Raphaël’s journey isn’t just about moving from Montreal to Silicon Valley–it's about refusing to settle, finding creative solutions to challenges, and staying true to his passions. Here's a brief summary of what was discussed in this episode.
Raphael grew up in Montreal, a city known for its bitter winters – something he never quite got used to. “I would show up to school with like, three layers of pants and coats,” he recalls with a laugh.
But he wasn’t just cold physically; he also felt like the opportunities for him in Canada were pretty frosty. After finishing a gruelling degree in physics engineering at Polytechnique Montreal in 2017, Raphael found himself frustrated by the lack of prospects at home.
This forced him to cast his net wider, so he applied for jobs across Europe, the United States, and even Australia. Europe, the United States, and even Australia. While the hunt for a job was tough, his determination paid off, and eventually, a small company in California took a chance on him.
His move to California wasn’t smooth. Raphael’s first three attempts to obtain a visa failed, each one stymied by minor bureaucratic obstacles. It wasn’t until his fourth try that he finally crossed the border.
To add to that, his arrival at Frontier Semiconductor, wasn’t the Silicon Valley dream he had imagined. On his first day, a cafeteria brawl broke out, and he found himself questioning his decision.
Despite the chaos, Raphael made the most of it. He dove headfirst into his role as an optical engineer, where he designed microscope systems for the semiconductor industry. Eventually, his hard work paid off, and he was promoted to Chief Technology Officer.
But things weren’t easy—many of the company’s talented employees had left, and Raphael had to reverse-engineer a lot of incomplete work. Long nights and endless problem-solving became the norm. “I had to figure out every line of code, every system, all on my own,” he said.
It was a tough time, but the hands-on experience he gained was invaluable. He learned more than just technical skills—he learned resilience and other skills that would later become crucial to his entrepreneurial ventures.
After three years at Frontier, Raphael felt the pull to do something on his own. His passion for nanotechnology, particularly graphene (a material he believed would revolutionize the tech world), had inspired him for years. But with limited resources, diving into that field right away wasn’t realistic.
Instead, he turned to a problem he knew well—camera and projector calibration. “I saw a way to solve a problem that was frustrating a lot of people,” he explained.
Using his experience in optical engineering, Raphael came up with a system to fix calibration issues, making cameras and displays produce sharper, more accurate images. “I knew it had potential, and it seemed like a gold mine waiting to be tapped.” And that’s essentially how Hexago Technologies came to be.
Raphael poured his savings into his startup, working on it full-time for a year. But as funds dwindled, he had to take a job at Facebook to keep things afloat.
At Facebook, Raphael worked on the cameras for VR headsets. Though he found the work interesting, the culture wasn’t for him. He disliked the office politics and felt that the company’s approach to solving problems was outdated.
While working at Facebook, he used his spare time to keep pushing his project forward. He figured out ways to automate most of his day job, giving him more time to work on his passion. He had the kind of drive that didn’t allow for downtime. “Once I set up the automation, I could do a month’s worth of work in 20 minutes,” Raphael says, a grin creeping onto his face.
After leaving Facebook, he had a brief stint at Apple, where his expertise in laser safety opened new doors. But he never lost sight of his own company. For two years, he worked on developing his product—constantly testing, refining, and improving it based on feedback from companies that sent him their cameras.
The simplicity of his idea was its genius. Instead of creating complex hardware, Raphael focused on calibration software that could fix the imperfections in cameras and displays—saving companies time and money. His product did the heavy lifting, allowing even lower-end devices to perform as if they were top-tier.
“I’d get sent a new camera and think, ‘How do I fix this?’” he said. He welcomed each challenge, creating new features to solve problems he hadn’t even considered. Soon, big players in the tech industry began taking notice.
Apple was a fast-paced, intense environment, but Raphael found ways to balance the demands of his job with the needs of his startup. It was here that he perfected his technology, getting ready to take it to market.
When asked how he knew his product was ready, Raphael chuckles. “Honestly, I waited for my patent to be approved, and then companies started sending me their cameras. They were like, ‘Fix this, and let’s see what you can do.’”
His customers’ requests pushed him to continue innovating, adding features based on real-world problems. His process was dynamic and responsive, always evolving to meet the needs of his clients.
With a fully developed product and patent in hand, Hexago Technologies is now gaining attention from major camera and lens manufacturers. The calibration system he developed is unlike anything on the market–it fixes flaws in cameras, projectors, and displays, allowing companies to deliver high-quality images without breaking the bank.
For Raphael, the goal isn’t just about making money. He prioritizes working with companies that respect his intellectual property and have proven to be trustworthy. “I would rather not make that short-term money and not get my ideas stolen and replicated,” he said.
Despite his success, Raphael remains grounded. He runs his company alongside his father, making it a family business. His father handles the financial side of the business.
Raphael continues to run his company out of his garage, finding creative ways to source affordable equipment. “You don’t need millions to get started,” he said. “If you’re patient and resourceful, you can build something great with what you have.”
Raphael’s startup - Hexago is still in its early stages, but the future looks bright. He envisions a time when his technology will be used in everything from VR headsets to military equipment, ensuring that images are as clear and accurate as possible.
Looking ahead, he sees endless potential for his technology. “If I can get even 1% of the camera calibration market, that’s huge,” he says. But for Raphael, it’s not just about making money. He’s passionate about solving problems, finding solutions, and making technology work better for everyone. And with his vision, the sky’s the limit.
Raphael’s story is one of persistence–a refusal to give up, even when things got tough. What sets him apart isn’t just his technical skills, but his ability to see opportunities where others see problems. As his company continues to grow, one thing is clear–Raphael isn’t done innovating. He’s just getting started.
You can find the full episode on our YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out and share it with anyone in the optical or tech industries
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