Ayşe Secde Gençler

About

Building things
that matter.

I'm the founder of Kaptın Kaptın, a technology-driven food-tech and local commerce platform enabling real-time discounts and operational efficiency for food businesses while giving consumers transparent, accessible savings. As technical founder, I lead a 10+ person cross-functional team across product, engineering, operations, growth, and campus ambassadors.

Kaptın Kaptın has received grants and technical support from Microsoft, AWS, Google, and IBM, as well as support from WomenUP (European Union) and KOSGEB. We were also selected as a finalist in the Teknopark Ankara and Enerjisa SolutionShop programs.

I serve as Turkey's official FlutterFlow Developer Group Representative — coordinating the Ankara and Istanbul groups and bridging the FlutterFlow core team with the Turkish developer ecosystem. In 2025, I organized the world's first FlutterFlow Technical Accelerator Program in collaboration with Teknopark Ankara, reaching 300,000+ people through national coverage including Anadolu Ajansı.

Beyond my ventures, I actively mentor entrepreneurs through SistersLab, MentorXConnect, and Yuvam Dünya Derneği's Ecological and Psychosocial Resilience Entrepreneurship Program. I hold a BSc in Industrial Engineering from Bilkent University (Graduated 2021, Honor Student 2019) and began an MSc in Management at the University of York (Russell Group, Top 18 UK), completing the first year in London before returning to Turkey to found Kaptın Kaptın.

Currently based in Ankara, Cincinnati, and London.

Role

Kaptın Kaptın Founder

Current Ventures

Kaptın Kaptın · Kaptın Kaptın US Establishment (TBA)

Education

BSc Industrial Engineering — Bilkent (Graduated 2021 · Honor Student 2019)
MSc Management — Univ. of York, UK (Russell Group · Top 18)

Support & Recognition

Microsoft · AWS · Google · IBM · WomenUP EU · KOSGEB · Teknopark Ankara · Enerjisa SolutionShop Finalist

Mentoring

SistersLab · MentorXConnect · Yuvam Dünya Derneği

Global Events

GITEX Global Dubai · Take Off İstanbul · G3 Kocaeli Summit

Based

Ankara · Cincinnati · London

Languages

English (Bilingual) · Turkish (Native) · French (Working) · Russian (Elementary)

Platform

Kaptın Kaptın.

What it is

A discount platform friendly to both your pocket and the environment.

Kaptın Kaptın connects restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and markets with users through time-based discounts. Businesses list surplus or near-expiry products at set times to drive traffic and reduce waste. Users pick up orders directly with no delivery fee.

Starting in Ankara and expanding to Istanbul, the platform has reached tens of thousands of users and hundreds of business partnerships including Multinet and Başkent Kart.

Visit kaptinkaptin.com.tr

Three Categories

Son Şans · Happy Hour · Kargo

Last-chance deals, time-limited happy hour offers, and delivery — all under one platform serving both businesses and consumers.

For Businesses

Drive traffic. Reduce waste.

Businesses recover value from surplus products during off-peak hours. Partnerships with Multinet and Başkent Kart extend reach across Ankara.

Backed By

Microsoft · AWS · Google · IBM · WomenUP EU · KOSGEB · Teknopark Ankara · Enerjisa SolutionShop Finalist

Work

What I've built.

Sep 2023 – Present

Kaptın Kaptın

Technical Founder & CEO · Ankara, Turkey

Turkey's leading happy-hour real-discount food-tech platform. Leading a 10+ person cross-functional team across tech, marketing, business development, field operations, and campus ambassador programs. Defining technical roadmap aligned with business and growth objectives. Supported by Microsoft, AWS, Google, IBM, WomenUP EU, and KOSGEB. Finalist at Teknopark Ankara and Enerjisa SolutionShop. Represented at GITEX Global Dubai and Take Off İstanbul.

FlutterFlowFirebaseFood-TechMicrosoftWomenUP EUKOSGEB

01

2025 – Present

Kaptın Kaptın US Establishment

Co-Founder · Cincinnati, United States · TBA

The US establishment of Kaptın Kaptın, built to scale the discount-driven foodtech model into the American market. Co-founded with strategic partners bringing deep FMCG and international market expertise. Structured for North American market entry with region-specific compliance and localization strategies. Name and details to be announced.

US ExpansionFood-TechBOIR CompliantTBA

02

Independent Advisory

Technology Consulting

Independent Advisor

Strategic technology advisory to companies seeking to modernize their digital operations. Experience covers product architecture guidance, no-code and low-code strategy, and helping teams evaluate and implement scalable digital tools. Worked with major industrial clients on digitalization initiatives.

03

Featured Initiative

FlutterFlow × Teknopark Ankara.

Role

Official FlutterFlow Developer Group Organizer of Ankara and Istanbul

Program

World's first FlutterFlow Technical Accelerator · 6 weeks · 550+ participants from all over the country

Reach

300,000+ people via Anadolu Ajansı and national press

Top Prize

FFDC San Francisco ticket · Investor Demo Day · World first of its kind

Capabilities

The toolkit.

Engineering & Development

Python · SQL · Excel VBA · MATLAB
GAMS · CPLEX · Arena · Xpress
FlutterFlow · Firebase
SwiftUI · Xcode · SolidWorks
RESTful API Integration
App Store & Google Play Console

Product & Design

Figma (UI/UX Design)
Technical Roadmap Definition
No-Code / Low-Code Architecture
Payment Integrations
Dynamic User Dashboards
Custom Kanban Systems

AI & Automation

OpenAI API Integration
ElevenLabs Voice Workflows
RunwayML Video Automation
Mixed-Integer Programming
Tabu Search Heuristics
Decision Support Systems

Marketing & Growth

Apple Search Ads (Certified)
Google Ads · SEO / SEM
HubSpot (Certified)
Salesforce · Marketing Cloud
Performance & Influencer Marketing
B2B Partnership Strategy

Operations & Leadership

10+ person team leadership
Cross-functional coordination
KPI Management & Reporting
Warehouse Logistics Optimization
Project Management (PMO)
Startup Ecosystem Navigation

Community & Mentoring

FlutterFlow Official TR Representative
FlutterFlow Accelerator Organizer
SistersLab Mentor
MentorXConnect Mentor
Yuvam Dünya Derneği Mentor
International Conference Organizer

Apple Search Ads Certified

HubSpot Sales Certificate

Bilkent Honor Student 2019

Microsoft Founders Hub

AWS Startup Program

Google for Startups

IBM Startup Program

WomenUP European Union

KOSGEB Grant Recipient

Teknopark Ankara Resident

Enerjisa SolutionShop Finalist

Jale Tezer Fen Lisesi — 2nd in School

Journey

The path so far.

Jan 2025 – Present

Microsoft Founders Hub Member

Microsoft for Startups · Full-time

Member of the Microsoft Founders Hub, receiving technical support, Azure credits, and ecosystem access to accelerate Kaptın Kaptın's scaling journey.

Jan 2025 – Present

FlutterFlow Developer Group Organizer

FlutterFlow · Official TR Representative · Istanbul & Ankara

Official and sole FlutterFlow Developer Group representative in Türkiye. Organizing FFDG events in Istanbul and Ankara, hosting workshops and technical sessions, bridging FlutterFlow's core team with the Turkish developer ecosystem.

Sep 2023 – Present

Kaptın Kaptın — Technical Founder & CEO

Ankara, Turkey

Built Turkey's leading happy-hour discount food-tech platform from zero. 10+ person team, KOSGEB funded, Microsoft/AWS/Google/IBM/WomenUP EU support. Finalist at Teknopark Ankara and Enerjisa SolutionShop. Represented at GITEX Dubai and Take Off İstanbul.

2025 – Present

Kaptın Kaptın US Establishment — Co-Founder

Cincinnati, United States · TBA

The American extension of Kaptın Kaptın. Co-founded with strategic partners bringing FMCG and international market expertise. BOIR-compliant, actively entering North American market.

2025

World's First FlutterFlow Accelerator

FlutterFlow × Teknopark Ankara

Organized the world's first FlutterFlow Technical Accelerator Program. 550+ participants from across Turkey, 6 weeks, Anadolu Ajansı coverage reaching 300,000+ people. Top prize: FFDC San Francisco ticket.

2022 – 2024

MSc Management

University of York · Top 18 UK · Russell Group

Completed the first year of the MSc Management program in London, then returned to Turkey to found Kaptın Kaptın.

2021

Business Development Representative

Cyberpark Startup · Apple Official Partner · San Francisco Bay Area & Ankara

Worked at a Cyberpark-based startup that is an official Apple partner, specializing in App Store growth and mobile marketing. Brought in clients including Bigo, JackPocket, Anghami, Ten Square Games, and Modanisa.

Sep 2020 – Jul 2021

Project Engineer

ASELSAN · Turkey's Leading Defense & Electronics Company

Worked with a 7-person industrial engineering team on warehouse operations and inventory optimization. Developed MIP models and Tabu Search heuristics. Achieved ~5% improvement in daily operational efficiency.

2017 – 2021

BSc Industrial Engineering

Bilkent University, Ankara · Graduated 2021 · Honor Student 2019

Graduated in 2021. Honor Student in 2019. Active in Operational Research Club. Organized international student conferences with 1,300+ participants from 30+ countries.

2017

High School — 2nd in School

Özel Jale Tezer Fen Lisesi

Graduated as the second-highest ranked student in the school.

Speaking & Mentoring

Giving back.

Mentor · Ongoing

SistersLab — Mentor

Active mentor at SistersLab, supporting women entrepreneurs and founders navigating the startup ecosystem.

Mentor · Ongoing

MentorXConnect — Mentor

Serving as a mentor in the MentorXConnect program, providing guidance to early-stage founders and entrepreneurs.

Mentor · Program

Yuvam Dünya Derneği — Ecological & Psychosocial Resilience Entrepreneurship Program

Mentor in Yuvam Dünya Derneği's Ecological and Psychosocial Resilience Entrepreneurship Program, supporting sustainable and socially impactful ventures.

Guest Speaker · Bilkent University

Bilkent University — IE496 Industrial Engineering Course

Invited back as a guest speaker to share her entrepreneurship journey with current students within the scope of the IE496 course. Recognized by department chair Prof. Dr. Bahar Yetiş.

Guest Speaker · Atılım University

Atılım University — ATU100 "Introduction to University Life" Seminar

Invited by Prof. Dr. Atilla Cihaner to speak in the ATU100 seminar series for first-year students on entrepreneurship and the Kaptın Kaptın journey.

Guest Speaker · Huawei Student Club

Huawei Student Club — Guest Speaker

Invited as a guest speaker to share experiences in tech entrepreneurship, product building, and the startup ecosystem.

Guest Speaker · Beykent University

Beykent University Project Club — Guest Speaker

Invited to speak at a Beykent University Project Club event, discussing entrepreneurship and product development.

Press & Events

Coverage.

Anadolu Ajansı · 2025 · 300,000+ Reach

World's First FlutterFlow Accelerator Program — National Coverage

The FlutterFlow × Teknopark Ankara Accelerator Program was covered by Anadolu Ajansı and national media outlets, reaching over 300,000 people across Turkey.

HORECA Trend · February 2026

Digital Solution to Food Waste — HORECA Agenda

Featured as the founder of Kaptın Kaptın discussing digital models for reducing food waste in the hospitality and restaurant sector.

GITEX Global · Dubai

GITEX GLOBAL — World's Largest Tech & Startup Show

Represented Kaptın Kaptın at one of the world's largest technology and innovation events in Dubai. Met global entrepreneurs and discussed international expansion partnerships.

Take Off İstanbul

Take Off İstanbul — Turkey's Largest Entrepreneurship Event

Presented Kaptın Kaptın's story and sustainable discount model on stage. Conducted partner meetings and received direct user feedback at the stand.

G3 Kocaeli Girişimcilik Zirvesi

G3 Kocaeli Entrepreneurship Summit — Open House Selection

Kaptın Kaptın selected for the Open House Meeting session. Received 1-on-1 mentorship from Eren Kantarli and Kemal Koç on growth strategy and scaling.

Videos

On screen.