Umut Akarsu
Student & Entrepreneur
I am a dedicated student and entrepreneur deeply interested in business, economics, and how
technology is reshaping the world. I enjoy exploring bold ideas, building solutions from
scratch, and finding smart ways to address real-world problems. Whether the task involves
analyzing global trends, developing startup ideas, or engaging with entrepreneurship and tech
communities, I am driven by curiosity and a strong sense of purpose.
Business & Leadership Experience
Starstride
- Strategy and vision development
- Brand development and positioning
- Marketing support
- Technical product coordination
Acta – AI Coaching Platform
- B2B and B2C outreach
- Content marketing and blog development
- Strategic growth planning
Platin Yaka – Turkey's first provider of Fractional Leadership services
- Supported growth and strategy initiatives, contributing to business development and communication.
- Worked on ecosystem-related projects connecting leaders and organizations.
Sunday Builders – Builders hub founded at Harvard
- Co-leading a community that brings together founders and builders around the world.
- Organizing initiatives that support entrepreneurship and high-agency students.
Indie Game Team
- Led a 7-person development team and managed core operations for the game project.
- Took part in design, narrative, and production tasks throughout the development cycle.
- Contributed to the strategic decision not to publish the game after evaluating product quality, team readiness, and launch timing.
IntelGeoPol
- Focused on global economic strategies and political risk identification.
- Produced briefs that offered strategic insights and risk scenarios for stakeholders.
Early-stage employer (private founder)
- Opened and set up a new office, coordinating workspace, basic infrastructure, and suppliers.
- Managed daily operations, scheduling, and task coordination for the team.
- Acted as the central point of contact between the founder, team, and external partners.
Goethe-Institut PASCH Network
- Participated in intercultural and academic projects with German-speaking partners.
- Contributed to writing and publishing a collaborative novel in Germany.
- Received Goethe-Institut scholarship in 2023 for the A2 German language course and certificate.
ESBL MUN (Eskişehir Eti Social Sciences High School)
- Managed the finances and logistics of the school's annual MUN conference.
ESBL Entrepreneurship Club
- Led initiatives, organized events, and mentored students on startup-building strategies.
Model European Council – Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye
- Represented Denmark, focusing on diplomacy and EU policy.
- Engaged in negotiations and strategic decision-making during the simulation.
TÜBİTAK Projects
- Led nationally recognized scientific projects and mentored peers in research design.
- Designed and sold handmade bracelets B2C, learning basic marketing and sales skills.
- Initiated a school-based B2C business selling school materials.
- Developed entrepreneurial instincts at an early age.
Research Experience
- Designed and conducted a mixed-methods research project on DeepFake technology at the intersection of sociology and AI.
- Collected data from 259 high school students in Eskişehir using pre/post surveys via Qualtrics.
- Measured changes in awareness: self-reported "knowledgeable" participants increased from 8% to 43% after awareness sessions.
- Developed an educational website and app prototype to provide resources and simple DeepFake experimentation tools.
- Analyzed societal risks such as political manipulation, misinformation, and privacy threats.
- Drafted recommendations for regulation, detection technologies, and public awareness campaigns.
Languages
- Turkish – Native
- English – Fluent
- German – Proficient