a prior advisory role with the same company, he guided the CEO and CMO on value proposition development and market segmentation. At Akinon, a cloud-based digital commerce platform, he managed analyst relations, providing C-level executives with vital market insights and successfully aligning product messaging with analyst intelligence to improve market positioning.
As a Strategic Advisor, Can now provides advisory services for technology startups and scaleups, focusing on enhancing their Product Marketing, Analyst Relations, and Go-to-Market (GTM) strategies. He is adept at facilitating cross-functional collaboration, coaching executives on messaging, and is proficient in methodologies like ValueSelling. His passion for solving complex problems and his talent for clear communication make him a valuable asset for any technology firm aiming for growth and market leadership.
Seçkin Dilek
Senior Consultant-Venture Growth
11+ years experience
Industrial Engineer M.Sc
Innovation Management & Investment
Automotive & Mobility
Senior Consultant - Venture Strategy & Growth
Seçkin is highly accomplished innovation strategist with over 10 years of experience in innovation management, specializing in venture growth, corporate-startup collaboration and startup investments. Strong background combining Industrial Engineering and Business Administration with concentration in finance and innovation.
Seçkin began his professional career in 2014 as a Planning Engineer at Temsa and continued his career as new vehicle planning engineer at Sanko.
In 2016, Seçkin continued his career journey as a research assistant at İskenderun Techical University Industrial Engineering Department. During his tenure, he worked as founding-coordinator of Technology Transfer Office and Technoparks. In charge of leading the the technology transfer office, Seçkin was responsible for all new business development activities in coordination with University board, negotiations of intellectual property rights with corporations for sponsored research, commercialization processes of the Intellectual Property based technologies and University-Industry collaborations.
Additionally, he coordinated the efforts of new venture development with close collaboration with Incubation Center of the University.
In 2021, Seçkin joined Otokoç Otomotiv which is a group company of Koç Holding in Turkey. In his role as Innovation and Entrepreneurship manager, Seçkin spearheaded Otokoç’s innovation strategy and strategic startup investments. He also executed corporate venturing program of Otokoç Otomotiv. He led the 4 strategic startup investments which were related to micromobility, connected vehicle and electrification. Seçkin also had a role in development of new ventures such as caravan camping area, caravan manufacturing, micromobility, mobility superapp. Addition to this roles, Seçkin is a design thinking practitioner & mentor and he organized more than 10 design thinking workshops at Otokoç.
A graduate of Gaziantep University with a bachelor and Master degree in Industrial Engineering, he further augmented his financial and managerial skills by attending programs at World-leading universities for innovation and venture investment such as MIT and Harvard. Seçkin continues his PhD studies in İstanbul Technical University, specializing in business administration and finance.
Now, a senior consultant at TBNL, Seçkin is our expert on venture acceleration and growth. His expertise in driving strategic growth through innovative solutions and leveraging technology to transform business models. Combining hands-on leadership approach and effective communication skills to lead the teams in the engagements. His expertise spans venture scouting, analysing, dealflow management, valuation and fundraising. He leverages his network to drive innovation, growth and fundraising process of startups.
Hakan Ayçenk
M.Sc. Electrical and Electronics Engineer w. EMBA
32+ years experience
Strategy & Transformation
Project Management
Defence – Energy – IT
Head of North America
Hakan Ayçenk is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in program management, systems engineering, and procurement leadership across the defense, energy, technology, and aerospace sectors. A graduate of Middle East Technical University (METU) with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, he further enhanced his strategic and business capabilities with an Executive MBA from METU’s Business Administration Department. Hakan is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is fluent in English and French.
He began his career in the defense industry, taking on critical engineering and systems roles at ASELSAN and MIKES, including an international assignment with THALES in France. He went on to hold senior leadership positions at STM and METEKSAN Defense, where he managed complex systems integration and airworthiness certification programs. His expertise covers the full lifecycle of high-technology programs—from proposal development and contract negotiation to execution and sustainment. He also contributed to NATO- and EU-aligned programs, coordinating multi-party initiatives with industry partners.
In the energy sector, Hakan held executive roles at ENERJISA and GAMA Power Systems, where he oversaw engineering of investment programs and global procurement operations. He led enterprise-scale digital transformation initiatives, coordinating across business units and stakeholders to drive modernization and operational excellence.
From 2019 to 2023, he served as Business Sector Head at ICTERRA, managing multi-disciplinary teams across defense, telecom, healthcare, and energy programs. In addition to program delivery, he played a key role in business development—driving strategic customer acquisition, building long-term partnerships, and expanding ICTERRA’s footprint across multiple sectors. He also led innovation-oriented initiatives in emerging technologies guided internal R&D and product commercialization efforts.
Hakan also served as an Executive Board Member at the Teknokent Defense Industry Cluster (TSSK), where he supported collaboration among over 100 technology firms and helped scale high-potential SMEs through industrial partnerships and innovation programs.
Now a Partner at TBNL, Hakan continues to leverage his deep technical expertise, executive leadership experience, and global program management background to help organizations navigate complex challenges and scale effectively. His areas of expertise include program management, defense systems engineering, energy infrastructure, digital transformation, and innovation-driven growth—positioning him as a trusted partner in advancing strategic capabilities and technology ecosystems across Canada and beyond.
