Betül Bıyık, a graduate of Üsküdar University's Molecular Biology and Genetics department, founded the world's first and only medical e-marketplace where products from all health branches can be showcased. Aiming to facilitate access to health products, MediCoa.com and MediCoa Logistics operate in 43 countries. The company especially helped medical firms deliver their products to consumers seamlessly during the pandemic. Bıyık, who achieved significant success in a short time, stated that they produced the first domestic Covid-19 and monkeypox virus detection kits with Vision and Cesna Biotechnology companies.
Betül Bıyık, a 2017 graduate of Üsküdar University's Molecular Biology and Genetics department, made a breakthrough globally by realizing an idea that emerged from her observations at a fair she attended during her student years. In 2020, Betül Bıyık became a pioneer by founding MediCoa.Com and MediCoa Logistics, the world's first and only medical e-marketplace, which operates in 43 countries and aims to facilitate access to health products.
Discovered an Ecosystem that Benefits Both Customers and Suppliers
Betül Bıyık noted that during her student years, she worked as a translator for a foreign company selling surgical dental instruments at the Dental Health Devices and Materials Fair, stating, 'There, I saw that dental products were very different from the materials we used in our laboratory. However, there were some common needs like sterilization and medical textiles. As a molecular biologist, it wouldn't have occurred to me to go to a dental supply store to buy an autoclave, but the same product was available there. Similarly, a dental supply store wouldn't target me, even though I am also its customer. I realized there was an ecosystem here that reduced marketing costs and benefited both customers and suppliers, so I founded the world's first and only medical e-marketplace where products from all health branches can be showcased. From its inception until today, my goal has always been to solve a problem. Currently, our MediCoa.com and MediCoa Logistics services motivate us to get a little closer each day to solving the problems of individuals, relevant companies, and public health by facilitating access to health products.'
MediCoa.com Grew During the Pandemic
Betül Bıyık noted that MediCoa.com grew as a company during the pandemic, stating, 'As we all closely witnessed, in both the private sector and public institutions, digitalization became an important tool for the continuation of business processes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even 60% of people who had never purchased products online before changed their habits during this period and turned to online shopping. Consequently, the health sector was also affected by this process. According to Stacline's list of the top 100 fastest-growing e-commerce categories, disposable gloves took the first spot with 670%, followed by health tracking devices with 182%, first aid products with 108%, and laboratory and scientific products with 90%.'
Medical Firms Were Able to Provide Uninterrupted Service During the Pandemic
Bıyık noted that although the health sector is experienced in crisis management, it was caught unprepared for product supply to hospitals, stating, 'During periods when curfews and hospital entries were prohibited, field teams unable to implement traditional visit methods struggled to introduce their products to hospitals and became one of the most affected units by the pandemic. Thus, as MediCoa.com, we helped medical firms continue their sales by showcasing their products on a platform tailored to their specific needs. Additionally, with our Vision and Cesna Biotechnology companies, we produced the first domestic Covid-19 and monkeypox virus detection kits, helping people take precautions to prevent the spread of the pandemic. MediCoa Logistics worked selflessly during this challenging period.'
Betül Bıyık noted that MediCoa.com operates in 43 countries, stating, 'Every country is our natural area of expansion. The products we produce are common needs for every age, gender, nationality, and different income group. They are inelastic products whose demand does not change according to specific aesthetic tastes, cultural codes, geographical factors, or different demographics. People all over the world constitute our target audience, and everyone can become our customer, either individually or with government assistance. We can reach a position where we export to more countries than even UN member states in a very short time. Our past experience and future strategy integrate at this point, and our infrastructure also allows for it. Essentially, this is our vision, and this is our fundamental motivation.'
They Operate in 25 Health Branches
Betül Bıyık stated that through MediCoa.com, Turkey's and the world's first and only medical e-marketplace, they provide services to health professionals within the framework of regulations. With over a thousand medical stores and 1,500 members across 25 health branches and 32 categories, they enable medical procurement to be done in an economical and fast environment. Bıyık said, 'Within the scope of health professionals; we contribute to supplier companies by increasing potential customers and receiving payments quickly, while we support purchasing authorities in terms of time saving and increasing product variety.'
Betül Bıyık stated that they have achieved great things with 14 companies, including biotechnology-based MediCoa.com. She said, 'Our Vision Biotechnology and Cesna Biotechnology companies carry out the R&D and production of test kits for Covid-19, Monkeypox, and similar diseases. Our Mission Biotechnology company operates in the production of domestic laboratory devices and equipment. MediCoa Logistics supports with shipping services. MediCoa Dent is a company that will soon start providing services. With MediCoa, we sell both our own products and those of other medical firms.'
Test Kits Found Successful in Germany
Betül Bıyık stated that the test kits they produced were found successful, saying, 'When an independent organization in Germany collected test kits from all countries and put them under scrutiny, Cesna Biotechnology, one of our group companies, ranked in the top 5 with two of its products. Our R&D and P&D (Product Development) laboratories, which update the product content with each new variant, will continue their work in case of a potential epidemic or variants.'
We Changed the Shopping Habits of the Medical Sector
Referring to the future goals as an organization, Betül Bıyık said, 'We have a dream. First in Turkey, then globally, we aim to create a reliable platform where over 10,000 health and medical companies combine their strengths by utilizing the latest technology, where their voices are heard louder, where medical products are sold only in pharmacies and medical firms, and where there is no need to wait for payment. We changed the shopping habits of the medical sector. Were there people who said you couldn't do it or it wouldn't happen? Of course, there were. Yes, we knew changing the system wouldn't be easy, but we succeeded. We have full faith in ourselves; we come from within the field. We love our job, we care about it, and we work day and night to provide the best service.'
I Participated in Studies Abroad During My Student Years
Betül Bıyık noted that her education at Üsküdar University made significant contributions to her success, stating: 'Üsküdar University is a university that supports its students both academically and through activities. In my third year, a total of 5 universities, including Üsküdar University, united to form the Erasmus+ program. The purpose of this program was to support students who wanted to intern abroad by creating a common budget pool. Monthly scholarships were sent to students who could rank in the top 30 from each school. I was accepted by Liverpool John Moores University's Sports Genetics department and had the opportunity to intern in England for 3 months. Here, we analyzed the genes of Liverpool football players and Manchester rugby players. I actively participated in the laboratory work by joining the studies of my advisor professor and PhD students. I even took part in a scientific study and became one of the authors in an internationally recognized journal. Thus, I gained the advantage of closely following current domestic and international developments related to my department. In addition to academic studies, I also participated in social activities. I founded the Student Dance Club. By combining my hobby with my business life, I had the opportunity to practice for the company I would establish in the future. Here, together with my teammates, we organized dance lessons for students from dance instructors. I took my first steps into fundamental topics such as customer relations, sales, persuasion, personnel management, crisis management, and financial cycles.'
Heed These Recommendations
Betül Bıyık offered advice to university candidates regarding career choice, stating, 'Department preference and university selection begin with discovering our competencies and talents during middle or high school. Because choosing a department means defining a field where one will work with passion for 20-30 years. Therefore, decisions must be made very meticulously. After discovering ourselves, we look at whether the profession of interest is suitable for our abilities and character. Finally, for professions where both match, the opportunities and their sustainability into the future should be considered. University preference, however, should be evaluated as a different matter. Instead of just the name, schools with high potential to prepare you for the future should be researched. While paying attention to internship programs, opportunities to study abroad, the CVs of academics, and the international recognition of the school's brand is an advantage, I am one of those who believe that the real work is done by the student. Today, accessing information is very easy, but being able to implement that information in life is what matters.'
Discover Areas Where You Can Work with Passion and Develop Yourself
As a female entrepreneur, Betül Bıyık also offered suggestions to aspiring female entrepreneurs, saying, 'Despite all stereotypical attitudes, seeing women begin to take a greater role in business life in recent years makes me very happy. Discover areas where you can work with passion. The fundamental rule for succeeding in a job is to love that job and be able to develop yourself. Follow the agenda. If you want to start your own business, follow the sector closely and observe vacant areas or new trends in the sector. Regular research, being disciplined, working hard, and making correct decisions result from good analysis. Be at peace with technology. The world is becoming more globalized every day. Developed countries are aware that power lies not in physical strength but in the trained human brain. Therefore, we must follow technological developments closely to take our place among information societies. Build a network. Gain connections that develop you, broaden your horizons, and add new things to you. Your vision will improve, your perspective will become clearer, and your thoughts will become stronger.'