Western Thrace Turkish young features in Forbes “30 Under 30” list
Kerem Topalismailoğlu, a 22-year-old entrepreneur with roots in Western Thrace, has been recognized in Forbes magazine’s prestigious “30 Under 30” list for 2025. Topalismailoğlu, along with co-founders Diana Virgovicova (23) and Shirley Zhong (21), established Xatoms, a Toronto-based company that provides an innovative solution to the global clean drinking water crisis.
Forbes unveiled its list of 600 young leaders shaping the future across 20 industries. This year’s selection prominently features entrepreneurs tackling climate change challenges, with Xatoms standing out for its groundbreaking approach. By integrating artificial intelligence and chemical technologies, Xatoms purifies water, removing contaminants to produce safe drinking water, addressing one of the most pressing issues of climate change.
Currently specializing in artificial intelligence at the University of Toronto, Topalismailoğlu represented Canada as one of 40 young leaders at last year’s G20 Summit in India. His academic excellence and entrepreneurial spirit earned him the prestigious "Innovation and Entrepreneurship" scholarship from the Royal Bank of Canada, awarded to only five students.
Hailing from a family of educators, Kerem is the grandson of Hüseyin and Macide Topalismailoğlu, former teachers at Uysallı Turkish Minority Primary School. His talent for innovation emerged early; in high school, he collaborated with Istanbul University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to design 3D-printed prosthetic legs for storks.
Born in 2002, Kerem completed his primary and secondary education at FMV Ayazağa Işık Schools, showcasing an early passion for combining technology and social impact.
