Ali Berk Eroğlu is TG0's electrical engineer. He joined the company in 2023, after the world opened up again post-pandemic. Here, he reflects on how he came to the UK, singing in Turkey's leading jazz choir, and the satisfaction of building his first circuit.
*'I love the innovative mindset of this company.'*
**Hi Berk! Where are you from?**
I was born and raised in Istanbul with my older sister. But if you asked me in Turkey, I'd say I was from Konya — that's where my father is from. Similarly my Mum would say she's originally from Bosnia, because that's where her grandparents are from, even though she was born and raised in Istanbul.
**What did you want to do growing up?**
I was the tech guy of the family — my dad was always calling me to fix the computer or television. I studied at an American High School in Istanbul, which encouraged us to take different electives. There was an electronics course and I really enjoyed it. I still remember the first time I made a traffic light circuit and realised I could make it do whatever I wanted. I decided that's what I would major in at university.
**Where did you go to university?**
I studied for a BSc in electrical and electronics engineering at the University of Illinois. My sister had studied at the University of Michigan, and that had a great influence on me. I picked Illinois because it was highly ranked in electrical engineering, and it offered opportunities to blend electrical engineering with music, which is a passion of mine. My favourite professor had made an electronic musical instrument and I spent a lot of time with that project in my second year.
**How did your career progress after university?**
In the summer of my third year at university, I interned at a small musical instrument company in the Czech Republic — working on a new prototype for musical modules, circuits for sound effects you can connect with instruments such as electric guitars or keyboards. It was a great experience to see the development lifecycle of a new product from the inside.
After graduating, I moved to the UK for a Master's in Machine Learning at the University of Warwick. I'd always been interested in the intersection of hardware and software, and machine learning felt like the natural next step.
**How did you end up at TG0?**
I found TG0 on LinkedIn. What really struck me was the combination of hardware innovation with software intelligence. It felt like the exact intersection I'd been working towards — and the team's approach to building technology that genuinely changes how people interact with products was very compelling.
**What do you do outside of work?**
I sing in a jazz choir. Back in Turkey I was part of the country's leading jazz choir, which was a remarkable experience. I've been looking for something similar in London since moving here.
