Understand your options
Learn which work authorization paths could fit your situation before you quit a job or incorporate.
See common pathways →You moved here to build. Let's build your network.
A starting point for founders who came to the Bay Area from somewhere else. Find people from your region, capital that understands visas, and local support, all in one place.
Start here
Four steps for your first months
Find your community
Meet people from your region who have made the same move and know the shortcuts.
Browse communities →Find capital that gets it
Some investors back immigrant founders on purpose, and some services specialize in founder visas. Start there.
See capital and support →Use local support
San Francisco has city programs and nonprofits for immigrants, including business owners.
See local resources →
Founder stories
Immigrant founders, winning
More than half of America's billion dollar startups have an immigrant founder. Here's what happens when the founders in our community get in the right room.
One Way Summit 2026 · The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco
Helene Borrmann takes first place
We nominated five founders for One Way Summit, the flagship event for immigrant entrepreneurship hosted by One Way Ventures, where communities including Startup Grind and Plug and Play each put forward their best founders across five categories.
Three of our nominees made it to the summit. Two of them won first place in their category, beating about a dozen top founders each, and earned a spot pitching in the top 10 finals. Then our Health Tech pick, Helene Borrmann of TriasBio, came in first overall.
Health Tech · 1st place overall
Helene Borrmann, TriasBio
Time released medicine using mRNA technology for better efficacy
Consumer · 1st in category
Chloe Fabiani, Paaw.co
Helping shelter pets find their perfect families
Helene first won our Health Tech pitch competition with Berkeley Pharma Tech Foundation, chosen from 200+ applications. Thank you to One Way Ventures for inviting Funding Breakthrough Lab to be a community partner.
Immigrant founder night
Hear the pitch that won TechCrunch
Antonio Forenza, founder of AWEAR and a two time YC founder, shared the two minute pitch that won Best Health Startup at TechCrunch 2025.
Sponsor an immigrant founder nightCommon work pathways
Options founders often explore
A plain language map of the paths you'll hear about most. Every situation is different, so use this to prepare good questions, not to decide.
O-1A
For people with extraordinary ability in business, science or technology. Used by many founders.
E-2 Treaty Investor
For nationals of treaty countries who invest in and run a US business.
L-1A
For managers transferring from a company abroad to its US office.
International Entrepreneur Rule
A form of parole for founders of new US startups that meet investment or grant thresholds.
H-1B
Employer sponsored. Some founders use it through their own company, with conditions.
F-1 OPT
Work time after US study. Some graduates use it to start a company.
EB-2 National Interest Waiver
A green card path for work that benefits the US, without an employer sponsor.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor
A green card path through a qualifying investment that creates US jobs.
General information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often. Check the official USCIS guidance for noncitizen entrepreneurs and talk to a licensed immigration attorney before you act.
Go to uscis.gov → (opens in a new tab)Communities by region
Find people who made the same leap
Groups we know and trust, and who they help. Missing yours? Tell us and we'll add it.
Africa
Leading Change Africa (opens in a new tab)Nonprofit developing young African leaders through education, mentorship, accelerators and entrepreneurship
Europe
INNOVIT (opens in a new tab)Italian startups and small businesses expanding into Silicon Valley, at the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub in North Beach
Canada
Canadian Technology Accelerator (opens in a new tab)Canadian tech, health and climate companies growing into the Bay Area, run by the Consulate General of Canada
Pathway to Silicon Valley (opens in a new tab)Female founders from around the world, especially Canada, meeting US investors, mentors and executives. Run by Joanne Fedeyko and Connection Silicon Valley
Asia
JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) (opens in a new tab)The Japanese government agency helping Japanese startups and companies expand into the US, with programs like the Global Acceleration Hub in Silicon Valley and J-Startup
Capital and support
Money and help that understand your situation
Venture capital Unshackled Ventures
Pre-seed fund that invests only in immigrant founders and helps with visa sponsorship and immigration support.
Visit Unshackled Ventures → (opens in a new tab)Venture capital Geek Ventures
Fund built by immigrants that backs immigrant entrepreneurs with capital and connections.
Visit Geek Ventures → (opens in a new tab)Venture capital One Way Ventures
Pre-seed and seed fund backing exceptional immigrant founders in the US, and the team behind One Way Summit.
Visit One Way Ventures → (opens in a new tab)Visa filing OpenSphere
AI assisted O-1A, EB-1A and EB-2 NIW filings with verified attorneys, starting with a free evaluation.
Visit OpenSphere → (opens in a new tab)Official guide USCIS: Options for entrepreneurs
The government's own overview of visa and green card pathways for founders who want to build in the US.
Visit USCIS: Options for entrepreneurs → (opens in a new tab)
Local resources
San Francisco has your back
The City's Immigrant Services and Resources hub, run by the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, lists free and low cost legal help, economic and workforce programs, language support and know your rights information.
Run a community for immigrant founders?
Get listed here and co-host events with Breakthrough Lab.
Get listed