Founder · Builder · Innovator

AYŞE
SECDE
GENÇLER

Founder of Kaptın Kaptın and its US Establishment (TBA). Building food-tech solutions that make real discounts accessible to everyone, from Ankara to the world.

Microsoft Founders Hub AWS · Google · IBM WomenUP EU KOSGEB Teknopark Ankara Enerjisa SolutionShop Finalist
10+
Team Members
3
Continents
Ayşe Secde Gençler
Kaptın Kaptın Founder US Establishment TBA FlutterFlow Turkey Representative World's First FlutterFlow Accelerator Microsoft Founders Hub AWS · Google · IBM WomenUP European Union KOSGEB Funded Anadolu Ajansı · 300K+ Reach Enerjisa SolutionShop Finalist GITEX Global Dubai Take Off İstanbul SistersLab Mentor MentorXConnect Mentor Bilkent University Honors Kaptın Kaptın Founder US Establishment TBA FlutterFlow Turkey Representative World's First FlutterFlow Accelerator Microsoft Founders Hub AWS · Google · IBM WomenUP European Union KOSGEB Funded Anadolu Ajansı · 300K+ Reach SistersLab Mentor Bilkent University Honors
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 (Honors) and an MSc in Management from the University of York — Top 18 in the UK, Russell Group.

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 (Honors, 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.
Kaptın Kaptın Ana Sayfa
Kaptın Kaptın Keşfet
Kaptın Kaptın Ürün
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 & sole FlutterFlow Developer Group Representative in Türkiye
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 Honors Graduate
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
One of the Russell Group's 24 world-class research-intensive universities. Advanced studies in management and international business strategy.
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 — Honors
Bilkent University, Ankara · Honor Student 2019
Graduated with honors. 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.
Publications
Research.
Academic Publication · University of York · MSc Management
Analysis of the Different Strategies of the Companies in order to Manage Gen Z Employees Successfully in US
Research examining how companies in the US manage Generation Z employees — a cohort comprising ~30% of the world's population and projected to make up ~27% of the workforce by 2025. The study explores how traditional workplaces are evolving to meet Gen Z expectations including independence, flexibility, remote work, and inclusive culture. Through literature review, the research concludes that companies must embrace technology and provide the infrastructure Gen Z needs to succeed while being more diverse in workplace culture.
Contact
Ayşe
Secde
Gençler
Email
Kaptın Kaptın
LinkedIn
Based
Ankara · Cincinnati · London