The Technologist Who Helped Shape NYC’s Startup Scene
Murat Aktihanoglu didn’t just ride the startup wave in New York City—he helped build it. 🏢 As the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA), Murat Aktihanoglu has played a pivotal role in turning NYC into a global tech powerhouse. With a career that spans engineering labs in Tokyo, startup grind in Manhattan, and global climate investing, he’s the type of founder-turned-funder who understands both the code and the capital.
This guide unpacks Murat’s multi-faceted journey—from early engineering wins to building ERA’s 500+ mentor ecosystem—and what every founder can learn from his approach to scaling companies and ecosystems. 🌟
Code, Culture, and Curiosity: Murat Aktihanoglu’s Global Tech Foundation
Murat’s story begins in Turkey, but his ambition quickly went global. After earning dual degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, he spent the 1990s writing code at Silicon Graphics and leading innovation projects for Sony in California and Tokyo. 🇯🇵
He built tools for the PlayStation, consulted for tech giants like AT&T and Panasonic, and launched Holoscape Inc., advising both startups and Fortune 500s. These weren’t just jobs—they were his sandbox for exploring product, UX, and global markets.
In 2007, Murat Aktihanoglu flipped the switch from technologist to founder, launching Centrl, a location-based social platform that quickly reached 750,000 users. 🚀 That journey led to a book deal (Location-Aware Applications) and a new chapter: becoming a startup community builder in NYC.
From Side Meetups to Center Stage: The Birth of ERA
Founders know: building community is a superpower. And Murat Aktihanoglu mastered it before the term “ecosystem” was trendy. 🚑 In 2007, he created Entrepreneurs Roundtable, a grassroots nonprofit where startups pitched ideas in front of peers and investors.
Fast-forward a few years, and those free events turned into a springboard for ERA, New York’s first homegrown startup accelerator. Launched in 2011 with co-founders Jonathan Axelrod and Charlie Kemper, ERA started with a mission: help founders build real companies that align with NYC’s strengths—FinTech, Media, SaaS, HealthTech, and more.
Today, ERA is a titan:
- ✨ 350+ startups backed
- 💰 $2B+ raised by alumni
- 📊 $10B+ in alumni market cap
- 🤝 500+ mentor network
- 🌐 Programs in NYC and abroad via ERA Global
But the real magic? It still feels like a founder-first, no-BS program. 📅
What Drives Murat Aktihanoglu: Leadership That Centers Founders
Murat Aktihanoglu doesn’t talk in jargon—he talks in deliverables. At ERA, his leadership is defined by action, access, and authenticity:
📊 KPI reviews, pitch drills, real feedback — Founders are held accountable with weekly progress tracking, structured deliverables, and intensive preparation for investor-facing moments. There’s no room for fluff; just measurable progress.
🔗 Immediate access to mentors, VCs, and NYC’s top execs — ERA’s 500+ mentor network isn’t just impressive on paper. Murat ensures these relationships are activated early and often, connecting founders with real operators, not figureheads. Founders can book 1:1s, join strategy calls, and get investor intros that open doors.
🚀 Long-term support post-program—no strings attached — Even after Demo Day, ERA remains a partner. Murat and his team continue to advise alumni on follow-on funding, hiring, and scaling. ERA’s Expansion Fund offers additional capital to help winning companies double down.
This is a leader who built ERA with intentionality, and it shows. He’s not just investing capital—he’s investing in infrastructure for success. ERA’s platform isn’t just a 4-month sprint—it’s a durable launchpad founders can return to.
He’s also not static. Murat Aktihanoglu co-founded Remarkable Ventures, a VC firm rooted in founder empathy and systems change. Its latest initiative, Remarkable Ventures Climate, focuses on breakthrough technologies solving climate challenges—with institutional backing from global leaders like SMBC Japan. 🌍 This shift underscores Murat’s commitment to aligning capital with global-scale impact.
How to Win with ERA: Murat Aktihanoglu’s Playbook for Founders
ERA isn’t a passive program—it’s a fast-moving arena for founders who are ready to ship, test, iterate, and pitch.
Murat’s ideal candidate?
🪡 Solves a clear pain point (not a nice-to-have)
👩💻 Has a strong technical co-founder
🌊 Leverages NYC advantages (finance, fashion, media, etc.)
🔄 Shows early traction (product, users, revenue)
🤝 Works full-time with 2–4 teammates who are all-in
ERA invests $150K in each team via a 6% SAFE and opens the door to a mentor/investor network that’s NYC’s finest. But Murat Aktihanoglu’s advice? You have to use the access. Ask, engage, follow up, track KPIs, refine your pitch—build the muscle, not just the deck. 🔧
Global Bridges, Bold Bets: Murat Aktihanoglu Beyond ERA
From launching programs for Ukrainian and Japanese founders to speaking at global forums, Murat Aktihanoglu’s reach goes far beyond NYC.
🌐 He mentors with MIT Enterprise Forum, She Loves Tech, and TigerLaunch.
📄 Sits on boards for the U.S.-Japan Council, Turkish American Business Forum, and more.
🦊 Advocates for Climate Tech and backs cross-border innovation through Remarkable Ventures Climate.
His career proves that building a startup is local—but building a legacy is global.
Final Thoughts for Founders
Murat Aktihanoglu didn’t just build companies. He built the scaffolding for other founders to thrive—laying down systems, support networks, and startup infrastructure that have helped shape one of the most dynamic tech ecosystems in the world.
His story is a masterclass in:
👨💼 Starting with tech, evolving to strategy — He began as a hands-on engineer, but his long-term vision expanded beyond products to include policy, community, and investment.
🏢 Building where you are, not waiting for permission — Moving to NYC before its tech scene matured, Murat Aktihanoglu didn’t chase Silicon Valley. He helped create an ecosystem where one didn’t yet fully exist.
📑 Using structure (KPI reviews, mentor loops) to move faster — By embedding rigor and feedback into ERA’s DNA, he helped founders stop spinning wheels and start executing with clarity and pace.
🚀 Expanding from product to platform to purpose — Murat’s arc reflects scale not just in business, but in ambition—from individual apps to a world-spanning climate fund, from meetups to global bridge-building.
🧠 Leading with founder empathy — Having been a founder himself, Murat brings a unique level of operational empathy. He understands how hard the early days are and shapes ERA around that reality—no pretense, just practical help.
If you’re a founder looking to grow in NYC—or build anywhere with intention, grit, and speed—ERA is one of your best bets. And Murat Aktihanoglu? He’s a founder’s VC, the kind who’s done the hard work and knows how to help you do yours. His success isn’t built on hype—it’s built on hundreds of real startup stories made stronger through mentorship, structure, and belief.
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