Çağatay Kalkancı was born in 1974, Istanbul. He graduated from Istanbul Technical University-Department of Industrial Engineering in 1996. After his graduation, he worked at the production and planning department of a textile company between 1996-97. He started working as an Electronic and Production Planning Engineer at BEKO, in 1998. He also served as TV Product & Import Branch Responsible, at the same firm. Kalkancı joined Fatoğlu Gıda in 2003, and worked as the Director of Foreign Trade. Kalkancı who graduated from IU-Faculty of Business Administration, Institute of Economics of Business Administration and completed his Master Degree in the Department of Endustrial Engineering at the same university, continues doctorate.

Kalkancı is married with two children, and speaks English.