Olcay Yilmazcoban

Building companies and backing founders—now seeking a strategic role in venture or operations

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01 — About

I'm a founder and ex-VC investor with an engineering background, shaped by building two startups and investing in early-stage European technology companies. At SenpAI.GG (YC S21), I co-founded and led a gaming coach platform for 1.4 billion PC gamers globally over nearly five years until March 2024. Earlier, I co-founded FashionI, pioneering an algorithmic feed-based e-commerce experience. At ACT Venture Partners in Istanbul, I evaluated and invested in early-stage European tech startups. I'm now running Founder Factor, a YC alumni investment syndicate backing the top 5% of YC startups, where I work directly with founders and capital. My background spans electrical engineering, MIT and Skoltech graduate education, and hands-on experience across deep tech, e-commerce, and venture investing.

02 — How I Help
01

Founder playbook & deep tech expertise

Guide teams on scaling GTM, product-market fit, and fundraising strategy from two founder exits and YC experience.

02

Venture capital & deal sourcing

Source, evaluate, and nurture high-potential startups using frameworks developed at ACT Venture Partners and refined at Founder Factor.

03

Engineering-to-business translation

Bridge product, engineering, and business strategy with an MIT/Skoltech education and hands-on startup execution across consumer and deep tech.

03 — Selected Work
01

SenpAI.GG

Co-founded and led a gaming coach platform serving the 1.4 billion global PC gamer market. YC S21 cohort.

June 2019 – March 2024

02

Founder Factor

Running an investment syndicate of YC alumni dedicated to backing the top 5% of YC startups—sourcing, diligencing, and partnering with founders.

03

FashionI

Co-founded an e-commerce platform with algorithmic feed-based discovery, pioneering a new approach to online shopping.

04

LaserX Space

Co-founded a deep tech venture building optical payloads for nano/micro-satellites and laser communication technology.

04 — Experience

YC Alumni Partner · Founder Factor

  • Lead investment syndicate of YC alumni backing top 5% of YC startups
  • Source, evaluate, and support founders across portfolio
October 2025 - Present

Co-founder & CEO · SenpAI.GG

  • Built gaming coach platform for 1.4 billion PC gamers globally
  • YC S21 cohort
  • Scaled product and team over 4 years 10 months
June 2019 - March 2024

Co-founder & CEO · FashionI

  • Pioneered algorithmic feed-based experience in e-commerce
  • Scaled from concept to market in 1 year 9 months
October 2017 - June 2019

Investment Associate · ACT Venture Partners

  • Evaluated and invested in early-stage technology startups across Europe
  • Built deal sourcing and diligence processes for venture fund
November 2015 - November 2017

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

  • Built optical payload for nano/micro-satellites and laser communication technology
April 2015 - November 2015

Electrical & Electronics Engineer · Gate Elektronik

    June 2010 - July 2012

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