Ugur KILCI

A man with big goals. Also someone who lets the taste dance on his tongue while eating.

Hello.

I grew up in Aydın, Turkey. In elementary school I built a robotic arm for science fairs, and moderated a game programming forum. When I was 12, someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said I'll invent things. That's exactly what I do. They just call it software now.

I'm based in Aydın, occasionally in Ankara. I run a startup studio called Girişim Kur. I come up with ideas, build some of them, throw some away. I've shipped over 600 projects. Every time I finish one, I feel like a father holding his child for the first time. Because I was there through the entire process. :) Some grew, some didn't. I learned from both.

I once worked with UNICEF and Turkey's Ministry of Education. I led the development of 7,500 educational games for children with autism. I managed a team of 10 and built the communication infrastructure for a 100-person team (pedagogues, teachers, developers). It was one of the most meaningful things I've done.

I also write books. Run a few blogs. Talk to 17,000 people on YouTube.

Sometimes I get carried away when talking about things I love. People watching might think I'm arguing, but I'm just passionately explaining something.

Inside My Head

I listen to classical music. Usually when I first wake up. But not just classical. From Chopin to 1000 Volt by Baneva & Dolu Kadehi Ters Tut, from Ghibli to André Rieu. Weird? Maybe. But that's me.

🎧 Zevkten Kıvrandıran Müzikler

I'm trying to learn ancient languages. I say trying because in Sumerian I've only managed a few words so far. But even that was enough. There's something strange and beautiful about reading what someone thought 4,000 years ago.

Right now, I'm actively learning Chinese on Duolingo

I did theater in university. Being someone else on stage, then becoming yourself again. That taught me a lot.

I like researching anthropology, evolutionary psychology, and astronomy. Big questions interest me: Why are we here? Why do we think the way we do? Why are we drawn to certain things? I don't know the answers. I love the questions.I develop game ideas. Not to build them, but to think on paper. Designing the mechanics of a game feels like chess to me. You're not playing, but your mind is working.

where to?

Right Now

Playing Cookie Clicker. 93.7% done. I don't know why I'm sharing this but you needed to know.

Learning Go. Still bad at it. But someone who can say I'm bad is already learning.

I usually open Minesweeper when I'm waiting for something. I don't like being kept waiting, but Minesweeper makes it pass.

My two favorite games are Minecraft and Stardew Valley. I've done everything there is to do in both. Reached that satisfaction. But nobody around me has matched my Stardew Valley dedication.

Things I'm Building

thePlus.so

Used 1 million times. Customers from Japan to the US, Germany to China.

OfisiniYonet.com

The project I'm actively working on right now.

Ofisler.net

Might look boring but it's actually a beautiful problem. My favorite.

Kurucu Notları

Weekly writing on entrepreneurship. Over a year now.

Girişimzel

Seven-year-old entrepreneurship platform. With version 6, I can say "yes" to those who ask "are you going to save the world?"

GirisimKur.com

My startup studio. Ideas are born, some grow, some die. Like life.

I only have one job and that's Girişim Kur.

Crossing My Mind

Sometimes I eat slower. I let every taste dance on my tongue.

My favorite moment: I'm explaining something, and the other person says "no need, I got it." That stupid grin on my face.

I'm afraid of saying "I wish." Saying "I wish I had lived this life better" scares me.

I want to be loved unconditionally. Just for being me. Simple.

They say thinking simply is hard. Even a fool can think of something complex. Try inventing a technology from scratch. That takes guts, and not everyone has those guts.

I write more like this on Medium.

Write to Me

If you have an idea, a question, or just want to say hello:

hi@ugurkilci.com

I reply. Sometimes late, but I reply.