Raphael Cohen

This legend right here is Raphael Cohen, this guy’s a straight-up startup machine, and honestly, he’s one of the most interesting founders you’ve probably never heard of. So, he’s part of YC’s S21 batch, which already says a lot, that’s the kind of thing that puts him in the big leagues. But what’s cool is how his story isn’t just about jumping into startups; it’s about crushing it across different industries and geographies, all driven by that relentless hustle and love for tech.

Raphael’s been around the block a ton. He’s worked with Rocket Internet as Asia head, basically, he was the guy scaling their operations across the Asia-Pacific. That’s no joke. Before that, he was running Foodpanda Vietnam at just 23, which is wild, launching and managing a whole business while most are still figuring college out. That early start shows he’s a go-getter, no bullshit.

Then he got into the proptech and hospitality spaces big time. He founded Gobee.bike, a leading bike-share in Hong Kong, dude saw the urban mobility wave early and jumped into it. And he didn’t stop there. He co-founded HotelQuickly, a last-minute hotel booking platform, which was all about making travel easier and more flexible. This guy’s pattern? Spotting real problems, then building solutions that just work.

Fast forward, he’s now the co-founder of Deskimo, a YC-backed startup that’s all about on-demand workspaces and hybrid office management in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Basically, he’s riding the remote work wave, making it easier for people to find a spot to crush their day, paid by the minute, super flexible. That’s the kind of innovation that shows he’s got his finger on the pulse of how we work now.

But wait, it gets deeper. He’s also managing director at Aprovia, working on AI-powered background checks, so he’s not just about physical spaces; he’s about tech that’s revolutionizing how we vet and trust people. His career’s a wild mix of hands-on startups, regional expansion, and modern AI. That’s a guy who’s always looking ahead.

And the guy’s got a crazy global perspective, traveled to 97 countries. That’s no accident. It’s like he’s got this built-in curiosity about how things work across cultures, which probably fuels his ability to build products for different markets.

What does all this say about him? That he’s super driven, always looking for the future trend, and not afraid to jump into the deep end. His process screams that he’s motivated by solving real problems, making life easier, and pushing tech forward. He’s not just building startups for the sake of it, he genuinely wants to make a difference, whether it’s in mobility, hospitality, or workplace solutions.

Long story short? Raphael Cohen is a guy who’s been everywhere, from running businesses in Vietnam at 23 to leading regional expansions, to now creating original workspace tech with Deskimo. The dude’s got that rare combo of hustle, tech know-how, and a global outlook. No cap, he’s one to watch, a real deal entrepreneur who’s shaping how we work and travel in a world that’s always changing.