Koby Soto

Bestie, here’s what’s good with Koby Soto. This guy’s a straight-up tech hustler who’s been crushing it for over a decade. Born in Israel, he’s the kind of guy who jumps into shit headfirst and doesn’t stop. He’s a YC W14 alum, so he’s legit in the startup world. But his story’s way more than just YC creds.

So, Koby started out in the IDF as a software developer, pretty common for top Israeli guys, right? But he didn’t stop there. He’s worked at some heavy hitters like Cortica and TapDog, which gave him that solid tech grind. Then, he co-founded Guesty in 2013 with his twin brother Amiad. They got inspired by their own Airbnb experiences, like, they actually lived the pain of managing short-term rentals and turned that into a whole business. That’s some real shit, turning personal pain into a startup. Guesty blew up into this property management platform for short-term rentals, think of it as the backbone for hosts and property managers.

Koby didn’t just build Guesty; he ran it in key roles, Chief Technical Officer, Chief Product Officer, basically the guy who made sure the tech and product were on point. And he’s not just about building companies and bouncing. He’s deeply involved, acting as an angel investor and advisor now, always looking to help others jump into the game.

What I find super interesting is his background outside of tech, he’s got a law degree from Tel Aviv and even trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Dude’s got layers. It’s like he’s always been curious about a bunch of shit, business, tech, even culinary arts, showing he’s not just about one thing. He’s all about continuous learning and pushing boundaries.

Now, he’s running SideDish, his own startup, and based in San Francisco, right in the heart of the tech universe. That move shows he’s not just a founder, he’s a true believer in the system. His process screams motivation: he’s someone who’s seen pain points firsthand, built solutions, scaled companies, and now helps others do the same. It’s about having an effect, not just for himself but for the community.

Bottom line: Koby’s the real deal. He’s a guy who took some personal frustrations, turned them into a multi-million-dollar business, and keeps pushing forward. His story’s about hustle, continuous growth, and giving back. No cap, he’s one of those founders who’s been through the trenches and came out swinging, always looking for the future trend.