As taught in Turkish schools from elementary to high school, Turkey has fertile lands which makes it possible for our farmers to grow various types of food. But in reality, countries like the Netherlands make use of their agriculture technologies to achieve great efficiency. That's why we love to see more agrotech startups from Turkey.

Gugagon is an agrotech company as you can guess. They are producing olives and chickpeas, which are both important part of traditional Turkish cuisine, in a completely new way.

You can find more detailed info about Gugagon from Turkey in the following sections, with their founders' own words.

You can always apply for Startup Spotlight from this link. We will also include you into our network and you will be notified about our upcoming events, calls for programs and get exclusive invites.

What is the name of your startup?

Gugagon

What is the website address of Gugagon?

https://www.gugagon.com

Where is your startup based?

Turkey

What are your targeted verticals for your startup?

Agriculture, Food Production

Tell us what your startup does.

Gugagon is producing healthy innovative crispy olives and chickpeas with innovative drying process. Gugagon's crispy chickpeas are disruptive for leblebi market which has same production technology over 600 years.

Tell us about your team.

Önder Güzel, MSc Food Engineer, >13 years R&D and production experience in food industry. Completed 3 Tubitak Project (process and formulation).

When and why did you found your startup?

Our daughter born in 2011, had allergic reactions to some foods. In 2015 I made a laboratory in one of our room at home and I started to design crispy snacks which she can consume and enjoy them. In 2016 I started to apply patent applications and in 2018 Gugagon was founded.

What are your key and unique features?

Our drying method (microwave vacuum drying) is the fastest and the most efficient drying method based on literature. We have patent applications and unique products.

What is your growth like?

Gugagon's sales is increasing every month by it is getting better known in market.

Tell us about the numbers that matter to you.

According to 2014 figures there are 21 billion TL worth of nuts market in Turkey. We target leblebi market for chickpea products and at least 10% share in white chickpea market of 60 million TL. For the crispy olive products also if we reach a share of the tens of thousands of olives consumed in Turkey, we will be created a market of 2 million TL.

What are your plans for next year and the next 5 years?

Now we have pilot plant and we need investment for industrial production. Our projection (for nex and next 5 years) is getting investment and convert it to increase in sale. We have new product concepts in our wallet.

Did you receive any investments?

No

Tell us 3 startups that excite you, and why?

Nutsall, she is so energetic and best sale person I have ever seen.
O_Atölye, is importing lots of cacao bean all around the world and making bean to bar chocolate.

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