Zeynep IIgaz (‘00) has always had a passion to help others. Carrying a young girl’s dreams to become a doctor, IIgaz knew she wanted a career with a meaningful impact on others.
But in middle school, while working behind the counter at her mom’s toy store in Turkey, collecting inventory and buying products, Ilgaz’s vision began to change.
Gaining a firsthand look at the challenges and rewards of running a business, while also building personal relationships with customers, IIgaz began to fall in love with the idea of owning her own company.
“That’s where I first caught the entrepreneurial bug,” said Ilgaz. “Working in my mom’s toy store taught me the power of connecting with customers and building something from the ground up. Years later, our own products ended up on the shelves of more than 20,000 stores across the U.S.; a full-circle moment that began behind that little counter in Turkey.”
Following in her mom’s footsteps and chasing after her entrepreneurial spirit, IIgaz pursued a degree in economics and business at Bosphorus University in Istanbul, where she met her future husband, Serhat Pala (’99), in 1996. Love at first sight, the pair shared the same ambitions and knew they wanted to build something of their own after graduating from college.
“We wanted to come to the land of opportunity, get our master’s degrees, build a family and a business,” said IIgaz. “So we came with that dream to San Diego.”
In 1998, IIgaz and Pala moved to the U.S. with only four suitcases and a dream to pursue their master’s in business administration at San Diego State University. As a student, IIgaz utilized all the resources SDSU had to offer, diving into the world of start-ups and venture capital, and gaining hands-on experience through internships and the support of the Lavin Entrepreneurial Center.
“I was especially drawn to learning about companies that built an amazing culture and gave back to the community,” said IIgaz. “So it was never about just making money, but doing it in a very meaningful and impactful way.”
First step
Once graduating with her master’s, IIgaz began working at the San Diego Regional Technology Alliance, a local nonprofit, where she helped entrepreneurs hold fundraising workshops and learned what it would take to start a company.
“I worked there for about five or six years while my husband started some of our first companies out of our garage,” said Ilgaz. “We were juggling full-time jobs, paying the bills, and trying to build something of our own at the same time.”
In 2008, IIgaz and Pala founded Confirm Biosciences, a national provider of diagnostic products for human and wellness testing, which soon became one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S..
After growing the company and doing all the fundraising, Confirm Biosciences was successfully acquired by Clinical Reference Laboratory in 2021. It was a dream exit for both IIgaz and Pala.
Building on that momentum, they launched Cross Ocean Ventures in 2022, a venture capital firm focused on supporting bold, purpose-driven founders around the world. By investing in emerging sector technologies, the firm allows IIgaz and Pala to contribute to the startup community’s growth without managing another company themselves.
“Our goal is to be a resource for these founders who have gone through our shoes and to just be there for them,” said IIgaz.
For the pair, Cross Ocean Ventures represents more than a business; it’s a reflection of the life they’ve built together across oceans and continents. At the heart of their work, one principle has remained constant: giving back.
“We care about people over profit, so 10% of all our earnings went back to our community, supporting homeless causes and shelters,” said IIgaz. “It’s always been about the journey, and making it meaningful for everyone involved.”
Alumna donor
This dedication to giving extends beyond business. Inspired by the role SDSU played in shaping her entrepreneurial journey, IIgaz has become a generous supporter of her alma mater, helping ensure future students have access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities that helped turn her dreams into reality.
Through their generosity to the university, IIgaz and Pala established the IIgaz-Pala Family Aztec Cooperative Fund Endowment at the Lavin center in 2021, helping start-up companies find SDSU student interns who can help optimize their success.
They also created the Ken Marino Entrepreneurship Excellence Award, where one student intern is awarded and able to meet with IIgaz and Pala to gain mentorship and guidance. It’s named for a former associate dean and department chair of management who was instrumental in their lives when they ran out of money as students, encouraging them to apply for scholarships to stay afloat. Ilgaz said they wouldn’t have graduated without the financial aid flowing from Marino’s advice.
“I feel like it’s our duty as a family and as individuals to just pay it forward,” said IIgaz. “Being in a position to even say that I want to give back is a privilege, and I will never take it for granted.”
After joining The Campanile Foundation board of directors in 2022, IIgaz had the opportunity to join different committees at SDSU. As a mother to a track and field athlete, Kenan Pala, IIgaz knows all about the sacrifices and hard work that go into sports. Coupled with her deep care about women’s causes, IIgaz felt compelled to contribute to support women’s sports at SDSU.
Now serving as Board Chair for the SDSU Women’s Athletics Fund, IIgaz hopes to continue to uplift, empower, and support female athletes, all while raising money and awareness to help build a stronger and brighter future.
Both sons, meanwhile, are following the example set by their parents.
Arden, a high school junior, is the founder of Sports4Kids, a nonprofit organization that helps bring free sports clinics to low-income schools, with the help of volunteers. His older brother, Kenan, now a senior at Yale University, founded Kids4Community, a nonprofit that raised over $1 million for homelessness initiatives.
“Seeing my children follow their passions and give back makes everything we’ve built feel worthwhile,” said Ilgaz. “To me, success isn’t just about building companies, it’s about building a life that inspires others to do good.”