Olcay

YC Founder and ex-VC turning engineering rigor into companies and bets worth backing

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01 — About

I'm a YC founder and ex-VC investor with an engineering background. I started my career as an Electrical & Electronics Engineer at Gate Elektronik before co-founding LaserX Space Laser Communication Technologies, where I set out to build optical payloads for nano/micro-satellites. I then spent two years as an Investment Associate at ACT Venture Partners, investing in early-stage European tech startups, before jumping back into building — first with FashionI, an algorithmic feed-based e-commerce experience, and then with SenpAI.GG, a gaming coach for the 1.4 billion PC gamers worldwide, which went through Y Combinator's S21 batch. Today I'm a YC Alumni Partner at Founder Factor, an investment syndicate of YC alumni backing the top 5% of YC startups. I love sitting at the intersection of building and investing, and I'm passionate about helping founders navigate both sides of that table.

02 — How I Help
01

Startup Founder Coaching

Having built and led multiple startups from zero to YC, I can help founders navigate product, fundraising, and the emotional grind of company building.

02

Angel & Syndicate Investing

Through Founder Factor, I help back the top 5% of YC startups and can advise founders on how to think about investors, term sheets, and syndicates.

03

Engineering-to-Founder Path

With a deep engineering background from MIT and Skoltech, I help technical people figure out how to transition into founder roles.

03 — Selected Work
01

SenpAI.GG

Co-founded and led as CEO this gaming coach platform for the 1.4 billion PC gamers globally, part of Y Combinator's S21 batch.

2019-2024

02

FashionI

Co-founded and led as CEO a brand-new algorithmic feed-based experience in e-commerce.

2017-2019

03

LaserX Space Laser Communication Technologies

Co-founded and led as CEO this venture aiming to build an optical payload for nano/micro-satellites with outstanding laser communication technology.

2015

04

Founder Factor

An investment syndicate of YC alumni dedicated to backing the top 5% of YC startups, where I serve as YC Alumni Partner.

04 — Experience

YC Alumni Partner · Founder Factor

  • Founder Factor is an investment syndicate of YC alumni dedicated to backing the top 5% of YC startups.
October 2025 - Present

Co-founder & CEO · SenpAI.GG

  • SenpAI.GG (YC S21) is a gaming coach for the 1.4 billion PC gamers globally.
June 2019 - March 2024

Co-founder & CEO · FashionI

  • FashionI is providing a brand-new algorithmic feed-based experience in e-commerce.
October 2017 - June 2019

Investment Associate · ACT Venture Partners

  • ACT is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology startups in Europe.
November 2015 - November 2017

Co-founder & CEO · LaserX Space Laser Communication Technologies Inc.

  • LaserX is aiming to build an optical payload for nano/micro-satellites and provide outstanding laser communication technology.
April 2015 - November 2015

Electrical & Electronics Engineer · Gate Elektronik

    June 2010 - July 2012

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