From running a ski business to building SkiHub

From running a ski business to building SkiHub — hello from Bursa 👋

Hi everyone! I’m Baran, the founder of SkiHub, based in Bursa, Türkiye.

I grew up in a family that ran businesses in Uludağ, a ski destination in Türkiye. I later managed the ski rental operation and ski school at Ağaoğlu Hotel, where I saw firsthand how customers struggled to find suitable equipment and the right instructor.

After losing my father, I started SkiHub to carry that experience forward.

Today, we have a working app that brings ski and snowboard instructor discovery and equipment rental together. My longer-term ambition is to connect more of the winter sports ecosystem through one marketplace.

My background is in hands-on operations and customer experience. Building a technology business has meant learning a different set of skills, especially around product development, marketplace trust, and helping small businesses work digitally.

I’d love to exchange experiences with other founders making a similar transition. I’m also happy to share what I’ve learned about ski rental operations, seasonality, and customer expectations on the mountain.

For those who have built marketplaces: what helped you earn your first customers’ trust when your platform was still new?

Looking forward to learning from this community!