“Technological Transformation is No Longer Measured in Years, but in Months”

nterview by Yeşim Çevik | trbusiness.de Germany Representative

After building a successful career in the textile industry, Celalettin Kayahan, Board Member of TSMC Holding, has turned his focus toward advanced technologies and innovation. Through DronePortX, the company is developing autonomous operations, drone technologies, and next-generation solutions designed to address real-world challenges.

Kayahan believes Türkiye has the potential not only to remain a global manufacturing powerhouse but also to become a country that develops and exports cutting-edge technologies.

In this interview with trbusiness.de, he reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, the story behind DronePortX, his outlook on the future of the drone industry, and his advice for the next generation of innovators.

Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Celalettin Kayahan. I’m married and the father of a daughter. I studied mathematics at university, and ever since childhood I’ve been fascinated by numbers, analytical thinking, and solving complex problems. Looking back, I believe that mindset has been one of the greatest assets throughout my business career.

Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis and I’m a passionate supporter of Fenerbahçe.

More than anything, I hope to leave behind projects that create lasting value and positively impact people’s lives. I believe our true legacy is not the wealth we accumulate, but the lives we touch. In many ways, when the last person who remembers us is gone, that is when we truly disappear.

You often say, “You cannot become a master of a profession without first being an apprentice.” What were the defining milestones in your journey from textiles to building a diversified holding company?

For us, textiles have never been just another industry—it has been a way of life. My late father used to take me to the factory when I was a child, and I spent most of my summer holidays on the production floor. I literally grew up in manufacturing.

Although we have expanded into several industries today, textiles still hold a special place in my heart. We continue operating in the sector, and one of my biggest ambitions is to build a globally recognized Turkish textile brand.

“Today, we see French and Italian brands everywhere in the world. My greatest dream is to see a strong Turkish brand competing on the global stage alongside them.”

Wherever you travel in the world, you encounter renowned French and Italian fashion brands. Türkiye possesses tremendous manufacturing expertise, a highly skilled workforce, and decades of experience, yet we still have relatively few globally recognized brands. I consider that one of our biggest shortcomings.

There have been many turning points in my career, but the most significant was undoubtedly the COVID-19 pandemic. It fundamentally changed consumer behavior, production models, and business practices. It also forced us to rethink our strategy and prepare for a very different future.

Let’s talk about DronePortX. How did the idea come to life?

DronePortX is the result of strong teamwork. In particular, my business partner’s vision and ideas about the future of both defense and civilian drone applications sparked the initial concept.

Our engineering team spent nearly a year conducting intensive R&D. By the end of that process, we had developed not just concepts, but practical and innovative products that could be deployed in real-world environments.

What truly differentiates DronePortX today is our ability to create innovative systems that solve genuine operational challenges.

DronePortX aims to shape the future of autonomous operations. How do you think this technology will transform our lives over the next few years?

The pace of technological progress has become extraordinary.

Decades ago, moving from radio to television—or from black-and-white to color TV—took years. Then came mobile phones, the internet, and smart devices, each accelerating the pace of change. Today, new technologies are entering our lives not over years, but within months—or even weeks.

Drone technology will be one of the driving forces behind this transformation.

“The biggest transformation driven by drone technology will take place in logistics and firefighting. Our goal is to be one of the pioneers leading that transformation.”

I don’t believe we’ll have to wait another decade. Within the next two or three years, drones will become an integral part of everyday life.

From cargo transportation and air logistics to advertising, public safety, agriculture, and especially wildfire response, drone systems will become indispensable. At DronePortX, we intend to be one of the companies leading that transformation.

What distinguishes DronePortX from its competitors?

Technology itself eventually becomes accessible to everyone. What truly differentiates companies is not only the technology they use, but how quickly they adapt to change.

We have a young, dynamic team that closely follows technological developments and rapidly responds to changing market conditions.

“Only the dead and the foolish never change. In today’s business world, the only way to stay competitive is to embrace change.”

One of my favorite sayings is:

“Only the dead and the foolish never change.”

In today’s competitive environment, adaptability is one of the most valuable competitive advantages. That is exactly where DronePortX stands out.

Which markets offer the greatest growth potential for DronePortX?

We are currently focusing on two primary areas.

The first is drone-enabled cargo transportation, while the second is firefighting technologies.

We are developing ambitious projects in both fields and expect them to become increasingly visible in the near future.

Geographically, our priority is Türkiye, while we are also actively pursuing partnerships and expansion opportunities in the United States and the Middle East.

What has been the biggest challenge in developing DronePortX?

Like every technology startup, our greatest challenge has been aligning our long-term vision with existing regulations and the realities of the market.

Emerging technologies always require an adaptation period. Throughout this process, we chose to focus on continuous R&D investment and building the right strategic partnerships.

I believe this long-term approach will ultimately become one of our greatest strengths.

How do you see the future of the global drone industry?

Today, everyone feels there isn’t enough time. Speed has become the defining factor in almost every industry.

Even e-commerce platforms are increasingly competing on delivery times rather than price.

Drone technology directly addresses that demand.

Although drones have long been used in the defense sector, I believe they will become far more widespread in civilian life over the coming years. Logistics, last-mile delivery, emergency response, and wildfire management are all on the verge of major transformation.

With the solutions we are developing—particularly in firefighting technologies—we aim to become one of the companies leading this new era.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs focused on innovation?

First of all, never be afraid to pursue unconventional ideas.

Listen to the people around you, but never allow criticism to destroy your motivation.

Entrepreneurship is not about avoiding failure—it is about having the resilience to stand up after every setback.

“When we leave this world, the most valuable legacy we leave behind is the lasting impact we have made on the lives of others.”

To me, success is the ability to move from one failure to the next without losing hope or confidence.

Every failure brings you one step closer to the right solution. If you embrace it as part of the learning process, it becomes one of your greatest teachers.

Finally, who would you recommend as the next guest for our interview series?

I believe Nevzat Aydın would be an outstanding guest.

He is widely known not only as the founder of Yemeksepeti but also as one of Türkiye’s leading angel investors and mentors, supporting dozens of young entrepreneurs.

My team and I have long considered him one of the entrepreneurs who inspire us the most. I believe his perspective and experience would provide invaluable insights for the next generation of innovators.