About PROOF
Built by builders.
For builders.
PROOF is an accelerator by Innovato Consultancy — designed to turn domain expertise and AI capability into ventures with measurable proof.
The Thesis
The AI era rewards builders, not planners.
Most accelerators optimize for pitch decks and demo days. PROOF optimizes for evidence. The AI landscape is shifting from generic tools to specialized, agent-driven solutions — Agent-as-a-Service (AaaS) platforms and Specialized Enterprise Agents (SEAs) that solve real industry problems. We believe the founders most likely to succeed are those who can prove their solution works — not just talk about it.
That is why we built a program around one outcome: measurable proof that your AI venture solves a real problem, produced in 10 weeks.
The Company Behind PROOF
Innovato Consultancy
Innovato Consultancy works at the intersection of AI transformation and venture building. For enterprises, Innovato delivers AI maturity assessments, pilot deployment at scale, and open innovation strategy. For founders, Innovato created PROOF — a structured path from domain expertise to investor-ready AI venture.
The methodology behind PROOF — the Hyper-Lean AI-Enabled Entrepreneurship model — was developed from 20+ years of research and practice in technology management, corporate innovation, and startup acceleration.
20+
Years in innovation
$100M+
Portfolio valuation achieved
2,000+
Founders trained
The Founder
Dr. Mahmut N. Özdemir
Corporate Innovation Consultant & Deep Tech Investor
Dr. Özdemir has spent over two decades at the intersection of academic research and real-world innovation. His career bridges university entrepreneurship, corporate venture building, and deep tech investing — always with the conviction that research and practice should talk to each other.
Academic Credentials
- • Ph.D. Technology & Innovation Management — Erasmus University Rotterdam
- • M.S. Management Science & Industrial Engineering — Sabancı University
- • B.S. Industrial Engineering (cum laude) — Bilkent University
Research & Publications
Published in the Strategic Management Journal and Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal — two of the most influential journals in the field.
Developer of the Hyper-Lean AI-Enabled Entrepreneurship model that powers the PROOF methodology.
Track Record
• Former Director of Entrepreneurship at Koç University
• Founded & led KWORKS — Turkey's leading university accelerator
• Launched first entrepreneurship course (2,000+ students trained)
• UNVEST: Seed-stage portfolio reaching $100M+ valuation in 5 years
• Investment committee: Tüpraş Ventures
• Selection committee: Ford Otosan Driventure & Türkiye İş Bankası AI Factory
Advisory Expertise
AI Implementation & Maturity
Corporate-Startup Collaboration
Technology Acquisitions
Open Innovation Strategy
Venture Partnerships
Corporate Training