EMEA Entrepreneur. Youri Dauber, Malik Dauber, and François Samyn, Founding Partners, Cohabs. In today’s modern real estate industry and sector, the adoption of sustainable co-living in Belgium and community-driven shared spaces and homes have emerged as innovative housing solutions. While standing as alternatives to renting, leasing, and purchasing accommodations and apartments, co-living accommodations and shared homes address social and economic needs. This type of living approach, style, and arrangement which focuses on sharing spaces and communal living, offers a combination of affordability, sustainability, social interactions, mutual use of utilities and maintenance, and so much more. Various real estate companies worldwide are adopting a business model that purchases houses, renovates them, and transforms the spaces into highly accessible and affordable co-living accommodations and shared homes. They not only provide a cost-effective housing solution but are also flexible and accommodative of diverse groups, and foster communities to come together, interact, and benefit from shared resources, and collective support all from an enhanced quality of living.
Like Belgium’s real estate firm and start-up venture by three founding partners who established co-living accommodations and a community-driven style of shared spaces that completely reinvented and gave a new name to shared living. At Cohabs, founded and established by Youri Dauber, Malik Dauber, and François Samyn in 2016, in Brussels, not only strengthens buildings and properties but also redefines the concept of shared homes, thereby creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all.
Therefore, this article shall delve into the world of Cohabs in Belgium and its real estate business in the development and creation of community-driven shared homes that drive up expectations of co-living across Europe and the US. The article will also discuss how Cohabs provides people with a full experience of an inclusive, fun, invigorating, engaging, amazing community, and creates homes that are beautifully designed and fully furnished, ready for you to join an amazing community and make memorable moments.
Youri Dauber, Malik Dauber, and François Samyn – Building a Future-Proof Real Estate Business and the Dream Team:
Youri, Mailk, and François, together co-founded and established Cohabs in 2016. The trio was inspired by a shared vision of taking homes and transforming shared living, making it no longer boring or mediocre. Therefore, to shake up the low, monotone, and unexciting experience of individuals living in co-living and shared home spaces, the founders came up with Cohabs. The real estate company in Brussels, Belgium, EU, focuses on a business of community-driven shared living and completely reinvents what ordinary and passable shared homes are, giving life, opportunities, encouraging sustainability, and driving social and economic impacts.
Youri Dauber is the Co-founder and CEO at Cohabs. Being an innovator, disruptor, and change-impacter, Youri previously Co-founded and led as Managing Director at Soccha – an IT outsourcing company. He also Co-founded and was a Managing Partner at Drawbotics – an innovative e-commerce platform, and an Investor at SOPRISM – an innovative technology startup.
Malik Dauber is the Co-founder and CIO at Cohabs, who co-founded Soccha and Drawbotics with his brother Youri. After his education studying construction, computer programming, and specific applications, Malik has a career that included being a Technical Office Engineer at Besix, and a Managing Partner at Dauber Industries – a privately-held consulting and investing firm.
François Samyn is the Co-founder and CSO at Cohabs. Helping Youri and Malik revolutionize shared accommodations in Brussels, Belgium, and expand business operations in many more locations across Europe and the US, François helps lead the company’s global growth and strategy. Having a Master’s in Civil Engineering in Mechanics and a Master’s in Management, François’ career before Cohabs includes being a Project Manager, Senior Consultant of Strategy and Operations, Entrepreneur, and Co-founder and Strategist.
Cohabs develops and creates homes and spaces ensuring that are beautifully designed, technologically equipped, renewable energy integrated wherever possible, sustainable practices adopted and fostered, fully furnished and functional utilities and facilities, affordable and diversely inclusive and accommodative, comfortably and visually appealing interior designs – reinventing co-living and transforming living spaces. The founders wanted Cohabs to house an amazing community, creating memorable moments, and passionate people who love to learn, engage, participate, explore, discover, meet, and share just about anything happy and exciting.
Cohabs – Shaping a Better Tomorrow Sustainably:
With the first house launch of Schuman 226 in Belgium in the year of Cohabs’ founding, the company went on to develop over the years raising seed funds, expanding its community department, raising Series A and B funds, expanding business operations to more locations across Europe, collaborating with global real estate investors, and further expanding its international reach.
From 3 people to over 60+ people working in Cohabs’ future-proof real estate business and organization, Youri, Mailk, and François have successfully established and created their dream team of passionate people who share the same goal of “cultivating strong and cohesive relationships in every house.” Where boring and mediocre are just not enough, Cohabs is continuously working on improving and enhancing their living spaces, experiences, technology, design, and inclusive rooms, with value-added community living benefits.
Driving forward with a shared mission to “rethink how people live together by giving the community an environment designed to create memorable moments,” the team at Cohabs strives enthusiastically to make people feel as good and comfortable at Cohabs’ community-driven shared living. The company fosters meaningful connections by organizing events and organizations that bring together people from all diverse groups to join in and participate.
As part of sustainability initiatives, Cohabs establishes a ‘planet-loving’ atmosphere, welcoming people to move with a carbon-neutral mentality, goal, and mission. By purchasing houses after well-thought-over decisions on choice locations, renovating, decorating, and transforming these houses to make them better livable for co-living and housing shared spaces, Cohabs encourages sustainability through installing solar panels on roofs of houses wherever possible, using and installing sustainable appliances that minimize the excess production of electricity, and also installs rainwater harvesting systems. Additionally, Cohabs installs second-hand furniture and most decorations that have already been used to give them a chance at a second life. All of these practices and initiatives help reduce the overall costs of this business that would otherwise have negative drawbacks in an already economically, socially, and environmentally impacted world.
Cohabs Today:
Working passionately to establish 1.2 billion more shared living spaces by 2030, the challenges faced in the cost of housing will be addressed by many individuals mostly living in cities and busy locations. Cohabs is also forging ahead to support one of its biggest ambitions in creating 5,000+ more bedrooms in 11 cities across Europe.
With currently 6 offices spread over Europe and the US, Cohabs – the Belgium co-living startup has taken the initiative to help people through a local impact organization. Through “1% For The Planet” – a global movement with the idea to protect natural resources from which the world benefits, connects 300+ members and non-profit organizations. Cohabs Services SA became a member in 2022 and has ever since contributed 1% of its revenue and time as ‘money and action’, thereby saving and protecting the planet by making a strong impact.