Ipek Celiksoz

About

I am the Founder of CatalystX Global, a seed investment platform backing exceptional, proven founders building in San Francisco.My core conviction is in frontier technologies such as robotics, humanoids, aerospace, energy, physical AI, and frontier infrastructure and AI applied to human biology. Over the past decade, I have reviewed 10,000+ startups and supported 500+ founders across Europe, the US, and emerging markets. Before CatalystX, I spent five years at 212 VC, Turkey’s first venture capital firm, where I worked with early-stage founders across strategy, fundraising, and go-to-market.My edge is cross-border: Istanbul, London, continental Europe, and the global diaspora — connected into San Francisco through Stanford, YCombinator, Entrepreneur First, Abundance360, Nucleate, Vitalist Bay, and frontier-tech founder communities.I was originally trained as a chemist, and I continue to bring a science-first, evidence-driven lens to venture investing. I am a London Business School Newton Venture Program Fellow, an Abundance360 Member, a Nucleate Global Jury Member and Mentor, and part of the founding team behind Istanbul ignited by Slush’D

Experience

Education