Young Founders Collective
YOUNG
FOUNDERS collective

Spotlighting young entrepreneurs and future leaders — from art and social impact to business and tech. Hosted by Defne Gurkan.

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"For Those Ready to Start, or Learn from Those Already a Few Steps Ahead"

About the Podcast
YOUNG
FOUNDERS
COLLECTIVE

The Young Founders Collective is a podcast spotlighting young entrepreneurs and future leaders across industries, from art and social impact to business and tech. Hosted by Defne Gurkan, each episode explores beyond the business ventures, and dives into personal journeys, values, and defining moments behind the next generation shaping the world.

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Behind the mic
Featured Episodes
EP. 01 Society Has Become Addicted
Diego Verhamme Carmena — Diveinside Founder
On building while keeping mental health at the center of the journey.
Watch on YouTube
Yeşil Dünyamız
Releasing March 18
Derin Erdem — Founder of Yeşil Dünyamız
On sustainability, media, and using creativity as a tool for social impact.
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Coming Soon
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Stay tuned for the next founder story. Who should we feature?
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Collective

The founders who've shared their stories. Each one proof that the next generation is already building.

Diego Verhamme Carmena
Connect with Diego
Episode #1

Diego Verhamme
Carmena

Founder of Diveinside — Episode #1

Diego is a graduate student of International Relations and Business Administration and the Founder & CEO of Diveinside. His work sits at the intersection of social impact, education, and mental health. Through Diveinside, an EdTech platform that helps schools improve student wellbeing, he is committed to strengthening mental health in future generations. He also mentors early-stage startups in universities and entrepreneurship programs, helping future entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality.

Martin Kostadinov
Connect with Martin
Episode #2

Martin
Kostadinov

Founder of SYNEX — Episode #2

Martin is the Founder of Synex, a product sustainability compliance consultancy and one of Europe's first Digital Product Passport software-as-a-service providers. He began building projects at 16, and two of his ventures continue to generate revenue today. Professionally, he is a data scientist and statistician, recognized with multiple awards, including winning the 2022 European Statistics Competition. Outside of his work, he is a dedicated powerlifter and has no social media.

Derin Erdem
Connect with Derin
Episode #3

Derin
Erdem

Founder of Yeşil Dünyamız — Episode #3

Derin is an Honors student at the University of Amsterdam, soon graduating with a degree in Media and Culture. Her work sits at the intersection of sustainability and media. She is the Co-Founder of Yeşil Dünyamız, a social initiative for children. With a background as an aspiring filmmaker and creator, she is passionate about using media as a tool for impact. She is always open to collaborating on creative projects and mentoring young creatives.

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Whether you want to share your story, partner with us, nominate someone inspiring, or just say hello — we'd love to hear from you.

Share Your Story with the Next Generation

We're looking for young founders, entrepreneurs, and future leaders who are building something meaningful. You don't need a unicorn — you need a story worth telling. We go beyond the pitch: we talk about the journey, the values, the defining moments.

Guest Application

Partner with the Voice of Young Founders

The Young Founders Collective reaches an audience of ambitious, purpose-driven young people — early adopters, future decision-makers, and founders in the making. If your brand believes in the next generation, let's build something together.

Partnership Enquiry

Know Someone Who Should Be on the Show?

You don't have to be a founder to contribute to the conversation. If you know someone building something meaningful — a friend, a colleague, someone you've read about — tell us about them. Every great guest starts with a tip.

Nominate a Guest

Just Want to Say Hello?

You don't need a business reason to reach out. Maybe an episode resonated with you, maybe you have feedback, or maybe you just want to be part of what we're building. Our inbox is always open.

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