Early Life and Education
Selçuk Bayraktar was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 7, 1979. His father, Özdemir Bayraktar, founded the Turkish aerospace firm Baykar in 1984. Selçuk Bayraktar began his education at Sarıyer Primary School and later graduated from Robert College in 1997. He then pursued higher education at Istanbul Technical University, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.
Rise to Success
Bayraktar's career has been marked by significant achievements in the defense industry. He received a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 and a second Master's from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He returned to Turkey and became a key figure at Baykar, leading the development of the Bayraktar TB2, a highly successful unmanned aerial vehicle. He also spearheaded the creation of the Bayraktar Kızılelma, Turkey's first indigenous unmanned fighter aircraft.
Key Business Strategies
Baykar's success is attributed to a focus on indigenous design, research, and development. Baykar's projects are self-financed. The company has achieved a high degree of localization in its products. Baykar has also focused on export, with its drones used in various international conflicts. These strategies have enabled Baykar to become a leader in the global UAV market.
Philanthropy
Selçuk Bayraktar is also the founding chairman of the T3 Foundation, dedicated to supporting young people in science and technology. The foundation promotes interest in technology, organizing events like TEKNOFEST to encourage innovation and development within Turkey's tech sector.