Prof. Can Akcali has MD degree from Ankara University and Ph.D. degree from University of Cincinnati, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology. He worked as a professor in Bilkent University Molecular Biology and Genetics Department. Currently he is vice president in Stem Cell Institute in Ankara University. Prof. Akcali is the recipient of Novartis Science Award, Vehbi Koç Health Award, Gordon Research Conference Award. He is the author of many scientific papers and book chapters. He has been advisor of numerous graduate students.

Dr. Erdem Erikci holds B.Sc. and M.Sc degree from Bilkent University Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Turkey and received his Ph.D. in Biology from Georg-August-Universität Gottingen, Max Planck Institute, Germany. His papers were published in renowned journals such as Nature. He is responsible of research and development of novel methods and validations in cultured meat production. Previously he co-founded tarla.io and iklim.co that tackles with climate change by use of big data.

Mr. Kerem Erikci holds Electrical Engineering B.Sc. and MBA degrees from Bilkent University, Turkey, M.Sc degree in Information Networking from Carnegie Mellon University, USA. He has 18 years of engineering and marketing experience at corporate and startup companies. He co-founded tarla.io and iklim.co that received international recognition by EU, UNIDO and UN. Mr. Erikci is experienced in the life cycles of startups with innovative products and services.

Mr. Melih Akcali, holds B.Sc. degree in Engineering from Middle East Technical University and MA in Economics from Gazi University. He is specialized in financial risk management. His expertise is understanding cash flows and valuations in commercial and banking agreements. Mr. Akcali is responsible from finance and feasibility studies of new endeavours.

Dr. Dilan Çelebi Birand is a molecular biologist and a neuroscientist. Dr. Celebi Birand received her B.Sc. degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics and Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience from Bilkent University. Before being a part of the Biftek team, Dr. Celebi Birand had worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Bilkent University. Her previous research focused on the environmental and genetic contributors to oxidative stress and inflammation during aging. Dilan also investigated the brain-specific effects of dietary and pharmacological interventions that extend life span. She is the author of several scientific articles and book chapters, and a reviewer for scientific journals.

Zeynep Büşra Özer received her B.Sc degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bilkent University in 2015. During bachelor studies, she prepared constructs to make genetically tractable small model organisms (zebrafish) to test and dissect the functions of novel cancer genes. At Institute for Systems Biology-Seattle, she worked on stemness of the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal state in breast cancer. Through her MS studies, she investigated the epigenetic effects of estrogen on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and the genetic and epigenetic effects of zinc on liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, Zeynep pursues her Ph.D. in the field of stem cell biology.

Esra Koçak was graduated from Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Bartın University. She received a Biology and Environmental Protection education at the University of Lodz. She earned her MSc degree in the Stem Cell Program at Hacettepe University. The subject of her MSc thesis was mesenchymal stem cell aging and protein-protein interactions. Currently, she carries on scientific researches as a team member of Biftek.

Passionate about innovative technology startups, Sibel Tunali is a talented international business executive with over 30 years of strategic management, partnership and business development experience and a strong understanding of international markets such as Canada, US, UK, Finland, Portugal and Turkey. Sibel graduated from Bogazici University in Electrical Engineering and has a Corporate Finance Postgraduate degree from the London School of Business. Over the last 10 years, Sibel has worked with various technology startups in sustainable business growth. Since 2018, she also spearheaded the Start-in Bodrum accelerator/collaborative Platform, creating business development opportunities between local investors and startups together with her partner Gert Kroon.

As a founder of a Data Science company and over 25 years of international experience in IBM Corporate and Governmental sector, Gert Kroon is an experienced advisor with international business network in Europe. Gert has graduated from Haagse Hogeschool Information Technology in the Netherlands and he is currently finalizing his Executive MBA program at the first US Online MBA University. With a solid financial and technical background, he has broad knowledge of all steps of growth including commercialization, scale-up, marketing and operations for development of a commercial product. Since November 2018, Gert has also spearheaded the Start-in Bodrum accelerator/collaborative platform, creating business development opportunities between international investors and startups together with his partner Sibel Tunali.

Ms. Lucky is responsible to provide sense of urgency to our team. Her aim is to save animals from cruelty. Her eyes tell us to what she feels about people around; not very positive though.