Mercan Topkara

Mercan Topkara is an accomplished technology leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data solutions within the audio industry. Currently serving as the Founder of Hashtag In Real Life, Incorporated, since June 2023, Mercan previously held key roles at Sounder, including Technical Advisor, Chief AI Officer, and CTO, where responsibilities encompassed overseeing the tech organization and developing various data-driven products. As Co-Founder and CEO of Podnods Incorporated, Mercan played a crucial role prior to its acquisition by Sounder. Additional experience includes positions at Luminary Media as VP of Data, Teachers Pay Teachers as Recommendations and Ranking Tech Lead, JW Player as Research Engineer, and IBM as a Research Scientist, along with early academic roles at Purdue University. Mercan holds a PhD in Computer Science from Purdue University and has a strong foundation in data analytics and machine learning, enriched by internships at Google and IBM T.J. Watson.