ClimateMinder has put together a very experienced management and technical team with each member bringing years of experience to the table.

Bulut Ersavas, Co-Founder and CEO

As a native of Istanbul, Turkey, Ersavas brings unique specializations to ClimateMinder’s goals of helping growers from around the world increase yield, improve crop quality and conserve water. Ersavas developed the concept for ClimateMinder while studying for his executive MBA at Koc University in Istanbul. When a classmate began managing a greenhouse construction project and started receiving expensive quotes from automation companies, Ersavas stepped in to develop a more cost-effective solution. He theorized that placing smart wireless sensors in greenhouses and across large farms would be easier to maintain and provide growers with more capabilities...

In 2005, Ersavas founded Kodalfa, Inc., a technology startup that specializes in remote monitoring and control for wireless applications. Kodalfa was recognized as one of the seven most high impact entrepreneurial companies in Turkey by Endeavor in 2008. In 2009, Kodalfa became part of ClimateMinder, where Ersavas continues his work on wireless remote technology in his position as CEO.

Val Babajov, President and Investor

Val Babajov, chief executive officer of Partners 1993 Inc., is an entrepreneur and angel investor with three decades of software development and business management experience.

In 1993, Babajov founded his first US-based software company, WebMessenger, Inc., in his garage. He led the growth of a diverse portfolio of successful software products, including some of the world’s first computer telephony IVR systems; fax-over-Internet applications; the EarJam MP3 digital media player and back-office server; an Internet radio player for the Upside Financial Network; a richly-featured voice-over-IP client; real-time software to help surgeons monitor patients during surgery; and WebMessenger, an enterprise-class, hosted, mobile instant messaging service. Baajov sold WebMessenger, Inc. in 2008.

Leveraging his world-class engineering team, Babajov established another company VoiVoda, Inc. that offers both venture capital and engineering resources to his angel investments—a process he calls IT Venture Engineering—which he considers the best way to promote the success of the tech startups he invests in. One of these investments is ClimateMinder and Babajov dedicates a third of his time to development of U.S. strategic development and worldwide operations of this young startup.

Lew Roth, VP Business Development

Since graduating Columbia University in 1986 with a Doctor Engineering Science, Dr Lew Roth has had two careers. The first was one as a research staff member at Westinghouse R&D where he was an expert in mechanical and corrosion properties of materials used in large power generating systems. He has written dozens of peer level reviewed articles and organized and promoted multiple international symposia.

Dr. Roth’s second career spanning the past two and a half decades has been hooked on startups serving multiple roles in sales, marketing and business development for startup, high technology companies. Dr. Roth has built his career in high technology startup companies in mobile applications, internet video, desktop search, instant messaging and financial services sectors including: Partners 1993; Veoh; X1; WebMessenger; FaceTime; and Codexa respectively. He served in management roles including business development, marketing and sales, with a focus on generating new partnerships, new business and revenues.

İhsan Elgin, Founder and Executive VP, EMEA

Ihsan Elgin is an entrepreneur focused on commercializing ideas into products, and has specialized in strategic marketing, planning and sales management. After graduating from Dokuz Eylul University with a degree in Economics in 2000, Elgin joined Aygaz, managing technology projects in the Human Resources, Dealer Development, and Marketing Departments. Elgin’s last role in Aygaz was establishing the CRM Department as the CRM Manager.

Elgin joined the executive team of Kodalfa, Inc., a newly formed Turkish start-up company. In 2009, Kodalfa started operations in the United States under the Climate Minder Group, where Elgin currently holds the position of Executive Vice President, EMEA.

Semih Pekol, CTO

Prior to joining ClimateMinder, Semih worked as the director of information systems at Turkish Economy Bank (TEB). Semih has extensive experience in online banking and prior experience with telecommunication hardware design and manufacturing (at Nortel/Netas). Semih holds MSc and BSc in Electrical Engineering from Bosphorus (Bogazici) University in Istanbul, Turkey. Semih also actively teaches System Analysis and Design classes at the same university.