OUR TEAM
We operate across Amsterdam, London, and Istanbul, with active reach across Europe’s academic, incubator, and innovation ecosystems. This gives us early access to technical founders, research spinouts, and untapped talent pools, especially in geographies where others underinvest, and lets us guide them from prototype to scale.
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Partner
Venture Partner
Scientific Advisor
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Executive in Residence
Managing Partner
Gökhan Güner
Passionate about science and deep-tech investments, Gökhan previously managed IP-based deep-tech investments for five years at Inventram, the technology commercialization and corporate venture capital company of Koc Holding.
Gökhan started his career as an engineer in the U.S. He lived and worked in California for over 10 years, designing and developing many complex electronics and software products at Lucent Technologies, Xilinx, Cadence Design Systems, and Moseley Wireless Solutions. He was also a founding member of SanBar Networks, a high-tech start-up in Santa Barbara. A career move after his MBA in London brought Gökhan to Istanbul, Turkey, where he worked as an M&A professional at Global Investment Holding and PDF Corporate Finance, building investment expertise in the local investment ecosystem.
Gökhan received his MBA with focus on private equity and venture capital at London Business School, U.K. He earned his M.S. degree and pursued doctoral studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He completed his undergraduate studies in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bilkent University, Turkey.
Gökhan started his career as an engineer in the U.S. He lived and worked in California for over 10 years, designing and developing many complex electronics and software products at Lucent Technologies, Xilinx, Cadence Design Systems, and Moseley Wireless Solutions. He was also a founding member of SanBar Networks, a high-tech start-up in Santa Barbara. A career move after his MBA in London brought Gökhan to Istanbul, Turkey, where he worked as an M&A professional at Global Investment Holding and PDF Corporate Finance, building investment expertise in the local investment ecosystem.
Gökhan received his MBA with focus on private equity and venture capital at London Business School, U.K. He earned his M.S. degree and pursued doctoral studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He completed his undergraduate studies in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bilkent University, Turkey.
Managing Partner
Okan Kara
An entrepreneur at heart, Okan previously set up and ran the regional operations (EEMEA) of Pera, a UK-based advisory services company focused on innovation-driven growth programmes.
Okan coordinated the national office of EU programmes in TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) raising EUR 200mn in R&D funds from the EU during his term. He was the Chairman of the EUREKA Network, based in Brussels, leading the EUR 1bn budget of the network. He worked closely with 2,000+ researchers, start-ups, SMEs, and corporates in the technology space during his career. He started his career as an analyst in the telecom sector at Telsim (later acquired by Vodafone).
Okan is an industrial engineer by training and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Science and Technology Policy. He conducted part of his Ph.D. research at University College London. He has an MBA degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA. Okan is a Chevening Scholar alumnus and was selected Entrepreneur of the Year by the British Council in 2016.
Okan coordinated the national office of EU programmes in TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) raising EUR 200mn in R&D funds from the EU during his term. He was the Chairman of the EUREKA Network, based in Brussels, leading the EUR 1bn budget of the network. He worked closely with 2,000+ researchers, start-ups, SMEs, and corporates in the technology space during his career. He started his career as an analyst in the telecom sector at Telsim (later acquired by Vodafone).
Okan is an industrial engineer by training and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Science and Technology Policy. He conducted part of his Ph.D. research at University College London. He has an MBA degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA. Okan is a Chevening Scholar alumnus and was selected Entrepreneur of the Year by the British Council in 2016.
Managing Partner
Erhan Kılıçözlü
A former investment manager with 20+ years in emerging markets. Prior to founding ACT, Erhan worked for Technology Reserve, a global tech-transfer platform.
Erhan started his finance career as a trader at Peregrine, a Hong Kong-based investment bank covering South-East Asian markets, and later worked at Renaissance Capital in Moscow, Paine Webber in New York, and Global Securities in Istanbul. In 2002, he moved to London, and helped set up Meridian Capital, which reached USD 2.5bn in NAV during his tenure. He invested and traded in various deals in Turkey, Central Asia, and Russia. Erhan worked as engineer for GE's Power Generation division in New York after university.
Erhan studied mechanical engineering at Istanbul Technical University and SUNY Buffalo. He received MBA and M.S. (Finance) degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completed the Investment Management Program at London Business School. Erhan is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Erhan started his finance career as a trader at Peregrine, a Hong Kong-based investment bank covering South-East Asian markets, and later worked at Renaissance Capital in Moscow, Paine Webber in New York, and Global Securities in Istanbul. In 2002, he moved to London, and helped set up Meridian Capital, which reached USD 2.5bn in NAV during his tenure. He invested and traded in various deals in Turkey, Central Asia, and Russia. Erhan worked as engineer for GE's Power Generation division in New York after university.
Erhan studied mechanical engineering at Istanbul Technical University and SUNY Buffalo. He received MBA and M.S. (Finance) degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completed the Investment Management Program at London Business School. Erhan is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Partner
Gürcan Ozan
A technologist with over 18 years of experience in the technology and innovation space, previously Gürcan was at Hexagon Studio, Turkey's premier engineering-design company. From launch to management, he was responsible for R&D and technology development projects, covering the automotive, defence, and manufacturing industries. As an active task-group member of EU technology associations, he conducted joint innovation projects with tech actors in ICT, transport and manufacturing sectors.
Gürcan held various positions at TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) over 12 years, assisting over 2,000 researchers, firms, startups, and R&D centres in funding and partnerships. He conducted over 300 technology evaluations & assessments. He achieved over EUR 50mn of funding for innovation projects. He is a jury member at EIC Accelerator and EU Prize for Women Innovators.
Gürcan is a mechanical engineer by training and earned an M.S. degree and pursued doctoral studies in science and technology policy at Middle East Technical University, Turkey.
Gürcan held various positions at TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) over 12 years, assisting over 2,000 researchers, firms, startups, and R&D centres in funding and partnerships. He conducted over 300 technology evaluations & assessments. He achieved over EUR 50mn of funding for innovation projects. He is a jury member at EIC Accelerator and EU Prize for Women Innovators.
Gürcan is a mechanical engineer by training and earned an M.S. degree and pursued doctoral studies in science and technology policy at Middle East Technical University, Turkey.