Ceren Danis
Co-Founder | Product Leader | Venture
My session with Ceren was incredibly insightful and exactly what I needed at this stage of the journey. She brought a clear, investor-informed perspective on what early-stage founders should prioritize before raising and her guidance cut straight to the essentials. Ceren emphasized the importance of going to market early to collect real user data, which not only strengthens the product but significantly increases investor confidence. Her advice on establishing early CAC and retention signals, targeting mission-aligned angel investors, and extending runway to 12–18 months was both practical and strategic. If you’re a founder navigating pre-seed fundraising or refining your early GTM strategy, I highly recommend booking time with Ceren. Her clarity, experience, and directness make her an invaluable guide.
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I've just had an amazing conversation with Ceren. We talked about launching a company, and about working in digital around Europe. She's awesome and friendly, and it's clear how much she wants to share her experience.
Fantastic call with Ceren. Was great to hear her journey so far and also learn about her decision fatigue framework which is very relevant for me at the moment. Ceren is highly empathetic, aware and intelligent which makes her a great coach / mentor for those stuck in their life.
Bio
Ceren’s career has been anything but boring. With a Bachelor’s in Economics (plus a sprinkle of Law) from Utrecht University and a Master’s in Finance and Investments from RSM, she jumped into the deep end of the finance world as a Capital Markets Associate at ABN AMRO. After mastering the art of investment banking, she decided to shake things up and dive into entrepreneurship. Her first venture taught her the ropes of product management and gave her a front-row seat to the world of innovation. Fast forward 10 years of building, strategizing, and navigating the fintech world at companies like N26, Zalando and Backmarket, she’s now the Co-Founder and CEO at Delfyn. My mentoring topics include: - Building resilience as a founder (mental health) - Product Management - Fintech - Leadership and Development
Expertise
Advice on funding
I have a strong background in navigating the world of pre-seed funding, especially when it comes to reaching out to investors and finding the right leads. I understand the nuances of crafting a compelling pitch and tailoring it to different investor interests. From researching potential investors to building relationships and understanding their investment criteria, I help others fine-tune their approach to increase their chances of success.
Mindset coaching
I’ve helped numerous people tackle tough career decisions, from figuring out their next steps to making big transitions. Through other platforms, I’ve gotten great feedback about my practical advice, ability to listen, and knack for breaking things down into clear, actionable steps. I love helping people find clarity, play to their strengths, and feel more confident about where they’re headed in their careers.
Product management
- Discovery & Delivery - Agile methodologies: Scrum & Kanban - Data Integration & Automation - SaaS & iPaaS - MVP Implementation - User Journey Optimization - Product Migration
Toolkit
Figma
5 years of experienceI use Figma for basic designs and wireframing, especially when I need to visually communicate ideas or concepts. It’s intuitive and works great for quick iterations, even though I’m not a professional designer—it gets the job done efficiently!
Miro
7 years of experienceI use Miro almost daily for product work, especially during the discovery and alignment phases. It’s perfect for brainstorming, mapping ideas, creating workflows, and ensuring teams stay aligned and collaborative throughout the product development process.
ChatGPT
3 years of experienceI use ChatGPT daily to brainstorm ideas, refine writing, and tackle strategic challenges in product and business. I even developed a proof of concept with GPT once so it’s like having a thinking(and sometimes execution) partner on demand!
JIRA
5 years of experienceJira is, of course, the bread and butter of every PM. It’s my go-to for managing projects, tracking progress, and keeping the team aligned on deliverables.
Notion
7 years of experienceI use Notion for nearly all our business operations—it’s where we organize everything from tasks and notes to workflows and strategies. It keeps everything in one place and easily accessible for the team!
Python
9 years of experienceI have basic Python knowledge, which I’ve applied to various finance-related tasks, like data analysis, automation, and building simple models. It’s been useful for streamlining processes and digging deeper into financial data when needed.
Stripe
3 years of experienceStripe is one of the PSPs we have integrated into our platform for our merchants to accept cards and local payment methods. It’s definitely a crucial part of our payment infrastructure.