Haris Yalcinkaya
Computer Scientist (M.Sc.) specializing in AI Research and Development. Founder for 4 years, consultant for AI Strategy and Transformation, based in Dortmund.
Ziya GmbH
As Managing Director of Ziya, I help companies with AI transformation. Our focus: data analysis, AI implementation, and business process automation.
Our team was supported by the NRW Startup Grant. From there, we founded Ziya — one of the first startups accepted into the EXIST AI Innovation Program by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs.
What I Offer
AI Consulting
Strategic consulting for integrating AI into existing business processes. From ideation to implementation.
AI Development
Custom AI solutions: Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Deep Learning & Data Pipelines.
Workshops & Talks
Speaker and workshop facilitator on topics like Custom GPTs, Prompt Engineering, and AI Transformation in enterprises.
Expertise
Domains
Technologies
About Me
I studied computer science at TU Dortmund and graduated with distinction (1.0). In my master's thesis, I combined rendering and deep learning to reconstruct physically accurate scenes from images.
Since then, I've been focused on how AI can create real value in practice — from research to consulting to product development. Along the way, I've had the chance to work with a wide range of companies and lead international projects.
AI is fundamentally changing the way we work. That's what drives me. I want to help companies adopt this technology in a meaningful way — not as hype, but as a genuine core competency.
Resume
Managing Director at Ziya GmbH2024 – present
Ziya GmbH·Dortmund, Germany
- Leading a software startup
- Research and development with AI agents
- AI strategy and transformation for enterprises
- Business strategy & corporate management
Managing Director at Ziya GmbH
- Leading a software startup
- Research and development with AI agents
- AI strategy and transformation for enterprises
- Business strategy & corporate management
Community Member at 2hearts2024 – present
2hearts·Germany
- Network for tech professionals with migration background
- Strengthening diversity in Europe's tech industry
Community Member at 2hearts
- Network for tech professionals with migration background
- Strengthening diversity in Europe's tech industry
Co-Founder at DatenLabel2022 – present
DatenLabel·Germany
- SaaS for AI data projects
- Labeling editor & plugin architecture
- Enterprise & on-prem deployment
- Funded by:
- NRW Startup Grant (MWIKE)
- EXIST Startup Grant (BMWK)
- EXIST Startup Grant Phase II (BMWK, to Ziya GmbH)
Co-Founder at DatenLabel
- SaaS for AI data projects
- Labeling editor & plugin architecture
- Enterprise & on-prem deployment
- Funded by:
- NRW Startup Grant (MWIKE)
- EXIST Startup Grant (BMWK)
- EXIST Startup Grant Phase II (BMWK, to Ziya GmbH)
Software Consultant in Ankara, Türkiye2021 – 2022
External Consultant·Ankara, Türkiye
- AI research and development
- AI data pipelines: from raw data to deployed module
- C++ core development, team of 5+ engineers
- GPU optimization of mission-critical components
- Talks on Deep Learning & Computer Vision
Software Consultant in Ankara, Türkiye
- AI research and development
- AI data pipelines: from raw data to deployed module
- C++ core development, team of 5+ engineers
- GPU optimization of mission-critical components
- Talks on Deep Learning & Computer Vision
Research Assistant at TU Dortmund2017 – 2018
TU Dortmund·Dortmund, Germany
- Chair of Computer Graphics
- Research assistance in Human-Computer Interaction
- Teaching: OpenGL, GLSL, Android development
- Theory: 3D graphics, linear algebra, Fourier
Research Assistant at TU Dortmund
- Chair of Computer Graphics
- Research assistance in Human-Computer Interaction
- Teaching: OpenGL, GLSL, Android development
- Theory: 3D graphics, linear algebra, Fourier
M.Sc. Computer Science with Distinction at TU Dortmund2016 – 2020
TU Dortmund·Dortmund, Germany
- Final grade 1.0
- Focus on algorithms, computer graphics & AI
- Thesis: Rendering-assisted Deep Learning for physically consistent scene reconstruction
M.Sc. Computer Science with Distinction at TU Dortmund
- Final grade 1.0
- Focus on algorithms, computer graphics & AI
- Thesis: Rendering-assisted Deep Learning for physically consistent scene reconstruction
B.Sc. Computer Science at TU Dortmund2013 – 2016
TU Dortmund·Dortmund, Germany
- Focus on GPGPU & Rendering
- Thesis: GPU-assisted generation of realistic cloud formations
B.Sc. Computer Science at TU Dortmund
- Focus on GPGPU & Rendering
- Thesis: GPU-assisted generation of realistic cloud formations
Research
LLMs, Agent Systems & AI Strategy
Dortmund, Germany
Research on Large Language Models, agent systems, and multi-agent systems. Additionally, intensive work on AI strategy and AI transformation — how companies can leverage artificial intelligence efficiently, effectively, and successfully.
LLMs, Agent Systems & AI Strategy
Dortmund, Germany
Research on Large Language Models, agent systems, and multi-agent systems. Additionally, intensive work on AI strategy and AI transformation — how companies can leverage artificial intelligence efficiently, effectively, and successfully.
Domain-specific CNNs, Edge AI & GPGPU
Ankara, Türkiye
Focus on production-ready AI: domain-specific CNNs for real-world use cases with high reliability and performance. Edge AI and GPGPU optimization for resource-constrained environments. Not just theoretical research, but real-world AI delivering genuine value in production.
Domain-specific CNNs, Edge AI & GPGPU
Ankara, Türkiye
Focus on production-ready AI: domain-specific CNNs for real-world use cases with high reliability and performance. Edge AI and GPGPU optimization for resource-constrained environments. Not just theoretical research, but real-world AI delivering genuine value in production.
Inverse Rendering & Differentiable Rendering
Dortmund, Germany
Research in computer graphics and deep learning focusing on inverse rendering and differentiable rendering functions. Physically-based illumination models were combined with neural networks to reconstruct scenes from images. Intensive work with GPGPU programming to accelerate rendering pipelines.
Inverse Rendering & Differentiable Rendering
Dortmund, Germany
Research in computer graphics and deep learning focusing on inverse rendering and differentiable rendering functions. Physically-based illumination models were combined with neural networks to reconstruct scenes from images. Intensive work with GPGPU programming to accelerate rendering pipelines.
Projects
AI Enterprise Agent Platform for Businesses2025
DatenLabel · Dortmund
AI Enterprise Agent Platform for Businesses
DatenLabel · Dortmund
DatenLabel IdeaHub — AI Governance, Compliance & Use Case Management Platform2025
DatenLabel · Dortmund
DatenLabel IdeaHub — AI Governance, Compliance & Use Case Management Platform
DatenLabel · Dortmund
DatenLabel — Platform for AI Data Projects from Raw Data to Finished Model2022
DatenLabel · Dortmund
DatenLabel — Platform for AI Data Projects from Raw Data to Finished Model
DatenLabel · Dortmund
SVBRDF-Approximation of Planar Materials using Deep Learning2020
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
SVBRDF-Approximation of Planar Materials using Deep Learning
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
Android-App for Tracking and Establishing Habits (Kotlin)2019
Personal · Dortmund
Android-App for Tracking and Establishing Habits (Kotlin)
Personal · Dortmund
Faster Than Life — Game developed at Global Game Jam 20192019
Global Game Jam 2019 · Dortmund
Faster Than Life — Game developed at Global Game Jam 2019
Global Game Jam 2019 · Dortmund
Real-Time Scratched Material Renderer2018
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
Real-Time Scratched Material Renderer
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
BRDF-Generator for Analytically Defined Scratch Profiles2018
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
BRDF-Generator for Analytically Defined Scratch Profiles
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
Android-App for Tracking and Establishing Habits (Java)2018
Personal · Dortmund
Android-App for Tracking and Establishing Habits (Java)
Personal · Dortmund
Agent V — Game developed at Global Game Jam 20182018
Global Game Jam 2018 · Dortmund
Agent V — Game developed at Global Game Jam 2018
Global Game Jam 2018 · Dortmund
PG 608: Extraction and Translation of Semantic Information Between Videos2017 – 2018
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
PG 608: Extraction and Translation of Semantic Information Between Videos
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
Real-Time Rendering Engine, Real-Time Shadows, Deferred Shading2017
Personal · Dortmund
Real-Time Rendering Engine, Real-Time Shadows, Deferred Shading
Personal · Dortmund
Real-Time Simulation and Volumetric Rendering of Realistic Clouds2016
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
Real-Time Simulation and Volumetric Rendering of Realistic Clouds
TU Dortmund · Dortmund
Blog
All posts→To London with Dortmund
A delegation trip to London, a strong team from Dortmund — and the realization that the greatest value wasn't found in the official program, but in the conversations among ourselves.
Hello World
My journey from TU Dortmund through Ankara to founding Ziya — and why I'm starting this blog.