Meet with
The Unusual Team

Chantelle, a dual Dutch and South African citizen, brings extensive international experience in supporting the growth and establishment of foreign entrepreneurs and businesses in the Netherlands. As the Facility Director and Facilitation Program Manager at The Unusual Space, she oversees the operational management of startup visa services, mentorship initiatives, facility services, and partner relations.

Her role is central to ensuring that international founders receive both the strategic guidance and operational support needed to successfully launch and scale in the Dutch market. In addition to startup facilitation, she contributes to strategic growth initiatives across the organization, including operational planning, business development, and financial coordination.

Chantelle holds a Master’s degree in Security Studies, a postgraduate qualification in International Relations, and executive certifications from internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Amsterdam, Harvard, MIT, and Oxford.

Her international background, operational leadership, and academic expertise position her as a trusted advisor for foreign entrepreneurs navigating new markets and building sustainable businesses in the Netherlands.

Yavuz Selim Yaşar is a Ph.D.-level business development strategist and startup ecosystem builder with deep roots in the Dutch–Turkish innovation corridor. Armed with degrees from Kocaeli University (BSc), Bahçeşehir University (MSc Marketing), and Yildiz Technical University (PhD in Business Administration), he combines academic depth with real startup-floor energy.

Previously, he served as Senior Project Manager at the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency in Istanbul and as Science, Innovation & Technology Advisor at the Netherlands Innovation Network — where he was the go-to connector between Dutch and Turkish ecosystems, orchestrating bilateral R&D collaborations and high-impact business missions.

As the Business Development Director and a Facilitation Program Manager at The Unusual Space, and as one of the leading Mentors of the Facilitation Program, Yavuz drives the full journey for international tech startups entering the Netherlands and EU — from business model validation and go-to-market strategy to Startup Visa navigation and investor readiness. He has personally guided 40+ international tech startups through the Dutch ecosystem through structured, network-driven collaboration.

Alongside his role at The Unusual Space, Yavuz also serves as a strategic advisor to many growth-stage startups, acting as a trusted sparring partner to the founder/CEO on business strategy, team structure, and scaling decisions. His network spans accelerators, public institutions, investors, and regional development organizations across the Netherlands. Whether unlocking an EU funding opportunity, validating a business plan, or making the right introduction, Yavuz is the bridge between bold founding ambitions and real traction in Europe's most startup-friendly market.

Amina Amriou holds a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies and a Master’s degree in European Policy from the University of Amsterdam. As an Executive Assistant for The Unusual Space team, Amina is heavily involved with start-up visa operations, but also manages comprehensive facilitation and events.

Previously, she served as an intern at the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul, where she facilitated the coordination of diplomatic and public events. With a strong background in public diplomacy and various administrative tasks, Amina has successfully supported highly complex projects, including essential initiatives related to economic affairs and human rights.

Furthermore, her extensive previous experience in coordinating educational activities, managing funds, and teaching refugees directly, enhances her ability to foster collaboration and streamline operational processes within the dynamic Dutch business landscape and start-up ecosystem today.

With a background in PR and 6 years in digital marketing, Emel combines storytelling instinct with technical precision. She specialises in technical and content SEO, multi-channel campaign management, and performance analysis, translating data into decisions that actually move the needle. She has built and managed growth operations across e-commerce, SaaS, and startup ecosystems, working across both agency and in-house environments.

Her work spans the full funnel: from site architecture and search visibility to paid media execution and CRM reporting. She manages campaigns across Google, Meta, and LinkedIn, owns analytics and tracking setups end-to-end, and leads UX improvement projects alongside content strategy. She is equally comfortable deep in a crawl report or shaping a content roadmap.

Beyond acquisition, she owns the full operational layer: managing CMS platforms, maintaining CRM pipelines, and producing performance reports that connect marketing activity directly to revenue. She tracks lead-to-deal conversion, monitors pipeline health, and ensures every channel contributes to measurable business growth.

Sofia Vagnerova is a Junior Marketing Specialist at Usual Investments, originally from the Czech Republic. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Persuasive Communication and a Master of Science in Political Communication and Journalism from the University of Amsterdam. Sofia’s professional journey began with impactful internships in luxury retail PR, communications, and partnership-building for a sustainability-focused NGO, where she developed a strong foundation in B2B engagement, inter-organizational relations, and social media management.

In her current role, Sofia is focusing on driving growth through strategic lead generation and strengthening the company's online presence. Her work spans SEO optimization, social media campaigns, digital analytics, and creative copywriting, supplemented by the occasional eye for design. With a deep-rooted interest in sustainable development and innovation, Sofia is dedicated to building strong B2B communication frameworks that create long-term value.

Tolga Seçkin is a marketing and communications professional with extensive experience since 2014, combining hands-on expertise with a strong academic foundation. He holds a degree in Public Relations from Istanbul University's Faculty of Communication, and subsequently completed his master's degree at Marmara University's Institute of Social Sciences, with his thesis focusing on strategic public relations, brand management, and crisis communication.

Throughout his career, he has taken on a diverse range of roles from communication practitioner at A&B İletişim, to corporate communications and brand specialist at Duyar Vana, E-Commerce and HORECA Director at Olmadık Projeler.

Beyond his professional background, Tolga Seçkin has a keen interest in coffee culture, he placed third at the 2024 Davinci Gourmet Turkey Barista Championship and in 2026 obtained his SCA Barista Skills certifications. He is currently based in the Netherlands, serving as Food and Beverage Director at The Unusual Space.

Berk Dervisoglou holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Marmara University. Previously, he gained experience in financial audit at KPMG, where he worked closely with leading FMCG companies and developed a strong foundation in financial reporting, compliance, and business analysis. He later continued his career at the Netherlands-based finance center of one of the world’s leading duty-free operators, where he was involved in accounts payable processes across the EMEA region, covering multiple markets including Turkey, Morocco, Nigeria, and Kenya.

As a Customer Success Supervisor at The Unusual Space in the Netherlands, Berk is responsible for managing operational processes and supporting international clients, particularly in managing cross-border employment and operational processes, with a structured and solution-oriented approach. He focuses on ensuring smooth service delivery while maintaining strong communication and alignment with client expectations.

With experience in finance, operations, and client management, Berk is known for his ability to understand client needs, approach challenges with empathy, and provide practical and efficient solutions. He contributes to delivering reliable and human-centered services within a fast-paced international business environment.

Gokhan Dogru is a marketing & communications professional with over a decade of experience across local and multinational companies in sectors including technology, sports, automotive, entertainment, air conditioning, and gaming.

He holds a degree in Public Relations and Advertising from Marmara University in Istanbul and currently serves as a managing partner at #BeUnusual, where his core mission is shaping the initiative's vision, strategy, and day-to-day operations, driven by the belief that when we grow together, we grow unusual! 

Gokhan is also part of Usual Investments, overseeing dynamic ventures Unusual Payroll, Unusual Companies, and Unusual Space in the Netherlands, with a focus on delivering a comprehensive spectrum of services tailored to companies and entrepreneurs globally. Alongside his professional work, Gokhan coaches young players at football schools and camps as a Football Trainer, focusing on development, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

With a multidisciplinary background, Gokhan combines strategic thinking, leadership, and hands-on execution, bringing a collaborative and results-driven approach to both business and sports environments.

Amrit Singh is a Dutch (tax) lawyer with a Master’s Degree in Fiscal Law from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He specializes in assisting small- to medium-sized companies with their global operations. Larger multinationals have also found their way to Amrit.

With previous experience in a Dutch law firm and the Big4, Amrit has significant experience in guiding and assisting startups, including guiding startups with the corporate structure, investments, finances, legal matters, and more.

Since 2021, Amrit has also been the CFO at Breachlock, a Dutch-based cybersecurity startup. He has guided the company with its international expansion’s first round of funding and will be fully involved until the exit. Considering the above experiences, Amrit is a great startup knowledge centre. 

Seçkin, an accomplished serial entrepreneur and lecturer, founded the Unusual (#BeUnusual) group in 2016, which includes Usual Investments B.V. with Unusual Payroll, Unusual Companies, along with B2Press in the Netherlands and several entities in basen in Istanbul. He is also leading the R&D and Growth Marketing team.

He has been sharing his expertise in Web Development, Digital Entrepreneurship, User Experience Design and Information Technologies as a lecturer at Kadir Has University since 2016 and previously taught at Istanbul University’s Department of Public Relations and Publicity from 2010 to 2015.

Seçkin holds a Ph.D. in Digital Media Communications, an MA in New Media Technologies, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. Before his entrepreneurial ventures, he was the Head of Digital and Managing Partner at A&B Communications in Istanbul from 2010 to 2015, and he started his career as a designer and freelance photographer. Additionally, he co-founded a global Philanthropic Search Engine, working there from December 2010 to January 2018. Through his diverse education and professional experiences, Seçkin Canan embodies innovation and creativity, significantly contributing to the academic and entrepreneurial landscapes.