Ilker Sözdinler, CEO of United Payment, graduated with a double major in Management Information Systems and Business Administration from PennState University in 2005. Starting his career as the founding partner of NGN in the same year, he provided services to several financial institutions at NGN and afterward sold his shares to a major foreign integrator in the region leading to a successful exit. An innovative step in the sector followed this as he introduced his vision for FaaS in Türkiye by founding United Payment in 2010. Building on his passion for technology and innovation, Ilker gained significant success with United Payment and made it to Ekonomist’s “Top 40 CEOs under 40” list seven years in a row. Operating in the field of financial technologies with increasing success for 13 years, United Payment, one of the first e-money companies, continues to grow with the investment received from Finberg in 2020, which was followed by the investment from OYAK Portfolio Venture Capital Funds in 2021. In 2023, İlker Sözdinler founded the London-based company İş United with a 50% partnership with İşBank.
The Company takes firm steps towards realizing Ilker’s vision of being “the biggest fintech company in the region” and has a presence in Azerbaijan, Romania, England, and Georgia and aims for regional FinTech leadership along with the expansion into new markets. İlker Sözdinler continues to support the strengthening of the ecosystem by investing in technology ventures. In addition to all of this, İlker serves as the chairman of the DEIK Digital Business Council Fintech Committee, aiming to help Turkish fintech startups expand globally.
Ilker Sözdinler is married and the father of two children. He enjoys reading comics and science fiction. He is a Marvel, DC, and Star Wars fan and a proud supporter of Beşiktaş.