Alex Bouaziz is the co-founder and CEO of Deel, a global HR platform valued at $12 billion. He discusses the company's early pivots during Y Combinator in 2018.
“If you look at what we got into Y Combinator in 2018 with the idea we started the concept was very similar, right? Like we wanted to help freelancers at the time get hired and paid by the best companies. And we thought the problem we were solving was around the trust, right? Of two different parties being in two different countries. That ended up being wrong, right? Like the problem being more around the compliance of working with that person and not understanding their local compliance and all of this.”
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More from Alex Bouaziz
PredictionOpen · timeframe Oct 2030
Bouaziz predicts Deel will win its legal disputes with competitors
“I feel pretty confident that the same way we've been winning in the marketplace will win in the court of laws.”
Alex BouazizOct 20, 2025▶ 0:00Deel CEO, Alex Bouaziz on Raising $300M+ at a $17BN Valuation · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Opinion
Bouaziz claims rival Rippling tries to compete through media headlines
“I think it's unfortunate that the way they're trying to compete is through media and through headlines and things like that.”
Alex BouazizOct 20, 2025▶ 3:56Deel CEO, Alex Bouaziz on Raising $300M+ at a $17BN Valuation · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Bouaziz argues investors should earn pro-rata rights rather than receive them automatically
“No, I think pro rata should be earned.”
Alex BouazizOct 20, 2025▶ 22:14Deel CEO, Alex Bouaziz on Raising $300M+ at a $17BN Valuation · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Bouaziz believes high-growth tech companies should hire engineers as CMOs
“But in his mind, most chief marketing officers are not good. The truth is I actually agree with him. And for a while I was looking for a CMO with this experience, that experience, and what I've realized is, like, the best CMOs I've encountered over the last fe…”
Alex BouazizOct 20, 2025▶ 26:19Deel CEO, Alex Bouaziz on Raising $300M+ at a $17BN Valuation · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Opinion
Bouaziz claims Rippling engaged in three years of poor competitive behavior
“Well, I think you should read our lawsuit in Delaware. You know, three years of poor way of competing in the market.”
Alex BouazizOct 20, 2025▶ 1:08:05Deel CEO, Alex Bouaziz on Raising $300M+ at a $17BN Valuation · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Opinion
Alex Bouaziz: The younger generation building their careers is 100% entitled
“A hundred percent entitled. Because there's an age for everything, and it's fine if you value work-life balance, that's something important for you, that's great. I think when you're building your career, and when there's a lot of things to do, you should work…”
Alex BouazizFeb 1, 2023▶ 50:15Alex Bouaziz: How We Became a $12B HR Company with 2,000 Remote Employees | 20VC #973 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
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