Hello!
TL;DR
An electronics maker and mentor from Istanbul. Builders of the maker movement. Former Microsoft MVP. I enjoy sound recording, RC, and reef keeping.
The things that inspire and enlighten me become the foundations of my work. I love helping people turn their dreams into reality, which is why I've created what I like to call the "LEGO of industrial electronics."
My journey began in Silicon Valley during the rise of IoT hardware startups, where I developed a modular robotics called Roboting. I spent months at TechShop San Francisco, connecting with makers from around the world and discovering my first 3D printer. My enthusiasm for the maker community led me to volunteer at the Bay Area Maker Faire, which eventually inspired me to help organize the first Maker Faires in Istanbul and across my country. Together, we built a thriving maker movement.
Later, I founded an educational modular developer kit startup and launched a few year-long educational programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Microsoft, and local organizations. While those experiences were challenging, nothing rejuvenates my spirit quite like seeing others bring their ideas to life using my devices. I've certainly faced failures, not on the tech side, but in other aspects, and those experiences strengthened my resolve in my subsequent endeavors.
We have collaborated with Microsoft for so long that I have been recognized as a Most Valuable Professional in embedded technologies and IoT for the past 13 years. We organized talks, hackathons, and meet-ups nationwide each week. There, I met with many engineering students who are now founding ingenious startups.
I have a deep passion for remote-controlled everything—trucks, boats, helicopters, drones, airplanes, and even R2-D2s. The only thing missing is submarines! I've developed Kinect-controlled RC cars and autonomous car controllers that allow model cars to drive themselves, which are currently used at universities in the United States to teach AI courses.
In my downtime, reef-keeping has offered a restoring escape. While it demands time and attention, it brings the beauty of the ocean right into my living room (though it does come with risks, like an anemone munching on my favorite Hawaiian fish).
Photography and videography are additional passions of mine. I've contributed to movie sets and established my country's first short film portal, even before YouTube gained popularity while organizing local film meet-ups along the way. I've collected various gear for creative projects, which led to a newfound love for sound recording. I enjoy capturing ambient sounds from the places I visit and sharing them on SoundCloud. It's fascinating to see others dedicate time to places like the Amazon Rainforest to capture the pure beauty of nature.
Having grown up in an era when video games were truly captivating, Tomb Raider was one of my favorites. It inspired the name of my daughter, Lara. She scales walls with ease!
Today, I'm dedicated to helping hardware startups fulfill their visions while continuing to work on my own electronics startup.
Umut Erkal