Sabancı University hosted the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Panel Discussion, in which leading people in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship came together, on Friday, September 20, 2024.
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Panel Discussion, held at SUCool on September 20 with the participation of members from the Sabancı University International Board of Overseers, shared views on the key challenges and opportunities in the field of entrepreneurship and technology. The audience had the opportunity to listen to Tolga Kurtoğlu, Board Member at Omidyar Network, Waguih S. Ishak of Stanford University, also a former VP at Corning Inc., and Cem Sertoğlu, entrepreneur and founding partner of VC, as well as François Stieger, entrepreneur and angel investor, in the session moderated by Sabancı University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Director Ziya Alpay. The speakers shared their extensive experiences with the audience. Key topics in the session, which was also followed with strong interest by Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici, included the importance of talent, risk management in scaling companies globally, and balancing innovation with commercial viability.
The Board of Overseers Members who came together in the session that was a guide to entrepreneurship agreed that talent is one of the most important factors in the success of startups. It was emphasized that, especially in regions with strong technical education systems such as Europe and Turkey, talented individuals should be identified and trained early in their careers. The discussion also emphasized the importance of building a strong team, and that success is not achieved by technology alone, but by people. While the speakers warned entrepreneurs to avoid distractions and prioritize product viability over other activities, another important point was that startups should focus on customer needs and market fit.
Growing a company globally was another main theme in the session. Members shared their own experiences and discussed the challenges of operating in international markets, securing talent, and managing risks. It was emphasized that success often depends on the people involved, and that luck also plays an important role in this process. Waguih S. Ishak, with his words “Luck favors the prepared mind”, touched upon the fact that being equipped to use luck well is the main issue in success.
The discussion also covered the rise of AI as a transformative force, and participants urged startups to anticipate how this technology will evolve over the next few years rather than simply reacting to current developments.
In the final part of the discussion, the panel answered questions from entrepreneurs, entrepreneur candidates, and other participants, and provided practical advice. They emphasized the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and adaptability to succeed in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. Additionally, fostering a collaborative environment and providing timely feedback to teams were cited as critical factors in retaining top talent. Entrepreneurs were also encouraged to focus on human factors such as good communication and customer relationships when building and scaling their startups.
The Panel Discussion on Innovation and Entrepreneurship provided a number of valuable insights for both current and aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly on the key aspects of managing talent, managing risks, and maintaining a customer-centered approach to building globally competitive startups.