SMARTOPT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Machine Learning Engineer
Anıl Taşan is currently employed as a Machine Learning Engineer at SmartOpt, where he specializes in data analysis and forecasting solutions. His expertise is centered on the application of machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling to address complex business challenges. Mr. Taşan graduated from Robert College in 2015 and subsequently earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. At SmartOpt, he is responsible for developing scalable data solutions and enhancing business processes through the use of advanced machine learning models.
Anıl Taşan is currently employed as a Machine Learning Engineer at SmartOpt, where he specializes in data analysis and forecasting solutions. His expertise is centered on the application of machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling to address complex business challenges. Mr. Taşan graduated from Robert College in 2015 and subsequently earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. At SmartOpt, he is responsible for developing scalable data solutions and enhancing business processes through the use of advanced machine learning models.
Job Titles:
- Modeling & Algorithm Engineer
Begüm Yılmaz is a Modeling & Algorithm Engineer at SmartOpt, specializing in optimization, mathematical modeling, and AI-driven solutions for supply chain management. She focuses on developing and implementing optimization models for large-scale planning and scheduling problems, ensuring efficiency and applicability in real-world scenarios.
She is currently pursuing a double major in Industrial Engineering and Computer Engineering at Koç University. She has worked on various optimization projects, contributing to MILP modeling, algorithm design, and performance evaluation for complex decision-making problems in production planning and logistics.
Her technical expertise includes mathematical optimization (Gurobi, CPLEX, and other OR-Tools), programming (Python, Java, C, SQL), and AI-driven forecasting methods. She has also served as a Teaching Assistant at Koç University, assisting in advanced programming and discrete mathematics courses.
She actively contributes to research and development in optimization and computational decision-making, applying advanced analytical methods to complex industrial challenges.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Executive Committee
Bengüsu Önen is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and an Executive Committee Member at SmartOpt. She oversees business operations, financial management, marketing, human resources, project proposals, and strategic partnerships at SmartOpt, ensuring operational continuity and growth. She focuses on process optimization, performance tracking, and aligning workflows with strategic objectives to enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making.
Job Titles:
- Modeling & Algorithm Engineer
Bora Aktaş graduated with a double major in Computer Engineering and Industrial Engineering from Koç University in 2025. During his education, he also participated in an exchange program at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received the Vehbi Koç Scholars Award four times and the Dean's Honor Roll twice for his academic success.
He is now a Modeling and Algorithm Engineer at SmartOpt, designing AI-based algorithms and mathematical models for complex supply chain and logistics issues, such as milk-run routing, 3D bin packing, and vehicle routing. While a student at Koç University, Bora was involved in various R&D projects, including last-mile delivery routing optimization, data center cooling optimization powered with prediction, and machine-learning-based microfluidic circuit design generation.
Besides his technical profession, Bora also established and chaired Kocaeli Science High School Alumni Association, which hosted events and scholarship programs. His areas of research interest include advanced optimization, machine learning, reinforcement learning, and supply chain management, focusing on real-world applications that enhance cost savings and operational efficiency. With his dual background, he wants to combine data-driven optimization and advanced AI techniques to create sustainable and scalable solutions to real-world business problems.
Job Titles:
- Developer
- Lead Full Stack Developer
Burak Sarpkaya serves as the Full Stack Developer Team Lead at SmartOpt, where he leads the development of web applications, real-time monitoring interfaces, and data visualization systems. He is responsible for designing and implementing user-centric, high-performance, and scalable solutions that align with business and technical requirements.
Job Titles:
- Modeling & Algorithm Engineer
Ceylin Çelik is part of SmartOpt's optimization and software development team, specializing in mathematical modeling and algorithm development for supply chain solutions. Her expertise includes production scheduling, and she plays a key role in developing algorithms and providing software-based solutions for complex production planning and logistics optimization challenges.
Ceylin has been with SmartOpt since October 2023, contributing to key optimization projects across manufacturing and logistics industries.
She is pursuing a double major in Industrial Engineering and Computer Science at Koç University and has studied advanced Supply Chain Management at Aarhus University.
Job Titles:
- Graphic Designer
- Social Media Manager
Elifnur Eyüboğlu has been working as the graphic designer and social media manager at SmartOpt since 2022. Since graduated of the Graphic Design Department at Istanbul Bilgi University, Elifnur creates innovative and strategic designs to strengthen the brand's visual identity.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
In 1997, Mr. Giannaccari started his career at Gucci as CFO Europe, and 3 years later was promoted to Executive Vice President of the newly acquired fashion and luxury brand Bottega Veneta; in an upward trajectory, under Francesco's leadership, Bottega Veneta grew from Euro 30m to Euro 100m in 2004. In 2005, Francesco joined the US fashion company Abercrombie & Fitch as President of International Operations to manage its expansion from a US-only to a Global fashion brand (he personally supervised the launch of the London, Milan and Tokyo Ginza flagship stores). In late 2007 he was called by Mr De Sole (CEO) and Mr Tom Ford (the previous Creative Director of Gucci) to manage the international launch of the Tom Ford luxury brand startup. Under Francesco's supervision, Tom Ford International opened more than 100 points of sale (franchisees, directly operated stores and shop in shops) globally. As VP of Tom Ford International and CEO of Pelletteria Artigiana, he built the management team, started the Women RTW business, and set up the Swiss trading operations. In 2014 he left Tom Ford International to become General Manager of Etro, the well-established Milanese family-owned fashion business, the first to join the Board as a nonfamily member.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Lead Modeling & Algorithm Engineer
Furkan Karabulut obtained his bachelor's degree from the Department of Mathematical Engineering at Yildiz Technical University. Throughout his academic journey, he successfully completed internships as a Python Developer and in the field of Image Processing at various companies within YTU Technopark during his undergraduate studies. He concluded his undergraduate thesis with an analysis of Deep Learning and Computer Vision models.
In 2020, he joined a company working on artificial intelligence in the medical field, contributing significantly to the development of deep learning models. Through these models, he played a crucial role in creating a solution for thyroid diagnosis and classification based on MR images, introducing innovative approaches to the diagnostic process.
Since 2021, Furkan has been employed at SmartOpt, where he specializes in the development of advanced optimization models and heuristic algorithms tailored to complex industrial challenges. His expertise spans mathematical programming, metaheuristic algorithms, and combinatorial optimization, enabling the creation of scalable and efficient solutions for large-scale production planning and logistics problems. He has designed and implemented heuristic and hybrid approaches for NP-hard optimization problems.
Job Titles:
- Senior Data Scientist
- Senior Machine Learning Engineer
Hüseyin Kemal Saruhanlıoğlu serves as a Senior Data Scientist at SmartOpt. He specializes in developing data-driven solutions. His expertise lies in applying machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling to solve complex business problems. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Istanbul Technical University and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Mathematics. In SmartOpt he develops scalable data solutions and optimizes business processes through advanced analytics.
Job Titles:
- CTO
- Member of the Board of Directors
Mert Can Özcan is part of SmartOpt's leading software development team. He is responsible for delivering the end product to our users. End products consist of designing user interfaces, api development and server integration.
Mert Can is with the company since 2019 and is one of the co-founders of SmartOpt.
Mert Can holds a Bachelor of Science double major degree in Computer Engineering and Business Administration from the Koc University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Computational Sciences and Engineering from the Koc University.
Job Titles:
- Software & System Engineer
Oğuzhan Taş is a Software & System Engineer at SmartOpt, specializing in backend development, distributed systems, and cloud infrastructure. He works on optimizing and automating large-scale systems, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and reliability in industrial applications.
His work involves designing and maintaining backend services, developing RESTful APIs, and managing high-performance databases. He has experience with Kafka and Redis, as well as implementing real-time data pipelines and messaging systems. He also contributes to server side operations within Linux environment.
In addition to software development, Oğuzhan is involved in integrating and optimizing industrial data systems. His work includes processing high-frequency data from PLCs, serving data properly, and enhancing system resilience in production environments.
With expertise in Python, Django, Java, PostgreSQL, and cloud platforms, Oğuzhan focuses on building robust and scalable solutions tailored to industrial needs. His problem-solving approach and deep technical knowledge make him a key contributor to SmartOpt's mission of optimizing industrial operations.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Founder
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Chairman of the Board
- Professor of Industrial Engineering at Koç University
Metin Türkay is the founder of SmartOpt and serves on its board of directors.
His main research area is on the development of innovative modeling approaches and, optimization and machine learning algorithms for complex problems in sustainable supply chain management and systems biology.
He holds PhD from Carnegie Mellon University (1996) and MS (1991) and BS degrees (1989) from Middle East Technical University. Before joining Koc University in 2000 where he set up Systems Lab, he was the principal consultant for optimization technologies at Mitsubishi Corporation Mizushima Research Center.
His publications from his doctoral work on computational and system theories was elected as the most innovative in the US universities and received the 1997 Ted Peterson Student Paper Award. He is also the recipient of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Career Award (2005), the TÜBİTAK Encouragement Award (2006), Turkey's first IBM Shared University Research Award (2007), the IBM Faculty Award (2009), the Open Collaborative Research Award by IBM Haifa Research (2012), the Most Successful Koc Employees Award (2019). He set up the Koc-IBM Supply Chain Research Center with funds from the IBM Shared University Research Award, and since 2006, is chairs the Operational Research in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics and Medicine Working Group (EURO CBBM).
Job Titles:
- Lead Machine Learning Engineer
Salih Gündüz is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Engineering at Istanbul Technical University. He earned his bachelor's degree from Namık Kemal University and his master's degree from Selçuk University. After working as a technical teacher at the Ministry of National Education for 15 years, he joined SmartOpt as a data scientist in 2024. His research focuses on machine learning and electricity price forecasting.
He has publications in international peer-reviewed journals and achieved first place in a Kaggle data science competition.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board of Directors
Soner Babüroğlu is the CEO of SmartOpt and serves on its board of directors.
Before being named CEO in February 2021, Soner was SmartOpt's chief operating officer and was responsible for all of the company's sales and operations, including service, support, and product design.
Prior to joining SmartOpt, Soner held various and executive positions in FMCG and Household Appliances Industries; Vestel, Philip Morris International, Simfer. He has spent more than a decade working in sales, marketing, and supply chain for multimillion-dollar brands in different regions and cultures, where he achieved notable successes by a leading role in starting up international operations in Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania, and North America.
He is one of the authors of "Golden Rules of Entrepreneurship", a contributing writer at HBR (Harvard Business Review) and Forbes, and holds several patents in consumer products globally.
He is a member of Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs (HAE) as a Global Team Member and a member of Forbes Business Development Council.
Soner holds M.S. from the University of Liverpool in International Management and he has completed a program at the Harvard Business School.
Job Titles:
- Developer
- Full Stack Developer
Talha Oğuz is an experienced Full Stack Developer, specializing in modern web technologies, frontend and backend development. With a strong background in React.js, Next.js, TailwindCSS, and JavaScript, he has built high-performance web applications, particularly in B2B and e-commerce solutions. He is currently advancing his knowledge in Management Information Systems at Anadolu University while continuously expanding his expertise in web technologies.
Currently working at SmartOpt, Talha develops intuitive and high-performance web applications by integrating REST APIs and designing visually appealing user interfaces. He has a deep understanding of responsive design, SEO optimization, and interactive web experiences, including 3D web applications using Three.js. His technical skills also include backend development with Node.js and database management with MySQL, enabling him to build complete, scalable solutions.
Talha has contributed to several major projects, including B2B platforms where he led frontend development and API integrations. He played a key role in building modern, interactive interfaces that enhance user experience and business efficiency. His work includes developing custom 3D web applications, optimizing web performance, and delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of dynamic industries. With strong problem-solving skills and adaptability, he continues to push the boundaries of modern web development.
Job Titles:
- Systems Engineer
- Mid - Level Systems Engineer
Yakup currently serves as a Mid-Systems Engineer at SmartOpt, where he demonstrates exceptional expertise in backend development and cloud infrastructure management.