Impact Hub Istanbul

Ayşe is Impact Hub Istanbul’s co-founder. She worked in the banking sector after graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a computer science degree. After completing her MBA from New York University with a concentration on social impact, innovation and entrepreneurship, she focused on social entrepreneurship, microfinance and impact investing. In 2014, she worked for Kiva.org, world largest peer-to-peer microfinance platform in Zimbabwe and South Africa where her Impact Hub journey began. Ayse’s current role revolves around strategic business development and project design. Ayşe’s main energy source is spending time in nature and her son Doğa.  

Berçem contributes to human rights, advocacy, and activism-focused projects, oversees project budgets and financial processes, and supports various community and membership-related operations at Impact Hub Istanbul. She is part of the collaborative Ankara tradition, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Sociology, and has a strong interest in social issues such as gender equality, migration, and the sociology of the body. Previously, she worked as a project manager in a non-governmental organization, collaborating with UNHCR on refugee initiatives. It’s not uncommon to hear Berçem break out in a joyful zılgıt at any gathering!

Eda is the Project Assistant for Foodback, Impact Hub Istanbul’s food and agri-tech initiative. Actively involved in the programs and projects under the Foodback umbrella, Eda also develops content across various platforms for the initiative. A graduate in Political Science and Public Administration, she is exploring the right field for her master’s studies. With a strong enthusiasm for youth engagement, Eda is currently focused on how we can address social issues through art and the creative industries, often expressing her thoughts through writing and illustration.

A graduate of ITU’s Geological Engineering program, Ekin is the Business Operations Manager at Impact Hub Istanbul, overseeing finance, operations, HR, space, and community management. He also supports the team in implementing and facilitating programs focused on entrepreneurship and social innovation, including designing program content. With a strong interest in impact management and circularity, Ekin brings diverse experience from past roles in culture, arts, and HR. A dedicated volunteer with AFS Turkey since 2011, he believes in the power of collaborative work, civic engagement, and intercultural learning to drive positive change.

Fulya is the Communications Coordinator at Impact Hub Istanbul, managing social media and newsletters with a strategic approach. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University and a Master’s degree in Cultural Management from Bilgi University. With a background in communications for various arts and culture organizations, her work has been featured in publications such as Istanbul Art News, Gazete Duvar, and T24. In 2021, she launched a thirty-issue newsletter reflecting her passion for cultural heritage and is currently pursuing a PhD in heritage conservation. Fulya is always interested to know which Impact Hub Istanbul channels you follow and to hear your stories of creating positive impact.

İlknur is the Program Manager for Foodback, Impact Hub Istanbul’s food and agri-tech initiative. She oversees the core programs and projects under Foodback, bringing a background in International Relations and Psychology. With over five years of experience in managing grant projects, İlknur has previously led initiatives in areas such as EU-Turkey relations, civil society dialogue, and multiculturalism. Her favorite fields of work include food and agriculture, sustainability, and gender equality. In the summer, you’re likely to find her joining online meetings from her favorite campsite.

Melih specializes in designing learning content and processes. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Economics from Bahçeşehir University and completed his Master’s in Design Thinking at Elisava School of Design and Engineering in Barcelona. During university, he served as a coordinator for the KısaKes Short Film Festival. In his three years at IHIST, he collaborated on numerous programs with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local social entrepreneurs, NGOs, activists, screenwriters, and public representatives. Melih believes that for genuine change to occur, all stakeholders must have a voice in the design process. He develops and implements creative processes that enable teams to create ideas centered around stakeholder involvement.

Nigar is the graphic designer at Impact Hub Istanbul. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design at Kadir Has University, she began her career working with organizations focused on social benefit and impact. She believes that the motivation necessary for creativity must be sustainable and continues to pursue resources that she believes will make a difference. Nigar values open and honest communication as a means to facilitate all areas of life. She enjoys learning new things and loves cycling.

Semih completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science before working for a time in the management consulting sector. He holds a Master’s degree in Business from the London School of Economics (LSE), where he participated in various consulting projects for international companies and civil society organizations. As one of the founding partners of Impact Hub Istanbul, Semih focuses on business development, program design, and strategic partnership development, playing a key role in the rapid growth of Turkey’s social innovation ecosystem. Additionally, he serves on the membership committee that evaluates new Impact Hub applications within the global Impact Hub network.

Serpil works as an Operations Assistant at Impact Hub Istanbul and is the longest-serving member of the team, having been with the Hub since its inception. She focuses on ensuring the smooth running of daily operations and the organization of the space. You might see Serpil spending time around Istanbul with her two beloved daughters.

Sima joined the programs team at Impact Hub Istanbul in 2019. Her path crossed with Impact Hub while she was volunteering for a social enterprise focused on children’s rights, which led her to initially support the Turkey Social Entrepreneurship Network project. For the past four years, Sima has contributed to the implementation of local programs and global initiatives such as the Social Impact Award, partnering with various organizations in the public and private sectors. In her free time, Sima creates collages using random objects, food, and materials she finds, and she enjoys photographing these collages without letting her cats disturb them.

Tuana works on communication strategies, digital content, and social media, providing support to the team on various projects. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Istanbul Bilgi University and completed her Master’s in International Politics at KU Leuven. Throughout her academic career, Tuana has focused on gender equality and has been an active member of civil society since 2017, co-founding two organizations that combat educational inequality and polarization among youth. Believing in the power of communication for a fairer and more sustainable world, you might find Tuana walking around Istanbul with music playing in her ears.

Tuğçe joined the team as a co-founder of Impact Hub Istanbul’s food and agriculture platform, Foodback, in 2017. While studying economics in Montreal, Tuğçe Ergün Cireli began researching the relationship between nutrition and health due to health issues she experienced while working in these fields. Since 2015, she has been involved in entrepreneurship, consulting, and impact investing within the agriculture and food sectors. After serving for two years as the Head of Innovation and Growth at SAF Nutrition, Tuğçe now dedicates much of her time to Foodback, where she focuses on content and product development, as well as mentoring. She is committed to supporting the development of impact-focused food and agricultural technologies in Turkey.