Tabit Co-Founder and Vodafone Smart Village Founder Tülin Akın participated in the “TİM WOMEN EXPORT TALKS-3” event organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Women’s Council. Together with TİM Women’s Council Vice President Pınar Taşdelen Engin, she shared experiences in agricultural technology and marketing that set an example both in Turkey and internationally, highlighting the Vodafone Smart Village project. Akın noted that by implementing projects with foreign business partners, they achieved international knowledge transfer. She stated, “In 16 years, we have accumulated a lot. As a company and as entrepreneurs, the awards we received reflected our work to the public, opening doors internationally. Requests from other countries started coming in. We have not faced obstacles so far because our primary goal has always been to create impact.”
“The Only Obstacle Was the Pandemic”
Akın emphasized, “The only obstacle we faced until now was the pandemic. When I founded the company as a university student, I never imagined it would reach a stage where it could export. Today, we are a company with a global reach. As our projects are social enterprises, the first step is always impact—we use profits to create impact. Our goal has always been about providing benefits, focusing on how we can deliver impact. This requires prior research, understanding local cultural and social conditions, preparing feasible projects, and calculating financial sustainability. For example, in Africa, we aim to empower small farmers using technology. We need to observe the local social life, land conditions, and understand what farmers need and how they can farm. Satellite imagery can help locate and measure areas, but on-site observation produces much better results. Over 16 years, all our projects have been successful, but in terms of service exports, the pandemic was our first real obstacle.”
“Our Goal is to Make Farming Attractive”
Akın added that they also focus on agricultural and technological education as a profession and career opportunity: “Our goal is to make farming a respected profession that provides a good income. In Hatay, we are running a rural development project. In Mediterranean countries, we work to prevent desertification. Farmers should feel proud of being farmers. This is achievable not through traditional methods, but through digital transformation, smart farming, and the use of agricultural technologies, which allow resource efficiency and increased earnings. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry began taking steps in this direction in 2020; we implemented it back in 2004. The future of the world depends on preventing food crises through agriculture. Preventing migration also depends on strengthening farming.”
“To Reach Mars, We Must Fix the Earth First”
Offering advice to young entrepreneurs and exporters, Akın said: “I have a motto: Dream, Act, Be Patient. If you act and are patient enough, dreams come true. First, you must show courage. Leaving your comfort zone is intimidating, and people are often afraid to take risks and try new initiatives. But it’s essential to take steps without fear, because as you expand, your perspective broadens and your security grows globally. First, you have to break out of your shell. Don’t be afraid—keep moving forward. Preventing migration is like preparing for Mars: we must fix the Earth first.”