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Celebrating the EYE Entrepreneurs of the Year 2025 

The programme is proud to announce the winners of the Entrepreneurs of the Year 2025 award! This year, we recognise two outstanding entrepreneurs whose dedication, innovation, and impact exemplify the spirit of the programme. 

New Entrepreneur of the Year: Duygu Yılmaz Koksal 

Founder of Saledo, Türkiye 

Duygu’s company is revolutionising the way we perceive food waste through Saledo, a company dedicated to transforming banana surplus into valuable, sustainable products. Based in Antalya, Türkiye, and operating from a 100,000 sqm greenhouse, Saledo tackles the challenge of supermarket rejections, repurposing 200 tons of annual banana surplus into innovative food solutions. 

In January 2024, the company launched its flagship product - green banana flour - a gluten-free, vegan, and gut-friendly alternative rich in resistant starch, fiber, and potassium. Within just a few months, Saledo achieved impressive sales of 500 kg and is now establishing a new production facility with the capacity to upcycle 8.5 tons of bananas per month into flour and chips. Having reached this milestone, Saledo was eager to expand into European markets and diversify its offerings, including flour mixes, banana chips, cookies, crackers, and even biodegradable products made from banana tree stems. 

Duygu’s participation in the EYE programme in the Netherlands as a new entrepreneur proved to be an impactful experience to support this international growth and innovation. She gained insights into the European market, refined product positioning, and forged meaningful business connections. Her collaboration with an experienced host entrepreneur led to market research, regulatory planning, and networking, ultimately resulting in a continued business partnership beyond the exchange. The EYE programme was not just about market entry for Saledo, it was a defining moment that fueled its European expansion.

Learn more about Duygu’s story by watching this video!