Identical twin brothers and former Division I wrestlers at The Ohio State University, Derek and Daniel Koch left Columbus, Ohio, for New York City in September 2002 to pursue filmmaking. What began as a creative ambition became a career spanning more than two decades and established them as prominent figures in hospitality and real estate.

 

In New York, the brothers immersed themselves in the city's hospitality scene, training under industry veterans including Philippe Delgrange, Thierry and Bruno Gelromini, Aymeric Clemente, Patrick Cabido, and Jean-Baptiste Parvaix at the Upper East Side French institutions Le Bilboquet and Le Charlot. While studying film at NYU, they served as marketing directors at In The Buzz, promoting landmark nightlife venues including Pink Elephant, Cain, and Pacha, which they opened in December 2005.

 

In 2007, alongside Blake Seo, Frederick, and Laurent Lesort, they launched their first restaurant-club, Jour et Nuit, steps from The Plaza. They converted a 5,000-square-foot underground space into a French American destination, setting a new standard through hands-on management and inventive marketing.

 

The following year, they founded DUAL Groupe, a boutique hospitality marketing firm, and created the now legendary Day & Night event series. Beginning at Merkato 55 in the Meatpacking District, the series ran for five consecutive years across elite Manhattan venues — Cipriani Downtown, The Plaza's Oak Room, and Buddha Bar — before expanding to the Hamptons, St. Barth's, Art Basel Miami, St. Tropez, Cannes, and Sundance, cementing the brothers as international leaders in events.

 

In 2010, they partnered with Russian hospitality group Ginza Project to open MPD, a French boîte that earned a Michelin Recommendation for its DJ-booth-in-the-dining-room concept and drew partnerships with Moët Hennessy USA and Red Bull. They expanded with TOY, an Asian-fusion restaurant-nightclub at Hotel Gansevoort developed with Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management, and Château Cherbuliez, a fine-dining French restaurant inside Peter Gatien's former Limelight nightclub.

 

In 2013, the brothers co-produced the E! series Playing with Fire with Atlas Media — which aired following the Kardashians and now streams on Amazon and Apple — and featured emerging acts such as The Chainsmokers at their events. In 2014, they consulted in Dubai with leading hospitality group Pragma-White Label, and later became creative directors of Space Ibiza New York, the city's largest nightclub opening since Pacha a decade earlier.

 

Across their hospitality careers, the Kochs have conceptualized, branded, operated and owned more than a dozen restaurants and nightclubs and advised luxury brands and industry leaders. Their work has been profiled in The New York Times and the New York Post, and they appeared on Netflix's Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.

 

In 2015, the brothers moved into real estate full-time, joining Douglas Elliman. Working with the Ariel Cohen team, they became top-producing brokers, closing over nine figures in transactions in three years; Derek received the Real Estate Board of New York's Deal of the Year award in 2018. The following year, they joined Compass and partnered with the Toni Haber team.

 

In September 2022, they founded Koch Capital, a real estate investment and venture capital firm. In 2025, they joined 1789 Capital — the venture firm led by Omeed Malik, Paul Abrahimzadeh, and Donald Trump Jr. — as limited partners.

 

In 2025, Daniel — now a licensed agent with eXp Realty specializing in commercial healthcare properties nationwide — was named the firm's top producer by sales volume, closing over $140 million. In June 2026, Derek began leading the sales team at the newly announced NOBU Residences, an ultra-luxury condominium development in downtown Bellevue, WA, under Polaris Pacific. A hotel-resort venture remains part of their long-term vision.

 

Outside of business, the brothers are devoted fathers and husbands who stay active in filmmaking and motivational speaking. Both compete in triathlon, with the goal of qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.