About
Hello! I am Tugrul Ates and I love technology, art, and everything in between. This website is my digital canvas, where I share my thoughts, creations, and experiences with the world.
My journey in the realm of programming began in 1994 on a Commodore 64, and I’ve manipulating bytes and pixels ever since. The thrill and enjoyment I discovered in those early days continues to this day.
Between 2011 and 2021, I worked at Google and Meta, contributing as both a software engineer and a manager. I take pride in the significant improvements I brought to the Google Play and Facebook apps. Today, I channel my energy into Roka Software, a company dedicated to enhancing digital productivity for all.
Digital art, animations, and photography are my sanctuaries of joy. In casual conversations, you may find me enthusiastically discussing the intricate spreadsheets I craft. My other pursuits include scuba diving, yoga, and my cats.
I enjoy connecting with people who share similar interests, even if they are dog people. So, if you find a resonance with any part of my world, don’t hesitate to reach out!
| Where? | What? | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s degree from METU on electronics engineering, with research and publications in recommendation systems, image processing, and computer vision. | 2003‑2010 | |
| Researcher at TÜBİTAK, a governmental scientific agency of Turkey, where I developed AI systems for national-scale TV broadcast monitoring. | 2006‑2011 | |
| Software engineer at Google, optimizing costs for Ads, making Play more efficient and engaging, and building early versions of Stadia. | 2011‑2017 | |
| Engineering manager at Meta, leading a team that significantly improved engagement, organization, and performance of the Facebook app. | 2017‑2021 | |
| Founder of Roka Software in Amsterdam, creating products that I would personally enjoy using. | 2023‑now |