Firat Ileri

Firat Ileri is a Partner at Hummingbird Ventures, a venture capital firm known for its investments in early-stage technology companies. He joined Hummingbird in 2012 as an Associate and has since progressed to become one of the firm's key leaders, taking on the role of Managing Partner in 2021. This promotion marked him as one of the youngest VCs in Europe at the time of his initial joining.24

Education and Early Career

Ileri grew up in Cyprus and pursued his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned multiple degrees, including a Master of Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Management Science, achieving high academic honors.14 Before entering venture capital, he worked at J.P. Morgan in the Emerging Markets Structuring and Solutions group and was involved in research at MIT.34

Investment Focus and Achievements

At Hummingbird, Ileri has led investments across various sectors, including biotechnology, fintech, and gaming. He is particularly noted for spearheading the firm's initial investments in engineering biology and has played a crucial role in significant exits, such as the sale of Peak Games for $1.8 billion to Zynga and the acquisition of Gram Games.25 His investment strategy emphasizes identifying and supporting founders with unique backgrounds and ambitious visions, often looking for "misfits" who challenge conventional norms.56

Current Role

As a Partner, Ileri manages a portfolio that includes notable companies like BillionToOne, Armut, and Aspire. He is actively involved in expanding Hummingbird's reach into new markets, including Latin America and Southeast Asia, and has a keen interest in sectors like biotech and frontier technologies.136