Sign In

Arın Özkula

General Partner at 500 Emerging Europe

Arın Özkula is a venture capital professional and General Partner at 500 Emerging Europe, a pre-seed/seed fund investing in tech startups across Eastern Europe, Turkey, and the Baltics.2 He also serves as a Community Member at 2hearts, a nonprofit supporting underrepresented minorities in tech.2

Professional Background

  • Education: Holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University and attended Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi.2
  • Career:
    • 500 Emerging Europe/500 Global (2021–present): Focuses on sectors like AI/ML, Dev tools, and gaming, prioritizing founder quality and global scalability.12
    • Revo Capital (2016–2021) and Ünlü Private Equity (2011–2016): Prior experience in private equity and corporate finance.2
    • Deloitte Financial Advisory Services (2006–2010): Early career in finance.2

Investment Philosophy

  • Emphasizes founder-driven decisions, with ~95% of investment decisions based on founder potential.1
  • Prioritizes global market readiness, often connecting founders with industry experts and investors.1

Community Involvement

  • 2hearts: Engages in initiatives to foster cultural diversity and support underprivileged minorities in tech.2

His LinkedIn profile (aozkula) highlights his active role in promoting emerging European startups and sharing insights on venture capital trends.34

Highlights

Sep 10 · linkedin

🤘 🤘 🤘 Anil & the Cypher Games team

https://lnkd.in/driV2Nc5

500 Emerging Europe

May 27 · linkedin

🛫 Off to Berlin for SuperReturn between June 3-7 😲 Faces you can see below will be attending from 500 Emerging Europe 🏓 Ready for padel, hoping to be on opposing teams with Enis so I can kick his ass!

Let me know if you're in Berlin and are building (or thinking of building) something new, or just want to catch up!

Related Questions

What are Arın Özkula's main responsibilities at 2hearts?
How did Arın Özkula transition from Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering to venture capital?
What are some notable investments made by 500 Emerging Europe under Arın Özkula's leadership?
How does Arın Özkula's background in engineering influence his investment strategies?
What are the key differences between the startup ecosystems in Eastern and Western Europe according to Arın Özkula?
Arın Özkula
Arın Özkula, photo 1
Arın Özkula, photo 2
Add to my network

Location

Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye