Ismail Kafescioglu
Co-founder @Focus15
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Co-founder @Focus15
GB
As a founder and advisor, I’ve seen how early-stage support often misses what startups actually need — not more advice, but clarity on where they stand, focus on the right priorities, and the ability to execute against real gaps.At Focus15, we help founders diagnose the underlying factors that determine success long before fundraising — team capability, execution risk, market readiness, and business fundamentals. Our Growth Map™ provides a structured, data-led view of what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change next.That clarity is supported by focused 1-to-1 sessions, access to trusted service partners, and investor introductions only when the business has genuinely reduced risk and built momentum.My role spans strategy, product design, and founder development — shaping how Focus15 helps early-stage teams move from potential to measurable progress, with less wasted time and fewer false starts.
EDUCATION
Hult Ashridge Executive Education
Kellogg Leadership Programme
Harvard Business School Executive Education
Kellogg Executive Program
Boğaziçi University
Bachelor, Business Administration
INSEAD
Yildiz Leadeship Programme
SKILLS
ABOUT ISMAIL KAFESCIOGLU
I work with early-stage founders before fundraising — helping them build the foundations that determine whether a business can succeed at all.Too many founders start raising with a pitch deck, only to hear “no” without ever being told why. What investors actually reject are structural risks — long before the story matters.The real blockers are structural and operational: team capability, execution gaps, unit economics, go-to-market clarity, and risks that compound if left unaddressed.At Focus15, we help founders diagnose readiness using a structured, data-led Growth Map — turning intuition and emotion into clarity, focus, and prioritised action.My perspective is shaped by 25+ years in senior commercial and leadership roles within global FMCG organisations, building and scaling businesses across markets, channels, and growth stages. I’ve led complex growth strategies, managed cross-functional teams, and navigated the realities of execution — not just planning.I now apply that experience to help founders build businesses that work — and become investable as a consequence, not the goal.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.