Cem Sertoglu is a Managing Partner at Bek Ventures, a global venture capital firm focused on technology companies in Emerging Europe, also known as “Dynamic Europe.” He has been investing in technology ventures in the region since 2006. Bek Ventures manages a $250 million fund, which was three times oversubscribed, and is known for supporting top founders with roots in Central and Eastern Europe.
Before Bek Ventures, Cem was the Founder & Managing Partner at Earlybird Digital East Fund, with a track record including investments in successful unicorns such as UiPath, Hazelcast, Peak Games, YemekSepeti, Vivense, FintechOS, and Payhawk. Previously, Cem founded and led SelectMinds (now part of Oracle) in New York.
Cem holds a BA in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin. He emphasizes a disciplined, focused investment strategy, backing around 20-25 companies per fund and providing undiluted attention to each to maximize value. His approach includes heavy reserves for follow-ons and sometimes significant ownership stakes to secure substantial returns.
Bek Ventures believes in “quietly provocative” involvement, providing candid feedback selectively and prioritizing long-term founder relationships. Cem advocates for playing the game on the field with a global mindset, focusing on founders building globally from Day 0, leveraging their regional talent edge.
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