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erdincekinci

Business insider, practicing management consulting and advisory services in the startup era.

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Erdinc Ekinci

erdincekinci

Advisor

0-10

United States

Venture Capital & Private Equity

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Partnership Programs :

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Target Location :

Simplified stories about, career, remote working, self-improvement, business, and entrepreneurship for creating awareness about those life-changing topics as a contribution to society.

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Co-Invest
Co-Cause
Co-Develop
Co-Supply
Co-Marketing
Co-Sell

Open CV

for Collabs

Locations

Tokyo, Japan - Seoul, Korea - Palo Alto, CA, USA

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Connect with me on Linkedin

linkedin.com/in/erdincekinci/

Languages

English - Fluent, Advanced

Japanese - Conversational

Korean - Absolutly beginner

Turkish - Native

Strategic Partnerships & Collaborations

Strategic Business Development

Partner / Startup Ecosystem Development

Venture Capital Fundraising and Strategy

Multicultural Communication & Negotiation

New Businesses Development

Global Market Expansion

Go To Market Strategy

Partnership Development

Startup Advisor / Mentor

Startup Accelerator Builder

Sales & Negotiation

Public Speaking

Leadership

Community building

As the Co-founder of OpenFor.Co and Director at the Founder Institute in Japan and Korea, I've spent 12 years driving growth and innovation in the global startup ecosystem. My work, fueled by a passion for entrepreneurship and international business, has involved advising and nurturing ventures in the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan, including both startups and established companies.

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I've been immersed in startup ecosystems from a young age, using my extensive network and strategic insights to help entrepreneurs and businesses reach their potential. My notable achievements include launching the Founder Institute Accelerator in Japan and Korea, creating a portfolio of 29 startups in under two years through a strong mentor and partner network, based on my personal commitment to their success.

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OpenFor.Co, my latest project, exemplifies my commitment to innovation in partnership development. It's a global platform offering support tools like partner program development and boot camps to help startups secure strategic sales and partnerships. Even though it’s a bootstrapped small startup it created economical approximate values in multiple 9 figures.

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With experience in creative consulting, event organization, and public speaking, I've contributed to over 50 events with 5,000+ attendees, sharing insights and building networks to support innovation. My career is a testament to a creative, strategic, and global mindset aimed at making a significant impact in the startup community. My contributions have been recognized in local media over 10 times, reflecting my industry impact and grounding me in values like community, resilience, and continuous learning.

Currently, I'm working towards launching a venture capital firm to provide startups with capital and strategic guidance.

Apr 2018 - Present

Openfor.co l United States

Co-Founder & CEO

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By starting OpenFor.Co inc, I envisioned and realized a pioneering global partnership development platform, engineered to catalyze startup growth through strategic sales and partnerships. My leadership steered OpenFor.Co to become a beacon of business development innovation, providing a comprehensive suite of support tools tailored to empower startups at various growth stages.

Innovative Selfsustaining Platform Development:

Conceptualized and deployed an array of support mechanisms, including an intuitive partnership program builder, an immersive boot camp, a dynamic promotion program, and targeted incentivization schemes, all designed to fortify the partner ecosystem and streamline startup growth trajectories.

Strategic Network Expansion:

Successfully forged and nurtured a global network of mentors and partners, tapping into personal and professional networks to foster a collaborative environment conducive to startup success and ecosystem development.

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Key Achievements:

Global Influence: Strategically expanded OpenFor.Co’s presence across more than 20 countries, demonstrating an unparalleled ability to penetrate and adapt to diverse markets, thereby amplifying our impact on a global scale.

Partnership Excellence: Orchestrated and secured multiple 8-figure partnership deals through organic growth strategies, underscoring my adeptness in identifying, cultivating, and sustaining valuable business relationships that drive mutual success.

Strategic Cost Efficiency: Implemented innovative partnership strategies that effectively saved 7 figures in potential losses, evidencing my skill in utilizing strategic foresight and negotiation to optimize operational efficiencies.

Revenue Growth: Engineered a referral program that generated 6 figures in fees, validating OpenFor.Co’s value proposition and its potent capability to foster revenue growth and financial sustainability.

Portfolio Valuation: Curated and managed an equity portfolio with an estimated value in the 8 figures, showcasing a profound impact on startup valuation enhancement and investment strategy success within the broader business framework.

Mar 2022 - Present

Founder Institute l United States

Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan / Korea​

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Leveraging a vast personal network and deep understanding of the local startup ecosystems, I co-led the operation and strategic expansion of the Founder Institute Japan/Korea. My role encompassed a broad range of responsibilities from curriculum design to strategic partnership development, with a strong emphasis on using my personal influence to drive the program’s success.

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Orchestrated the program's launch and adaptation in Japan and Korea, carefully customizing it to meet local cultural and business needs through my extensive network and understanding of the market.

Recruited and onboarded an impressive network of over 150 mentors and more than 50 partners, including investors and industry experts, directly attributed to my personal connections and reputation in the startup community.

Forged strategic partnerships with key local organizations, universities, and government agencies, significantly enhancing the program's reach and impact, driven by my established relationships and influence.

Provided personalized mentorship, leveraging my extensive experience to guide startups through their development phases, addressing challenges and maximizing their potential for success.

Played a pivotal role in startup selection and evaluation, leveraging my expertise to identify high-potential teams and guide them towards achieving their business goals.

Key Achievements:

Under my leadership and direct influence, the Founder Institute Japan/Korea quickly became a cornerstone of the regional startup ecosystem, localizing legal and business structures effectively to meet the specific needs of Japan and Korea.

Utilized my personal network to attract hundreds of applications, successfully operating the accelerator without a marketing budget.

Secured and managed multiple 6-figure exclusive programs, contributing significantly to the local startup ecosystem's growth and development.

Developed a portfolio of 29 startups within the first two years, culminating in an estimated portfolio value of over $100 million, showcasing the program's success and my ability to foster high-value investments.

Established over 50 strategic partnerships, enhancing the accelerator's network and resources, largely due to my initiative and personal engagement.

Facilitated hundreds of collaborations within our diverse community, including partners, investors, governments, and startups, demonstrating the effectiveness of my networking and relationship-building skills.

Sep 2017- Oct 2023

Personal - Worldwide

Startup Mentor/Advisor

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My mentorship and advisory roles have been grounded in practical support for startups, leveraging my experience and network to foster their development and success.

Key Achievements:

Broad Mentorship: Mentored over 200 startups across 20+ countries, offering tailored advice to address diverse market challenges and growth strategies.

Support Across Stages: Worked with startups ranging from idea stage to scale-ups, including those with over $10 million annual revenue, adapting my guidance to their specific development phase.

Pitch Evaluations: Listened to pitches from over 500 startups, providing feedback aimed at sharpening their business models, presentation skills, and investor appeal.

Pitch Event Judging: Served as a judge at dozens of pitch events, offering startups constructive criticism to refine their pitches and business strategies.

Facilitated Success: My advice and connections have helped startups secure vital funding and forge strategic partnerships, contributing to their growth and market presence.

Networking Impact: Utilized my extensive network to facilitate introductions between startups, investors, and partners, enhancing their opportunities for success.

Innovation Encouragement: Encouraged a focus on innovation among startups, supporting them in the development of products and services that address unmet market needs.

2021 - Present

Personal - Worldwide

Event Organizer

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Over the past four years, I have taken on the role of an event organizer, orchestrating a wide array of events aimed at fostering community engagement, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities. My efforts have centered on creating meaningful and impactful gatherings that cater to diverse interests and professional backgrounds.

Key Achievements:

Broad Range of Events: Successfully organized more than 50 events, ranging from workshops and seminars to large-scale conferences, covering various topics and industries.

Extensive Participation: These events collectively attracted over 5,000 attendees, demonstrating their relevance and appeal to a wide audience.

Community Building: Played a pivotal role in building and nurturing a community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts, fostering an environment of collaboration and growth.

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Logistical Mastery: Mastered the complexities of event planning, including venue selection, speaker coordination, sponsor acquisition, and on-the-day logistics, ensuring smooth and successful event execution.

My tenure as an event organizer has not only been about the logistical aspects of bringing people together but also about creating platforms for learning, networking, and inspiration, contributing significantly to the professional and personal development of attendees.

2022 - Present

Personal - Worldwide

Public Speaker​

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In the last three years, I have embraced the role of a public speaker, contributing my insights and expertise at various events as an industry expert and thought leader. This journey has allowed me to share my knowledge, experiences, and visions on a wide range of topics, engaging with audiences both locally and internationally.

Key Achievements:

Diverse Speaking Engagements: Participated in around 20 events, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops, sharing my expertise on subjects pertinent to my industry and interests.

Prominent Conferences: Featured as a speaker at three major conferences, highlighting my recognition as a thought leader and my ability to engage with large audiences effectively.

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Impactful Presentations: My presentations have sparked discussions, inspired attendees, and facilitated knowledge exchange, contributing to the ongoing dialogue in my field of expertise.

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Networking and Influence: Leveraged speaking opportunities to expand my professional network, connect with other leaders, and influence the broader industry discourse.

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My public speaking career has been an enriching avenue to influence and inspire, allowing me to connect with diverse groups and contribute to the collective knowledge and advancement of my industry.

Jun 2017- November 2019

EveryCreator.com

Silicon Valley, United States​

Founder & CEO - Proudly failed.

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As the Founder and CEO of EveryCreator.com, a platform designed to curate user-generated content, I embarked on a journey that, despite its ultimate closure, I regard as a critical learning experience. EveryCreator.com aimed to harness the power of community-created content, providing a space for creators to share, discover, and celebrate diverse forms of expression. This venture, while not successful in the traditional sense, was instrumental in shaping my approach to entrepreneurship and business strategy.

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Key Learnings:

Customer Validation: Emphasized the importance of early understanding of market needs and customer preferences to avoid pitfalls and achieve product-market fit, based on EveryCreator.com's experience.

Iterative Development: Learned to develop products iteratively and rapidly for constant feedback and adjustments, minimizing launch risks and aligning closely with user needs and market trends.

Leveraging Partnerships: Experience at EveryCreator.com showed the value of partnerships for accessing resources, expanding reach, and improving products, which drives growth more effectively than solo efforts.

Embracing Failure and Pivoting: The closure of EveryCreator.com taught that failure is an integral part of entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons and contributing to personal and professional growth, thereby acting as a stepping stone toward successfully pivoting into my next company Openfor.co.

Overall Impact: EveryCreator.com served as a crucial learning experience, instilling the importance of agility, community, and the willingness to fail, learn, and iterate in subsequent ventures and business approaches.

2015 - 2019

Freelance Management Consultant

Marketing, Content, GTM, Partnerships, New Biz Dev

Worldwide​

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As a freelance management consultant, I worked with a wide range of clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies across the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan. My role focused on strategic advisory in areas such as marketing, content strategy, GTM planning, partnerships, and new business development, often working directly with founders and corporate executives.

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Key Achievements:

Managed multiple 8-figure projects, demonstrating my ability to oversee large-scale strategic initiatives.

Served a diverse clientele, from innovative startups to globally recognized Fortune 500 companies, showcasing my adaptability and strategic versatility.

Operated internationally, delivering successful projects in various markets including the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan, highlighting my global business acumen.

Engaged directly with decision-makers, ensuring strategies were precisely aligned with each client's specific goals and leading to more effective and efficient outcomes.

This period of consultancy honed my strategic planning and execution skills, directly impacting client success on a global scale.

2009 - 2015

Billimum Creative

Founder, Creative Freelancing Agency - Istanbul​

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While attending university, I founded Billimum Creative, a freelancing agency brand that offered comprehensive services in web design, photography, graphic design, content creation, and public relations consulting. This venture was a testament to my entrepreneurial spirit and a platform where I applied and expanded my skills in creative and strategic communication.

Role and Responsibilities:

Content Creation: Created diverse and engaging content such as blog posts, social media content, and marketing copy to enhance brand messaging and audience engagement.

Public Relations Consulting: Provided PR consulting, including strategy development, press release crafting, crisis management, and event planning to boost brand reputation and media relations.

Web, Photography & Graphic Design: Offered custom web design, photography, and graphic design services aimed at unified brand storytelling and visual appeal.

Key Achievements:

Broad Clientele: Worked with over 20 clients from startups to established companies, offering creative and strategic solutions tailored to their specific needs.

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Brand & ROI Synergy: Achieved a balance between creative work and business results, demonstrating how strategic content and design can improve ROI, engagement, conversion, and loyalty.

Entrepreneurial Success: Managed and grew Billimum Creative while balancing academic responsibilities, and developing skills in time management, multitasking, and strategic planning.

Billimum Creative served as a comprehensive creative and consulting endeavor, emphasizing the fusion of artistic expression with business strategy for impactful business results, laying a solid foundation for my career.

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