Ege Yay

Ege Yay

Coding at 13, working alongside a billionaire at 16, and feeling the thrill of PMF multiple times over. I use that experience to build intelligent systems that create new markets and deliver life-changing results.

About EggAI

I was raised in Istanbul, a city where cultures and continents come together. My family’s background is defined by perseverance: one grandfather drove a taxi, the other served as a police officer, and my grandmothers grew up without the opportunity to learn to read or write.

Yet through sheer perseverance, my parents, an engineer and a banker, carved out successful professional careers. Their journey from modest roots to achievement has profoundly shaped my worldview and instilled in me an unwavering drive to create impact through innovation.

Inspired by the determination and ambition my parents instilled in me, I began pushing my own boundaries early on. At just 13, I spent countless late nights in my room learning to code, eventually launching an e learning website that attracted thousands of visitors. That drive opened unexpected doors: it led me to connect with Markus Villig, Europe’s youngest self made billionaire, and by 16, I was working directly with him at Bolt for nearly two years.

Working side by side with Markus as a teenager, I saw up close how bold vision and relentless execution turn scrappy startups into global powerhouses (Bolt.eu, now valued at over $10B, is a service I use with pride, whether traveling in Cape Town or living in my current home, Toronto).

These years shaped my journey a lot and I am still enjoying working with great people, great companies and adding more value to the world with technology and experimentation. Here’s my boring version of my CV for you to check further:

Profile Summary

Serial entrepreneur and AI executive with 10+ years building technology ventures. Founded and scaled 4 companies, including industry-first AI products serving 100+ enterprise clients. Expert in AI transformation, technical strategy, and guiding executive teams through successful AI adoption.

Skills

  • AI/ML: Cursor, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Claude Code, OpenAI API, Databricks, Snowflake
  • Business Tools: ClickUp, Asana, Notion, PitchBook, Tableau, Clay, Zapier, Make.com, Power BI, Alteryx, Sourcescrub, Excel, VBA, SQL, DataSite

Languages

  • English (Native)
  • Turkish (Native)
  • Mandarin (Conversational)

Open Source Contributions

  • Databricks Dolly - Contributed memory optimization for large context processing; merged with 150+ GitHub stars
  • LLaMA Project - Developed multi-language tokenization improvements; featured in community showcase with 25+ forks

Experience

Co-Founder & CTO at CloudSale.ai

2022.09–2024.12
AI startup automating B2B sales with AI agent Business Development Representatives (BDRs)

  • Built industry-first AI BDR platform, achieving 3x outbound efficiency and 40% increase in qualified leads based on 50+ BDR workflow analysis.
  • Scaled to 100+ enterprises, driving 40% monthly revenue growth in 2023 and reaching 7-figure ARR in 10 months.
  • Personally raised angel funding from AI pioneer François Chollet (Keras creator), establishing strategic partnerships.

Entrepreneur in Residence at Entrepreneur First

2021.09–2022.09
Selective global talent incubator investing in high-potential AI startups

  • Selected for prestigious global talent incubator (3% acceptance rate), prototyping AI ventures across e-commerce and conversational intelligence.
  • Conducted market validation across 4 verticals, interviewing 200+ customers achieving product-market fit validation.

Partner at MEGVII

2019.10–2021.09
Former second-most valuable AI startup globally, valued over $8B

  • Built and scaled two commercial AI products in adtech and retailtech as venture builder/product manager, reaching 20+ enterprise customers generating $5M+ ARR within first year.
  • Expanded market presence across 5 countries through strategic partnerships with VARs and consulting firms including Accenture, Innova, and Deloitte-affiliated partners, achieving 150% year-over-year growth.

Founder & Managing Director at YAYAR Tech

2019.06–2021.09
AI & AR-focused venture studio and consultancy

  • Founded AI & AR consulting firm, delivering projects to Shell, Vodafone, Innova, and Turk Telekom with $3M+ combined project value.
  • Developed computer vision solutions reducing operational costs by 30% for Fortune 500 energy clients.

Regional General Manager at Bolt.eu

2014.02–2015.06
Mobility unicorn valued at over $10B

  • Led Turkey market expansion, directly reporting to founder Markus Villig, managing team of 6 and securing 50+ enterprise accounts.
  • Achieved 400% user growth within 12 months, establishing operational frameworks replicated across 15+ markets.

Founder & Developer at Soruno.com

2012.02–2014.05
K-12 interactive e-learning platform

  • Grew user base to 1,000+ students and successfully sold platform content and rights to educational institutions.
  • Built full-stack web application using modern technologies.

Education

  • B.Sc., Computer Science (AI) - McGill University - Hugh M. Brock Scholar
  • M.Sc., Analytics - Georgia Tech (Withdrew to pursue entrepreneurship)

Activities & Leadership

  • Ultra Marathon Runner - Completed historical site marathons across Turkey, North America, and Europe; achieved 100KM distance with multiple medal finishes
  • Guest Lecturer, METU - Occasional speaker on AI entrepreneurship, customer discovery, and enterprise venture creation.