Welcome

I'm Olcay.

Founder, ex-VC, and YC alum (S21) turning engineering instincts into companies and capital

San Francisco Bay Area

About

I'm a founder and ex-VC with an engineering background, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I started out as an electrical engineer at Gate Elektronik before pursuing an MS through the MIT-Skoltech program and further studies at MIT in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. I've founded three companies: LaserX, which set out to build optical payloads and laser communication technology for nano/micro-satellites; FashionI, which built an algorithmic feed-based experience for ecommerce; and SenpAI.GG (YC S21), a gaming coach built for the 1.4 billion PC gamers around the world, which I led as Co-founder & CEO for nearly five years. In between building companies, I spent two years as an Investment Associate at ACT Venture Partners, a European early-stage VC firm, which gave me a deep view into what makes startups fundable. Today I'm a YC Alumni Partner at Founder Factor, an investment syndicate of YC alumni dedicated to backing the top 5% of YC startups. I care about building in public and helping other founders navigate the same path I've walked, from engineering to founding to investing.

How I Help

Startup Fundraising & VC Perspective

Having sat on both sides of the table as an Investment Associate at ACT Venture Partners and as a YC founder, I can help founders sharpen their pitch and understand how investors actually think.

0-to-1 Company Building

I've founded three ventures spanning satellite tech, ecommerce, and gaming - I can help early-stage founders navigate the messy early stages of building a product and team.

YC & Syndicate Access

As a YC Alumni Partner at Founder Factor, I help connect promising YC startups with alumni capital and backing the top 5% of the batch.

Selected Work

SenpAI.GG

June 2019 - March 2024

Co-founded and led as CEO this gaming coach platform built for the 1.4 billion PC gamers globally, backed by Y Combinator (S21).

FashionI

October 2017 - June 2019

Co-founded and led as CEO this ecommerce startup providing a brand-new algorithmic feed-based shopping experience.

LaserX Space Laser Communication Technologies

April 2015 - November 2015

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

Founder Factor

October 2025 - Present

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

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 (9 months)

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 (4 years 10 months)

Co-founder & CEO · FashionI

  • FashionI is providing a brand-new algorithmic feed-based experience in ecommerce.
October 2017 - June 2019 (1 year 9 months)

Investment Associate · ACT Venture Partners

  • ACT is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology startups in Europe.
November 2015 - November 2017 (2 years 1 month)

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 (8 months)

Electrical & Electronics Engineer · Gate Elektronik

    June 2010 - July 2012 (2 years 2 months)

    Let's work together.

    Get in touch