Visit Zehra Soysal on MentorCruise

About

Hi, I’m Zehra. I’m based in New York, and I’m the founder and CEO of Savanah.ai, a generative AI platform that helps fashion and retail brands create high-quality product visuals without the cost or hassle of traditional photoshoots. We’re building tools that make creativity scalable and commerce more dynamic.

My journey started at Google in business strategy, followed by several years at BCG, where I worked across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. One of the most defining moments was helping launch a tech joint venture with Turkey’s largest conglomerate. That’s where I really caught the bug for building tech-enabled businesses.

I later pursued my MBA at Harvard Business School, where I explored startup ideas and worked on sales expansion with Formlabs. After HBS, I joined Metaphysic.ai in New York as the first business hire. I helped grow the team from 15 to 100, led business operations and finance, and played a key role in fundraising and scaling the company to its $1.4B acquisition.

These experiences led me to where I am now. Obsessed with how AI can reshape industries, accelerate creativity, and actually make people’s lives easier. Outside of work, I help lead Global Turks in AI, a community of builders, researchers, and founders. We organize AI events and conference in the U.S. to spotlight global Turkish talent in tech. I also contribute to the Forbes Technology Council, where I write about AI, entrepreneurship, and the future of work.

If you’re navigating your next step or figuring things out, whether it’s pivoting careers, breaking into consulting or big tech, navigating business roles at AI startups, applying to grad school, moving to the U.S. or NYC, or taking the leap to build something of your own, I’ve been through a lot of those transitions myself. I know how overwhelming (and exciting) it can be. If any of that resonates, feel free to reach out. Always happy to share what I’ve learned or just talk things through.

What mentees say

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When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I had the vision but was navigating a lot of unknowns at the same time. Finding the right mentor felt critical, and working with Zehra turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. What sets Zehra apart is that she doesn't just listen to your problems and hand you a framework. She actually gets into the weeds with you. She helped me pressure-test my business model, sharpen my pitch, and think through decisions I was overcomplicating. There were moments where a single conversation with her saved me weeks of going in the wrong direction. Her advice always felt grounded in real experience rather than theory. She understood the pressures of building from zero, the fundraising anxiety, the product dilemmas, the people challenges, and she met me where I was every single time. Never dismissive, never generic. The introductions she made were genuinely valuable. Not the kind where someone just forwards your email and wishes you luck. Zehra made warm, well-framed intros to exactly the right people, and those connections opened doors that I would have struggled to get near on my own. Beyond the tactical stuff, she gave me a lot of confidence during some pretty uncertain stretches of the journey. That's hard to put a number on but it matters more than most things when you're building something from scratch. If you're a founder looking for a mentor who actually shows up, gives you honest feedback, and uses their network to genuinely support your growth, Zehra is exceptional. I feel lucky to have had her guidance and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to any serious founder

Mohsin

Standard Plan • 7 months • March 16, 2026

Mohsin wrote 1 more review for the same mentorship

When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I had the vision but was navigating a lot of unknowns at the same time. Finding the right mentor felt critical, and working with Zehra turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. What sets Zehra apart is that she doesn't just listen to your problems and hand you a framework. She actually gets into the weeds with you. She helped me pressure-test my business model, sharpen my pitch, and think through decisions I was overcomplicating. There were moments where a single conversation with her saved me weeks of going in the wrong direction. Her advice always felt grounded in real experience rather than theory. She understood the pressures of building from zero, the fundraising anxiety, the product dilemmas, the people challenges, and she met me where I was every single time. Never dismissive, never generic. The introductions she made were genuinely valuable. Not the kind where someone just forwards your email and wishes you luck. Zehra made warm, well-framed intros to exactly the right people, and those connections opened doors that I would have struggled to get near on my own. Beyond the tactical stuff, she gave me a lot of confidence during some pretty uncertain stretches of the journey. That's hard to put a number on but it matters more than most things when you're building something from scratch. If you're a founder looking for a mentor who actually shows up, gives you honest feedback, and uses their network to genuinely support your growth, Zehra is exceptional. I feel lucky to have had her guidance and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to any serious founder.

Mohsin

Great mentor for HBS interview! Experienced and structured, actionable points and insights. Extremely helpful!

Said

Session: Ask Me Anything - 30 … • February 14, 2026

Zehra has been an exceptional mentor supportive, insightful, and genuinely invested in my growth. Her guidance helped me navigate key decisions with confidence and purpose. I truly appreciate her time, encouragement, and belief in my potential.