Walking from San Francisco to Palo Alto

Yes, brother. Yes. Hello. Hello. What episode of our podcast is this? I think it's number 7, but it's the podcast I started while walking. So, our first... actually, our podcast in America. Yes. This is our first podcast together. For the first time under these conditions. Exactly. Hi everyone. So, how much is it now? We've been in America for about 10 days now. In San Francisco. Well, we have a long way to go.

We're heading towards Palo Alto. We also decided to record a podcast on the way . I hope it turns out well. If the sound quality is bad or anything, we'll just not include it anyway . We throw them around. Exactly. How's it going, Barış? it's lively, you know. To be honest, America is a country I've never been to before, and I've always imagined it as a bit far away, a little overly idealized.

So, this is how we dominate the Turkish market. We have some minor experience in the European market, but... well, the American market always felt distant. It wasn't that far away after all. I feel like there are some aspects that are easier than others. What do you think? So, the only thing that tired me out was the time difference, the transition processes and all that, but after that, I didn't feel like a stranger at all, to be honest.

Yes. We even thought about it, you know, on the first day we arrived, we even said, "Would you like to live here?" I said exactly that. I'm still alive, by the way, and I still have my share of things to say. The location matters. For example, I find Palo 6 very boring. But you loved him. I loved it, I loved it. Very good. You loved that life.

San Francisco is, well, okay, okay, a place. As for the... well, the part about doing the work... yes. And as we talk like this, a few other people say the same thing. There is a difference. In Türkiye, you especially need to establish a relationship first. Everyone here is very open to that. You do n't need to know each other. You do n't need to be in a relationship.

But they are much more open to doing business. It seems to me that it's easier to approach people this way, and because it's so international, questions like "where are you from?" or "where did you come from?" aren't really that critical. Absolutely. And the need that networking brings is actually because the other person has the same need from you, so you meet directly, and I think the feedback is very accurate; it's not just casual small talk .

Direct, more direct, yes. It seems like we're shifting to a "let's talk business" approach. Exactly. So, hurry up. What are you doing? What is your goal? What can you contribute to me? What can I contribute to your life? Do you think this is a general trend in America, or is it just because we're here, you know, like startup VCs, like in Pavalt, San Francisco? I think, this place, especially the Bay Area, is completely built around software, or rather, not just software, but the startup culture.

Even where we live, there are VCs everywhere. Exactly. So I think people have integrated their normal communication into this, and it's as if every conversation, every small talk, is going to turn into a network . But maybe, I don't know, sir, you know Europe better . It's not like that in Türkiye . That's how it is in America, but I think it's a little different in Europe.

No, I agree 100%. I think America definitely has a certain... well, that side to it. So it seems to me that it's a little bit specific to San Francisco as well . Yes. We don't know much about other parts of America, but here, what you just said, everyone being a VC, everyone being a startup, really speeds things up. And besides speeding things up, it really strengthens that "let's cut the, let's talk" business of yours, I think .

What I really liked about VCs was this: The fact that so many big companies have originated here really gives everyone a lot of influence. So, both the amounts of money being discussed and the experience that the companies, or VCs, possess are very strong. I mean, in other markets, the people we've spoken to so far don't have much information, but I haven't seen such in-depth, professional investigations. And also, it's critical, you know, you can't swing a cat without hitting a VC.

Yes. You know how you say, " Look, this person definitely has two things going for them, they have an initiative or something like that"? Exactly. For example, our segment is one of the biggest players in the industry. Yes. A company in the segment that was almost sold for $3.5 billion . huh. And by chance, our professor at Stanford might turn out to be the former CMO of that segment, for example.

So, you know, the one with the Tilo Tilo story, yes, it turns out to be the CMO of Tvilio, or rather, the company that sells the segment . You won't find insights like this anywhere else, but... I do n't know if you liked this, but sometimes with those VCs, instead of focusing on the work and added value the company does, it's more about how much you're generating, how much you've earned, and how much you're going to earn?

The fact that he was so focused on money honestly didn't appeal to me much. Well, they're kind of doing it for the money anyway. So those investment processes are evolving in this way as well. So when you talk to the BBC, besides how much of a dreamer you are or how much value you produce, you even have to do one-minute, or 60-second, pitches and just say this.

In fact, some of the feedback you received also said the same thing. So, you're the only one talking, but all I hear are keywords. So you're talking about privacy, that's what you're referring to, it seems. So, he/she does n't care, I mean. How much e-commerce revenue did you generate? Exactly. When will I get an exit bonus after I deposit money with you ? Oh, look, the topic of exits really struck me as interesting.

So maybe it's because we haven't heard of them, or maybe a different Türkiye is being talked about. Türkiye is being discussed. But... there's something else . People regularly ask that question. Okay, great, you're doing a great job. But when are you going to do your thing? When are you going to exit? How are you going to exit? "Who will marry you?" is one of those fundamentally common questions asked of everyone .

I found this interesting, to be honest. The piece is definitely very different from Türkiye, but I think it's quite appropriate. There's a certain dominance here; they've really taken over the space, and that's why I think there's a lot we can learn. The part that irritates me a bit is the perception that they're going door-to-door soliciting money, because you can't swing a cat without hitting a VC or founder.

There was even an old Chinese woman among them. Yes. So the money they're talking about, the VC, the money they're discussing, is enormous. For example, if you were to meet that woman, you might say, "Hey auntie, can I help you cross the street?" The woman says, "Our ticket size is between 5 and 8 million dollars, and I have a fund of up to a billion dollars," or something like that.

That thing is really funny and it wanders around like an avari. Exactly, you know, like you'd say to your aunt, "I got lost," or something like that . My aunt said the public bread shop is over there, and the woman there talked and so on . So, to me, it seems like... Those startups, you know, mental stuff. The professor we spoke to at Stanford said the same thing, if you remember.

So, startups that view themselves as opening a door for VCs tend to be more successful. So, it's not like I'm saying, "Hey brother, please give me money," but rather, "Are you, in a way, worthy of being the person who would give me money?" And this is our path. Look, this is the path we're going to take . Will you join us? Heh. Exactly. They are essentially both saying and predicting that those who say that will be more successful.

Okay, I'll change the subject a bit, but what do you think about Stanford? So, is this for university or something? For general university purposes. And then we went to BKY as well. Ay BKY was already very good, but I don't remember half of it. Stanford is very good, well, we're kind of in a guest position there, but... exactly. by the way, we're on that program. I don't know if that program has a name, but...

Yes, it's... a pilot program for startups, like Türk Telekom's, but Türk Telekom actually partnered with Stanford, or something like that, Stanford partnered with them . huh. Cent workshop series, which stands for business workshop series. Exactly. How do you grow globally and how do you grow in America? He makes pilots every year. So, there are a lot of startups in Türkiye that have been coming here for maybe 5 or 10 years.

That 's why they are familiar with the processes. I usually spend my days doing that. the start thing is related to programming in Startup. Afternoons are also usually a busy time for encountering such individuals. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be this busy. They said, "We're trying to cram everything we cover in 20 lessons into two sessions," but it's very clear and straightforward, and you can actually get the feedback, the topic, the TOC (Total Quality of Study) that you would have covered in those 20 sessions, all in just two sessions here.

She's a little bit beautiful like that. I'm very happy, to be honest. So, it's great to receive such intensive training from a different culture. Training, I mean a workshop actually. Yes. So these sessions are compressed sessions. Exactly. Well, maybe we could have come a little more prepared, to make better use of the time. But in summary, I think the program is great, and honestly, coming to Stanford was also inspirational for me.

So, this kind of environment is already a very engineering-focused place. That VC startup world really draws you in; it immediately pulls you in, and for us, right from the start, there were so many things to talk about that we actually made some key changes to our approach. What we got from this was definitely a very good strategy feedback exchange with each other, either through slides or something like that.

So we went to a baseball game this weekend, but we talked about work constantly both on the way there and on the way back . Because the things people were talking about gave rise to so many wonderful ideas in our minds . Well, it's not like you really need to be physically here to experience it. I think these things give a similar feeling online, but... well, being physically here, the inspiration is wonderful, honestly, until you leave.

I think that was good for us too, I mean, since we're far away, it's really just a train journey, like you said, it's about an hour's train ride to San Francisco. Those train journeys are always like that, you know, times spent exchanging ideas and saying things like, "Hey, let's do it this way , let's do it that way ." So, you forgot our coffees too when buying the tickets, yes.

We forget our coffee, we randomly go to the baseball machine , we get sunburned and then freeze the next day, it's routine, but I'm pretty happy with it, actually. Yes. Yes. It's going very, very well. Okay, so maybe I should ask you this: we'll be returning soon, you know... One of the most basic things I'll take home is this... what is it? You know, we shopped at Target .

They are physically. Arrow. Ok. We'll take them. Alright. Mentally, I mean, I got it . Well, long sentences—or by the way, this might be something that comes with English— but being able to explain long sentences in a much shorter, more concise way is a separate skill, a separate talent. I honestly just took it upon myself to do it that way. Well, that's great, something like that happened.

Yes, but the concept is to not simplify. Exactly. Because, you know, here in Turkey, VCs are really racing against time, so they need to think quickly and... okay, get to the point. huh . The whole "leave the story aside, get to the point" concept really impressed me. Definitely. The other thing, that feeling of being planned, disciplined, and organized, really inspired me. Especially when walking around here, there are all sorts of plants, flowers, this and that.

Yes. That's very impressive. I agree. What do you have? I agree with a percentage of what you said. And what about the American breakfast culture, how does it go when you gain 100 kilos? Well, for me too, one of the biggest things was thinking bigger. huh. So here you're really thinking much bigger, much more forward-looking. After that, it's being encouraged, and encouraged again. Like a vision. definitely think bigger.

Well, it has an advantage both in numerical terms and in terms of what you can do, and that's what I'm pursuing. The second one, on the contrary, made him more humble. Because, whether we like it or not, in our own measurement world, sometimes we think, "Wow, we're doing great , we're doing a great job, thank you," but sometimes when we raise ourselves too high, I think we reach the heavens.

Seeing other work being done here, seeing the money involved in other projects, the results they're producing, it's all so humble. Okay bro. We knew we had a few loaves of bread to eat, but feeling like we had even more to eat while we were eating... well, that felt good, honestly. It was like... you know, a shiver and a jolt to yourself . You know, you actually see yourself as superior .

But perhaps there's no need to be so technical. There are many areas you don't know much about . Exactly. Well, people are trying to do good things in those areas too . Using their own noha hav . Evjisel would be lovely there. We would have just put it directly in the... thing. Shorts. Okay then, before my arm drops any further... Exactly, thank you. Because you're holding a camera.

We definitely need to get a selfie stick . It goes back 10 years. So, that's all for this week's topic. Greetings and best wishes from America. See you later. Bye bye.