Sitting in a charming retro hotel near Michelstadt, our CEO Dr. Serhan Ili shares his story – a story that perfectly embodies one of our core values: having a sense for opportunities. His journey shows how recognizing and seizing the right moment can transform not just a career, but an entire industry.
When Instinct Meets Opportunity
Looking back, Serhan remembers the pivotal moment with perfect clarity. On paper, he had it all – a prestigious engineering doctorate from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, valuable experience at Porsche, and an impressive international background. But something inside him saw a different opportunity, even as the Lehman Brothers crisis shook the business world.
“Nobody thought it was a good idea,” Serhan laughs, shaking his head. “I sent out 98 applications and got 98 rejections. One company was so puzzled by my choices that they sent me to a psychologist. The verdict? I had an entrepreneurial mindset – something that just didn’t fit into their corporate box.”
The First Step Forward
Armed with nothing but a website, business cards, and an unshakeable belief in possibilities, Serhan took the leap. His first real break came through an unexpected connection – a distant acquaintance who saw potential where others didn’t.
I sent out 98 applications and got 98 rejections. One company was so puzzled by my choices that they sent me to a psychologist. The verdict? I had an entrepreneurial mindset – something that just didn’t fit into their corporate box.
This introduction to a mid-sized enterprise CEO might have seemed small at the time, but it was the opportunity Serhan had been waiting for. The solution he developed then still drives value for that client today.
Evolution Through Opportunities
We don’t just help enterprises change their business model, – Serhan explains, leaning forward with enthusiasm – We help them see opportunities they might have missed.
We’ve grown from consultants into pioneers of digital business transformation, bringing together strategy, design, and technology to unlock the extraordinary in ordinary business assets.”
The Art of Spotting Opportunities
At ILI Digital, we believe that recognizing opportunities is both an art and a science. “True decision-making is a balance of heart and head,” Serhan reflects. “We’re not just looking for quick wins. Every ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is a stepping stone to the future, opening doors to new possibilities.”
“We know where to fight and how to win” isn’t just our motto – it’s a testament to our expertise in timing and execution. Our experience has shown that success comes not just from making decisions, but from making them at precisely the right moment. This proven approach has helped countless businesses recognize and seize opportunities when they matter most.
Our Framework for Success
After helping hundreds of clients seize their opportunities, we’ve refined our approach into clear, actionable steps. We’ve developed a systematic approach that transforms opportunities into tangible business success:
Plug – We identify and integrate cutting-edge technology and AI solutions tailored to each client’s unique challenges and opportunities.
Play – Through rapid prototyping and iterative development, we validate ideas quickly and adapt based on real-world feedback.
Scale – Our dedicated teams work seamlessly to transform successful prototypes into robust, scalable business solutions.
Win – We ensure long-term success through continuous improvement and optimization of your digital products and services.
This flexible framework allows clients to engage at any stage of their digital transformation journey, whether they’re starting from scratch or looking to enhance existing solutions.
Beyond Business: Our Vision for Tomorrow
Our sense for opportunities extends beyond profit margins. We measure success through multiple lenses: nurturing dreams, creating happiness, building trust, achieving independence, showing respect, embracing responsibility, never stopping learning, growing personally, and staying healthy.
This is the essence of ILI Digital: seeing opportunities where others don’t, having the courage to pursue them, and the expertise to turn them into reality.
