We spoke with Cagri, the founder of Anticipai, to learn more about his journey with Delitelabs. Cagri found himself at a crossroads after fleeing his home country. Despite his credentials, including ongoing PhD studies, he felt unfulfilled in traditional corporate roles.
Delitelabs' program gave Cagri everything he needed to start a business – from practical skills to expert advice. But what really made the difference? The people he met. They didn't just help out, they truly believed in him and his dreams.
“I think the real value was being with those people – people who truly trusted me and supported me just for the sake of doing good,” Cagri shares. “It felt like a responsibility check for me. Someone trusted me, and that trust pushed me forward in a way I couldn’t have done alone.”
Delitelabs also addressed a deeper challenge: Cagri realized there was always a gap between newcomers and locals. It wasn’t just about skills – it was about belonging and opportunity. Delitelabs helped him close that gap.Cagri's journey was shaped by mentorship, particularly from Ronnie Roeller, his mentor during the Delitelabs program. “Ronnie is wonderful – a great entrepreneur and a technical expert. I really appreciate his help,” Cagri says. They still talk regularly, exchanging ideas.
One of the key parts of Cagri's journey was the mentorship he received from Suzanne Meyer, a board member and co-facilitator at Delitelabs. At first, he didn’t quite understand how important those regular meetings would become. But once the program ended, the real value of having someone knowledgeable and supportive by his side became clear. It wasn’t just about guidance – it was about motivation.
For Cagri, the magic of Delitelabs wasn’t just about learning how to start a business. It was the trust, the community, and the push to go further – all things that helped him take his dream and bring it closer to a reality.
The Idea Behind Anticipai
A conversation with a friend working in industrial safety sparked the idea that led to his startup. His friend described how they missed a major contract because they couldn’t meet safety standards. It wasn't just about regulations – it was about creating a deep-seated safety culture.
This insight stayed with Cagri. He began exploring how to address these industry challenges more effectively, focusing on improving workflow and identifying pain points.
“It all started from those discussions,” Cagri recalls. “Talking about the workflow, the challenges, and figuring out where the real gaps were.”
Building Anticipai: Bridging Academia and Real-World Impact
Cagri’s startup, Anticipai, aims to enhance workplace safety by using AI to analyze security camera footage in settings like production facilities, warehouses, and oil and gas units. The goal is to improve the safety culture in places where people and machines interact, translating his academic knowledge into real-world solutions.
“I noticed a gap between academia and real life,” Cagri explains. “I wanted to use all the knowledge I’d gained to actually make things better – not just for the sake of doing it, but because it makes me happy. Seeing that bridge between academia and the real world is what I’m passionate about.”
Hiring for a Vision
One of the current challenges Cagri faces is building a team that believes in his vision. "Hiring is one of the hardest things when you’re building a startup," he says. "At this point, it’s only me with the vision and the idea, and I need people who believe in it."
He already has one full-time freelancer working for him and his first round of funding done, and he's actively looking for full-stack developers with an entrepreneurial mindset who are eager to be part of a dynamic environment. “It’s about finding those who truly believe in what we’re trying to achieve,” Cagri says.
Focusing on Safety
Cagri spends half of his time developing the product and the other half listening to people. He believes deeply in understanding the safety issues workers face, and he encourages people in production environments to reach out and share their experiences.
The statistics on workplace safety are sobering. A report by The Guardian in 2002 stated that workplace injuries kill more people than wars – work is “three times as deadly as war.” Even in the European Union, a developed region, there were 3,347 fatal workplace accidents in 2021.
Anticipai is driven by a mission to change these numbers – to make workplaces safer through practical, AI-powered solutions. And for Cagri, the journey is about more than technology; it’s about making a meaningful difference in the real world.
Cagri is dedicated to making workplaces safer for all. His journey proves that newcomers can do great things when they get the right support. As a newcomer with a big idea, he found the help he needed to make it real.
Watch the video about Cagri's journey with Delitelabs:
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