Yahya ÜLKER
Independent Board Member
Yahya Ülker graduated from the Business Administration Department of Koç University in 2016. Following his university education, he worked at various organizations operating in the fields of banking and biscuit manufacturing in London and Switzerland. Ülker began his career at Yıldız Holding in 2018, where he took on a role at Northstar Innovation, the Holding’s innovation company. During this period, he played an active role in the implementation of innovation projects representing the Holding’s investment in the future, particularly university–industry collaborations. Since 2019, at Yıldız Ventures, which he founded, he has led the establishment of a business line within the Holding focused on venture incubation and venture capital investments. He currently manages teams that support the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, primarily through investments in external startups. At ŞOK Marketler, one of Türkiye’s leading retail companies, he assumed leadership roles in sales operations and e-commerce, successfully fulfilling his responsibilities. In addition to serving as Vice Chairman of the Board and Transformation and Technology Leader at Yıldız Holding, Yahya Ülker continues his duties as Chairman of the Sabri Ülker Foundation and as Executive Board Member at Continental Confectionery Company, Yıldız Holding’s global gum and confectionery company. He is also a member of TÜSİAD, DEİK Digital Technologies, Yeni Bir Lider Association, and Q Angels, and contributes to the entrepreneurship ecosystem as a startup mentor within Endeavor Türkiye.