Prior to joining Breakaway Zeynep was a cofounder and CEO of Confirm Biosciences, which was acquired by one of the largest lab providers in the US.

Mrs. Ilgaz is a firm believer in giving back to the community. At Confirm, she started the philanthropic arm of Confirm Biosciences, “We Care, People over Profit,” whereby 5% of all profits was donated back to the community. 

Mrs Ilgaz is a frequent contributor to outlets such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, and the Huffington Post.

She and her husband recently established the Ilgaz- Pala Family Aztec Cooperative Fund Endowment – to support aspiring student entrepreneurs in their journey. On the personal side, she has been married to the love of her life for 24 years; they have 2 boys and 4 dogs.