Emin Onur Genç was born in Istanbul in 1983. He first encountered computers in 1997. Despite being a child, he never used the computer for games or entertainment purposes. Even now, he strictly avoids spending time on the computer outside of work. Back then, he wasn’t as successful in school as he is in his professional life today.

For university, he chose to study Computer Programming at Sakarya University. After graduation, his first and only corporate job was at Kosifler Oto. There, he worked in the IT department for about three years before leaving in 2009 to start his own business without any savings. His belief in the importance of having faith in one’s work is evident here. Even so, he avoided the common entrepreneurial pitfall of falling in love with one’s own product. He always kept in mind that there’s always room for improvement. This awareness fostered a healthy sense of fear, which fueled his motivation for growth and innovation.

In the early years, he started with a web design agency, which was quite popular at the time. He managed web projects for over 40 corporate clients, and the income from these projects allowed him to create a brand called INBOX. His focus was always on creating value through his product. Thanks to this approach, he successfully grew his brand without external investments, following a bootstrap model. Although he faced tough times during this journey, he declined many investment and partnership offers, valuing his financial independence.

Building the foundation of INBOX took about three years. During this time, he employed three engineers full-time, investing all his earnings from web projects into this idea and project. One of his key principles was never to exhaust himself chasing money. Instead, he made money work for him through smart decisions.

By 2014, he began offering services entirely through software developed by his own team. By the end of the first year, INBOX had only around 50 corporate clients in Turkey, not even enough to cover half of the company’s expenses. However, the company grew by an average of 300% each year.

To date, INBOX remains the first and only entrepreneurial venture of Emin Onur Genç.

Shortly after founding INBOX, with the incredible support of his wife, he made a pivotal decision: to achieve financial freedom without being tied to any particular location. His wife, who loves to travel, was the driving force behind this decision. Together, they worked to create what is now known as the digital nomad lifestyle, long before it became popular. Early on, this goal meant turning down lucrative offers, as these would have tied them to a specific city or country.

In 2016, he took the first step by establishing a company in the United States. Gradually, he transitioned all operations online to expand globally and moved to New York City. However, realizing that achieving his goals there would take longer than expected, he applied to a Canadian government program designed to support innovative companies. In 2018, with government backing, he moved with his family to Canada.

Today, INBOX operates from one of Canada’s largest incubation centers, working toward further global expansion. The brand now serves over 15,000 users across 25 countries. As of 2019, INBOX handled over 5 million permission-based email sends daily. The company, which operates around the clock thanks to its global and remote team, has truly become a business where the sun never sets.

Having started with just 10,000 TL, INBOX has grown to a valuation of 3 million dollars. Throughout this journey, Emin Onur Genç advises entrepreneurs to focus on self-improvement in every aspect and to thoroughly research the challenges of any venture before starting. He firmly believes that in the tech age, even a great idea is worthless if its foundation is too easy to build.

“…The more challenges and uncertainties a business has during its setup and growth phases, the fewer people will attempt it, or the more will give up halfway. This means that once you succeed, your position will be that much stronger…”

In short, he believes that the greater the difficulties and unknowns at the start of a venture, the greater the opportunities it holds.

One of the key principles he applies in his professional life is achieving more in less time. Before making any significant decisions, he creates opportunities to evaluate them from different perspectives by being in at least three different environments—this could be a walk or time spent by a lakeside. Additionally, he views the desire to make money as a recurring impulse that must be managed. He believes true growth is only possible through creating value.

Above all, his priority is not just being a successful businessman but being a well-rounded individual. This includes being a good father and husband alongside his professional achievements.