Fundraising Fox

Serhat Cicekoglu

Investor

Managing Partner at Sente Ventures

Greater Chicago Area

Writes $15K – $6M checks · typically $75K

About

Serhat Cicekoglu is the founder of Sente Ventures and Sente Foundry, a CVC-as-a-service investment program that has deployed over 50 investments across 24 countries. His investment focus spans human essentials including agriculture, food, and water, as well as industrial circular economy sectors such as mobility, energy storage, and new materials, typically in partnership with corporations and family offices. Cicekoglu specializes in first-of-a-kind project financing and early-stage venture assessment.

Experience

  1. Sente VenturesFoundercurrent2008 — presentChicago, IL USA and Istanbul, Turkey
  2. Our Next Energy (ONE)Investorcurrent2022 — present
  3. Innovasion Labs PINC, Inc.Investorcurrent2024 — present
  4. Hyperfuel, Inc.Investorcurrent2023 — presentUnited States
  5. ni-catSeed Investorcurrent2022 — presentIzmir, Turkiye
  6. NiveauUpBoard Membercurrent2019 — present
  7. NewWave BiotechInvestorcurrent2022 — presentAustralia
  8. Make My Day AppSeed Investorcurrent2017 — presentTel Aviv District, Israel
  9. MojaRideInvestorcurrent2019 — present
  10. Stroma VisionInvestorcurrent2017 — presentIstanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye
  11. xMotionInvestor, Board Membercurrent2019 — present
  12. GrowRay Lighting TechnologiesInvestor, Board Membercurrent2020 — present
  13. ASN - IstmosInvestor, Member Board Of Directorscurrent2017 — presentGreater Chicago Area
  14. Colorado Hemp WorksInvestorcurrent2020 — present
  15. VCIC (Venture Capital Investment Competition)Judgecurrent2015 — presentRaleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
  16. Anka Capital Management, LLCPartnercurrent2015 — presentGreater Chicago Area
  17. Illinois Autonomous Vehicles AssociationFounding Board Membercurrent2018 — presentGreater Chicago Area
  18. dox Technologies Inc.Investor, Board Member2019 — 2024
  19. CryptoWattInvestor, Member Board Of Directors2017 — 2022Kyiv, Ukraine
  20. Start-Up ChileJudge2014 — 2021Greater Chicago Area
  21. UdentifyInvestor2018 — 2021Greater Chicago Area
  22. powerplace.ioInvestor, Board member2019 — 2021
  23. Borda TechnologyAdvisor, US Markets2015 — 2017Greater Chicago Area
  24. SBS - Scientific Bio SolutionsAdvisor2015 — 2017Greater Chicago Area
  25. InvidyoAdvisor2013 — 2017Bursa, Türkiye
  26. SpeednextAdvisor2013 — 2017Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye
  27. İTÜ ARI TeknokentMentor and Judge2013 — 2017Istanbul, Turkey
  28. Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University ChicagoDirector, Center for Risk Management2009 — 2015Greater Chicago Area
  29. KAUSTJudge, Seed Fund Competition2013
  30. AMD, Advanced Micro DevicesPrincipal, Corporate Development2006 — 2011Chicago, IL
  31. AccentureManager/Sr. Manager2004 — 2006Greater Chicago Area
  32. BearingPointSenior Consultant/Manager2000 — 2004
  33. KPMGSr. Consultant1998 — 2000
  34. SAPConsulting Manager1997 — 1998
  35. BorusanProject Engineer/Manager1992 — 1996

Skills & more

Financial Analysis8Start-up Ventures8Corporate Venture Capital8Financial Modeling9Valuation5Corporate Development41Business Strategy99Business Analysis32Innovation Management16Product Innovation10Product Life Cycle Management4Venture Capital33
+12 moreM&A due diligencePost Merger IntegrationStart-upsIncubationProgram ManagementAcquisition IntegrationProduct DevelopmentBusiness Process Re-engineeringStrategyLeadershipAnalysisStrategic Planning

Languages Turkish, English

From Serhat's professional profile.

Colleagues at Sente Ventures

Berkant Kaya
Venture Partner at Sente Ventures
Gerod Carfantan
Managing Partner at Sente Ventures
Ilkay Demirdag
Venture Partner at Sente Ventures
Kathrin Ohle
Venture Partner at Sente Ventures
Ozan Tuncer
Venture Partner at Sente Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Serhat Cicekoglu?
Serhat Cicekoglu is the founder of Sente Ventures and Sente Foundry, a CVC-as-a-service investment program that has deployed over 50 investments across 24 countries. His investment focus spans human essentials including agriculture, food, and water, as well as industrial circular economy sectors such as mobility, energy storage, and new materials, typically in partnership with corporations and family offices. Cicekoglu specializes in first-of-a-kind project financing and early-stage venture assessment.
Where does Serhat Cicekoglu work?
Serhat Cicekoglu is Managing Partner at Sente Ventures.
What check size does Serhat Cicekoglu write?
Serhat Cicekoglu typically writes checks of $15K – $6M.
Where did Serhat Cicekoglu go to school?
Serhat Cicekoglu studied at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA, Finance and Strategy); University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (Venture Capital Executive Program); Istanbul Technical University (BS., Industrial Engineering).

Same school

Also attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business492

Prashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalNoorPartner at Clear VenturesTinaInvestments & Portfolio Services Team Member at Clear VenturesKatrin GeyskensExecutive Director at Capricorn Venture PartnersBill PescatelloInvestor at LightbankGlebFounder and Managing Partner at iTech Capital

+ 486 more

Also attended University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business616

Mark FiorentinoInvestor at Index VenturesRishi ModiInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Yibo NianInvestment Director at Intel CapitalZhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalHariFellow at Clear VenturesDennisDirector of Trading at Pantera Capital

+ 610 more

Also attended Istanbul Technical University36

Ali PandirExperts | Venture Partner at 212Barbaros OzbugutuExperts | Leadership Management at 212Cagdas YildizInvestment | Simya VC at 212Eren BaydemirExperts | Product Management at 212Ipek CeliksozExperts | Venture Partner at 212Ozge SevimInvestment | Growth Funds at 212

+ 30 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Accenture736

Mark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront VenturesChris BrittCo-founder & CEO of ChimeViviana FagaGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesJulie YangVice President at InvestcorpAmira OujiVice President of Platform & Portfolio Success, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionAntonio GrifoniAssociate at P101 Ventures

+ 730 more

Also worked at BearingPoint36

Aayush PhumbhraInvestor at Streamlined VenturesSebastian GassAdvisory Board Member at Titanium Innovation InvestmentsChandresh IyerGeneral Partner at SixThirty VenturesBenjamin WainstainPartner at InnovacomBuck JordanManaging Partner at Canyon Creek CapitalAshish WadhwaniCo-Founder and Managing Partner at IvyCap Ventures

+ 30 more

Also worked at SAP161

Quentin ClarkInvestment Team at General CatalystSteve SinghManaging Director at Madrona Venture GroupJohn TorreyVenture Partner at Madrona Venture GroupAnders RanumPartner at Sapphire VenturesRami BranitzkyPartner at Sapphire VenturesAnne GheriniChief Marketing Officer at Sierra Ventures

+ 155 more

Also worked at Borusan2

Gökçe CeylanPrincipal at OxxLara IsmenInvestment Principal at Channel 4 Ventures