Tarkan Bastiyali is a New York–based entrepreneur and inventor whose career spans real estate, hospitality, and product innovation. After graduating from New York University with a degree in history in 2000, he helped transform his family's property at 267 Fifth Avenue into a specialty textile showroom hub that was featured in Home Textiles Today.

In 2005, Bastiyali founded Midtown Loft & Terrace, a two-level Manhattan event venue that has hosted weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and events for Fortune 500 companies. He expanded the business in 2011 with Midtown Loft Productions, which provides clients with additional event-production services. In 2015, a series of improvements — including a retractable enclosed rooftop and a private-elevator lobby — expanded the venue's year-round capabilities and allowed its spaces to operate independently. Midtown Loft & Terrace has also supported charitable organizations and developed a strong international clientele, particularly from the United Kingdom and Europe. The venue has earned WeddingWire Couples' Choice honors for fourteen consecutive years through 2026.

Bastiyali later expanded his focus into invention and technology. Between 2017 and 2026, he filed 20 patent applications, almost all of which have been granted. In 2019, he was inducted into Marquis Who’s Who in America. In 2020, he founded Bastiyali Inventions to showcase his patented products, futuristic ideas, and forward-thinking, out-of-the-box concepts. He also co-founded Smart Sanitizer, which gained exposure through NASCAR and NHRA sponsorships. In 2021, NHRA driver Justin Ashley won the Texas Fall Nationals while driving the Smart Sanitizer–sponsored car.

In 2026, Bastiyali reached another significant milestone when his patented SmartSafe distracted-driving prevention technology became involved with Project Arrow, an all-Canadian zero-emission vehicle initiative. He also developed a working demo that has been presented to government representatives and automotive OEMs.
SmartSafe was created to address one of the most serious challenges on today's roads: smartphone distraction while driving. The technology physically secures the driver's smartphone while integrating essential functions with the vehicle, allowing drivers to stay connected to the features they need without having direct access to their phones behind the wheel.

Bastiyali is now focused on advancing SmartSafe internationally, working with governments, major automotive OEMs, and industry partners to pursue proof-of-concept programs and potential integration into future production vehicles. The project reflects his broader vision for innovation: creating practical, scalable technology that addresses real-world challenges and helps make roads safer. For Bastiyali, the mission is deeply meaningful—if SmartSafe can help save even one life, he believes the effort is worth it.