About Us
Our expertise lies in investing in mid-sized companies and partnering with founders and management teams to accelerate transformation and unlock long-term value.
Our value creation approach focuses on:
- Enhancing leadership and talent
- Strengthening corporate governance and institutional capabilities
- Engaging actively at the board level and driving operational support when needed
- Focusing on cash flow and working capital, and improving bank relationships
- Leading the agenda on strategic acquisitions or vertical integration
- Assembling the building blocks of a compelling exit story from the moment we invest
Our flexible, deal-by-deal investment approach allows us to pursue opportunities across sectors and transaction structures where we see a clear and compelling path to value creation.
We typically target one to two investments per year, enabling us to remain selective and deeply engaged with our portfolio companies. We consider both majority and minority investments, provided there is strong alignment with our partners and a shared commitment to the value creation agenda.
Leadership
Optima Ventures is led by Ömer Birgen, who has 16 years of combined experience in private equity, management consulting, and family business management. Prior to founding Optima Ventures in 2024, he previously spent:
- 5 years at Taxim Capital, a successful mid-cap private equity fund based in Turkey
- 4 years at Birgen İnşaat, where he succeeded in growing and institutionalizing his family business
- 5 years at Boston Consulting Group’s NYC and Chicago offices, mostly in the private equity and consumer practice areas
Ömer Birgen graduated with high honors from Northwestern University, where he studied engineering and economics. He later earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.