Seda Solmaz

Seda Solmaz is an award-winning entrepreneur, the Founder & CEO of Idea Atelier, a boutique F&B innovation agency empowering both startups and large FMCG players build profitable, future-ready innovation pipelines. With over 20 years in F&B, Seda specializes in making innovation profitable fast for F&B manufacturers. She partners with large FMCG companies bringing fresh perspective to unlock white spaces, de-risk innovation and build innovation pipelines that drive sustainable business growth.
Seda brings a distinctive approach to Innovation through Strategic Innovation Workshops. These high-energy, co-creation sessions are designed to reignite energy, challenge biased thinking and align teams around unmet consumer needs. Through her Startup Advisory program, Seda works hands-on with F&B founders turn great ideas into commercially viable businesses. Her practical approach helps founders move faster, avoid costly mistakes and turn ambition into clear, actionable next steps.
Known for her sharp consumer lens and structured yet playful approach, Seda turns creative thinking into clear commercial direction, helping teams move from scattered ideas
to focused, high-impact concepts that drive measurable growth.
Seda actively contributes to the regional startup ecosystem, curating events that connect founders with peers and mentors, creating space to learn from those who have truly been there, done that. She hosts VIP events for F&B leaders to exchange unfiltered insights, challenge conventional thinking and shape what’s next for the region’s food and beverage landscape.
She is a frequent judge for the Gulfood, ISM Innovation Awards and a sought-after speaker across the region for F&B events.
Seda has been awarded Emerging Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, she was named one of UAE’s 20 Most Creative Women CEOs 2025 whilst Idea Atelier was named Best Growth Innovation Agency MEA in 2025.