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Interview: Özgür Özdemir, TAY. From Earthquake’s Rubble, a Mission to Save Lives with Radar
The interview with Özgür Özdemir, CEO at TAY Yazilim Teknolojileri from Türkiye that are creating AI-powered radar sensors reducing energy consumption and enabling health applications.
You can listen to the episode with Özgür Özdemir on EmpoWomen Podcast:
Or read the interview.
Elevator Pitch
Our company, TAY, is a deep-tech company developing a vital sign radar sensor. Our main focus is on energy efficiency. We significantly reduce the energy consumption of the sensor’s battery while simultaneously increasing the accuracy of vital sign detection using AI-based algorithms. Our technology is based on metamaterial antennas and AI-driven signal processing, which allows us to provide a highly accurate, private, and service-respecting monitoring system. These radar sensors can be used in critical areas like search and rescue operations, healthcare, and to ensure better safety, enabling a faster response when it matters most.
What is the personal story behind the startup?
I have two personal stories. The company was born out of the tragedy of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey. It was a devastating event, and we all felt so depressed and helpless. As a professor in electrical engineering at Istanbul Technical University with over 20 years of experience in radar signal processing, I knew my students and I had to do something. We realized the best way we could help was to use our knowledge to develop a product that could detect people trapped under the rubble, to find them faster and save at least one life. That’s how the company started in early 2024.
The other backstory is more personal. Last year, I lost my best friend to heart disease. He passed away suddenly from heart failure. That is my motivation to use my knowledge to monitor the heart, whether it’s for detecting a person under rubble or someone inside their home.
How does the technology work in simple terms?
Let’s start with the search and rescue devices. Rescue workers need to use these devices for a long time without missing any victims, but they rely on batteries because there’s no electricity. Our technology dramatically improves this battery life. Where a traditional device might last for one hour in the field, our technology can prolong that by at least three times.
We achieve this through both hardware and software. Our innovative hardware design is what reduces the power usage. At the same time, our AI-based software is designed to remove noise from the environment, allowing us to accurately detect a victim in a very complex area like a collapsed building.
Who are your customers?
For search and rescue devices, our main customers are governmental municipalities, fire departments, and other official search and rescue organizations. In addition to that, defense companies are also potential customers, as they use vital sign detection for security purposes.
What makes your deep-tech approach unique?
I’ve been working on new “metamaterials” since my PhD in the early 2000s. Back then, the idea that you could focus electromagnetic energy in a non-natural way was purely theoretical. It wasn’t until around 2015-2016 that people started developing these materials for wireless communication applications. Because of my long history in this field, I knew we could also apply these materials to radar. As far as I know, we are the first company to use this new metamaterial technology for radar sensors, not just for communications. It’s a very new technology, and we are pioneering its application.
How did you build your team?
My university is one of the best in Turkey, so I have access to many bright people. The challenge is convincing them to move from academia to a startup. My core team came together during the earthquake. One of my close friends, who is now head of our signal processing, was hesitant but joined the mission. Another co-founder, who handles the business side, has a PhD but was also driven by the desire to do something impactful. Our AI developer is a young assistant professor who wanted to apply her knowledge to solve real-world problems. The rest of our R&D engineers are my former students. I didn’t have much trouble building the team because we all believe so strongly in what we are doing.
What was your personal journey to becoming an entrepreneur?
The earthquake was the trigger. I felt so useless watching the tragedy unfold. A lot of people freeze in that situation, but for me, it was a call to action. I had been working on radar imaging for so long—solving equations, writing papers. I realized that couldn’t be the only purpose. I had to use my knowledge to do something real instead of just sitting and crying, because I knew I could do something. At that moment, you don’t think about the differences between academia and entrepreneurship; you just know you have to act. The purpose is what keeps me going, even though it’s a completely different world.
What were the biggest lessons or surprises in that transition?
The biggest difference was the lifestyle. Academia is quiet, but the startup world is incredibly dynamic. You have to solve so many problems all the time—find money, fix code, manage people. I was able to navigate this because of my extensive network. After 20 years in this field and consulting for companies, if there’s a manufacturing problem or a coding issue, I know someone who can help.
What has your experience been with the EmpoWomen program?
EmpoWomen has been a huge help; it completely changed things for me. Without it, I might have given up a few months ago. I heard about the program from a professor friend who is also a founder. Initially, I applied for the grant money because I needed to pay salaries. But a previous grant holder told me, “It’s not about the grant. The program educates you, connects you with other women, and gives you courage.” I thought she was just being overly excited, but she was right.
Connecting with the other women in the EmpoWomen program changed so many things. The peer-to-peer sessions are my favorite part. Talking with other founders, I realized I wasn’t alone. The problems I faced weren’t because of my personality or my country; they are common challenges for women in deep tech. When you feel you’re not alone, you have the courage to continue. I learned so much from their experiences with investors and business challenges.
What are your next steps and challenges?
We are very close to signing our first customers. The main challenge now is manufacturing. It’s one thing to develop a prototype, but figuring out how to manufacture it at scale is a huge challenge. We are hoping to form B2B collaborations with larger companies to help with this.
Our vision is global. While search and rescue is our starting point, our second major application is healthcare, specifically monitoring the heart in elder care centers. The potential is much broader. We plan to expand first to the European market and then to the USA. Thanks to EmpoWomen, we’ve started building connections and are working on the necessary certifications to enter these markets.
What is the ideal moment when you will feel you have succeeded?
If I see that one of our products is used in a search and rescue operation, and I see that we detected a victim who was then saved thanks to our machine… that will be the moment. It would be huge. That’s what I’m starting it all for.
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