Fundraising Fox

Yahya Ulker

Investor

Managing Partner at Yildiz Ventures

Istanbul

Writes $500K – $2.5M checks · typically $1M

Find your path to Yahya

329 people in our graph share verified history with Yahya — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Aryo TehranianunlockedYahya: together at Credit Suisse (2017)
×6Yahya: together at Credit Suisse
×4Yahya: together at UCLA
Yahya: together at Koç University

About

Yahya Ulker is Managing Director at pladis Global and Transformation Leader at Yildiz Holding, where he incubates and invests in startups across multiple sectors. He oversees e-commerce operations for Sok Marketler and Godiva Chocolatier, and serves as Technology Leader and Board Member of Yildiz Tech. Ulker holds board and advisory positions with Q Angels, Gozde Tech Ventures, and Endeavor Turkey, and is a member of DEIK's Digital Technologies Business Council; he holds a B.B.A. from Koc University.

Experience

  1. pladis GlobalManaging Directorcurrent2026 — presentEurope
  2. Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.Ş.Independent Board Membercurrent2026 — present
  3. Yıldız HoldingVice Chairmancurrent2025 — present
  4. Yıldız HoldingBoard Member2018 — 2025Istanbul, Turkey
  5. Godiva ChocolatierBoard Membercurrent2026 — present
  6. Sabri Ulker Food Research FoundationChaircurrent2025 — present
  7. Yildiz VenturesChaircurrent2019 — presentIstanbul, Türkiye
  8. Şok MarketlerBoard Membercurrent2024 — presentIstanbul, Türkiye
  9. Şok MarketlerCommercial Director2023 — 2024
  10. Şok MarketlerEcommerce Leader2022 — 2024Istanbul, Turkey
  11. Şok MarketlerSales and Operations Director2022 — 2023
  12. Gumlink Confectionery Company A/SExecutive Board Membercurrent2025 — presentDenmark
  13. Continental Confectionery CompanyExecutive Board Membercurrent2025 — presentTürkiye
  14. ÜlkerVice Chairmancurrent2025 — present
  15. Gözde Girişim Sermayesi Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş.Board Membercurrent2025 — present
  16. Bizim Toptan Satış MağazalarıBoard Member2023 — 2026Istanbul, Turkey
  17. istegelsinFounder & Executive Chair2018 — 2024Istanbul, Turkey
  18. eStar Global E-TicaretChief Executive Officer2019 — 2021
  19. Northstar InnovationGeneral Coordinator2017 — 2019
  20. Credit SuisseFinance Intern2017
  21. Kambly SAManufacturing Intern2017Trubschachen, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
  22. KantarMarketing Intern2016

Skills & more

EnglishStrategic PlanningStrategyBiscuitsCakesChocolateChewing GumCandyJellyMarketing StrategySupply Chain ManagementLuxury Goods
+12 moreInternational Joint VenturesBoard LevelManufacturingJoint VenturesExport OperationsPrivate LabelInvestmentsIncubationBusiness TransformationGlobal E-CommerceResearch and Development (R&D)E-Commerce Consulting

Languages English · Turkish

From Yahya's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Yahya Ulker?
Yahya Ulker is Managing Director at pladis Global and Transformation Leader at Yildiz Holding, where he incubates and invests in startups across multiple sectors. He oversees e-commerce operations for Sok Marketler and Godiva Chocolatier, and serves as Technology Leader and Board Member of Yildiz Tech. Ulker holds board and advisory positions with Q Angels, Gozde Tech Ventures, and Endeavor Turkey, and is a member of DEIK's Digital Technologies Business Council; he holds a B.B.A. from Koc University.
Where does Yahya Ulker work?
Yahya Ulker is Managing Partner at Yildiz Ventures.
What check size does Yahya Ulker write?
Yahya Ulker typically writes checks of $500K – $2.5M.
Where did Yahya Ulker go to school?
Yahya Ulker studied at Koç University (Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Business Administration and Management); INSEAD (International Directors Programme (IDP71), Corporate Governance); Harvard Business School Online (Certificate in).

Same school

Also attended Koç University59

Gizem CakilInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersMeltem TumerAssociate at Fly VenturesEmin Taha CelikInvestment | Growth Funds at 212Dogukan Enes VeliogluInvestment | Simya VC at 212Musab DemirciInvestment Intern at 212EsnaVenture Partner at NVentures

+ 53 more

Also attended INSEAD1,343

Alexandre ProtCo-founder & CEO of QontoSteve AnaviCo-founder & President of QontoPatrick ClaessenPartner at Cottonwood Technology FundChris BischoffInvestment Team at General CatalystJan HammerInvestor at Index VenturesSandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 1,337 more

Also attended Harvard Business School Online292

MariaInvestor at InvestinorKelsey BeausoleilBusiness Development Network at Redpoint VenturesOliver MarquesPartner, Capital Formation at March Capital PartnersJohn DemeterInvestor at Khosla VenturesJeff RoseAdvisor at AI CapitalRobAdvisor at TFX Capital

+ 286 more

Also attended UCLA1,017

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesVlad TenevCo-founder & CEO of RobinhoodRyan KingCo-founder of ChimePaul FieldingFinance & Operations at General CatalystMelody MaExecutive Assistant and Lead Receptionist at Trinity Ventures

+ 1,011 more

Shared employers

Also worked at pladis Global1

Marissa ForayDirector, Strategy & Research at ECP Growth

Also worked at Godiva Chocolatier6

Lauri Kien KotcherAdvisor at Siddhi CapitalKarin Rotem-WildemanChief R+D Officer, Keurig Dr Pepper at AstiaJessica ExpositoExecutive Assistant at WynnchurchMarissa ForayDirector, Strategy & Research at ECP GrowthPablo CussattiChief Supply Chain Officer at Shearer's FoodsAli SarilganFounder at true-meter