York Ian Rabe
Founder & Chief Design and Systems Architect
York Rabe is a business transformation specialist, systems thinker, and multidisciplinary designer whose work bridges strategy, spatial intelligence, and visual communication. He combines a strong foundation in business analysis and change management with an instinctive ability to conceptualise and design from first principles, translating complex systems into clear, functional, and highly intuitive frameworks.
Alongside his professional work in transformation and business excellence, Rabe has developed a distinctive design approach rooted in systems thinking. His strength lies in structuring complexity, identifying underlying patterns, and creating visual systems that bring coherence to fragmented environments. This capability extends across mapping, network design, and broader applications of spatial problem-solving.
Among his independent work, Rabe conceptualised and designed a comprehensive urban ferry network map following several years of direct observation, analysis, and iterative development. The project demonstrates his ability to integrate analytical depth with visual clarity, transforming a highly complex transport system into an accessible and structured representation.
As the originating mind behind the platform’s design philosophy, Rabe leads the conceptual development of scalable spatial products and mapping systems, supporting expansion into new geographies and network environments. His work reflects a broader ambition to redefine how complex infrastructures are understood, navigated, and experienced.
Ayça Apak
Chief Strategy, Growth & Partnerships Officer
Ayça Apak is a strategic growth architect and communications specialist with over three decades of international experience in building and scaling complex, multi-market ventures. Her work centres on structuring ideas into commercially viable businesses by aligning strategy, capital, partnerships, and narrative into a cohesive growth model.
Across her career, Apak has designed and delivered more than 300 high-level initiatives spanning finance, infrastructure, manufacturing, and policy environments. She has worked closely with multinational corporations, financial institutions, investors, and public-sector stakeholders, shaping ventures that bring together capital, industry, and influence to drive measurable commercial outcomes.
Her expertise lies in translating vision into execution. She defines market positioning, builds partnership and sponsorship frameworks, and develops revenue models that support sustainable expansion across geographies. Her work spans investor engagement, brand and narrative architecture, and the structuring of cross-border growth strategies in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Nathan Kaufmann
Head of Cartography & Spatial Intelligence
Nathan Kaufmann is a French cartographer and the founder of 21maps, a specialised cartographic studio dedicated to rethinking how geography is communicated through design. With a background in geography and spatial analysis, his work sits at the intersection of science, visual communication, and narrative — a discipline that combines analytical rigour with aesthetic clarity to translate complex territories into intuitive, decision-ready maps.
Through 21maps, Kaufmann has developed a distinctive approach to contemporary cartography, producing highly refined, thematic maps that transform dense spatial data into elegant, legible systems. His work demonstrates a strong command of network visualisation, territorial abstraction, and user-centric design — capabilities that are particularly critical in mapping transport systems, mobility corridors, and interconnected geographies.
Kaufmann’s practice reflects a broader evolution in cartography, where maps function as strategic tools rather than static representations — enabling navigation, storytelling, and engagement at scale. His ability to distil complexity into clarity positions him as a key asset in projects that require both technical precision and a strong visual identity, particularly in multi-operator, cross-border environments such as maritime and transport networks.
Dilcu Taşan Kuyucu
Director of Finance & Investment Strategy
Dilcu Taşan Kuyucu is a seasoned financial strategist, bringing over two decades of experience across capital markets, investment advisory, and financial communications. With a career spanning leading financial institutions including Raymond James Financial Inc. and prominent Turkish brokerage houses, she combines deep market intelligence with hands-on execution across trading, portfolio management, and research.
Kuyucu has played an active role in a broad range of capital raising and M&A transactions, advising clients on accessing both equity and debt financing, with a particular focus on facilitating capital flows into and out of Türkiye. Her expertise lies in structuring investment narratives, aligning financial strategy with investor expectations, and guiding companies through complex funding environments.
At Deniz Kuzgunu, she leads all financial and investor-facing dimensions of the business, ensuring that strategic initiatives are underpinned by robust economic logic, disciplined financial planning, and clear pathways to capital. Her ability to bridge financial markets with strategic communications positions her as a critical interface between investors, institutions, and growth-stage ventures.
Kuyucu’s presence within the team brings institutional-grade financial oversight and credibility, strengthening the business’ capacity to engage with investors, structure cross-border opportunities, and scale into new markets with confidence.
