Entrepreneurship Guidance

Guide to starting a US company as an international founder. Here are ALL your options: —O-1A /EB-1A visa —International Entrepreneur Rule —H-4, dependent on your spouse —US citizen cofounder with transition timeline —E-2 Treaty investor (not Indian / Chinese) —EB-5 investor O-1A/EB-1A visa - For founders with "extraordinary ability" - Need press, awards, high salary, patents - Can own & operate your company - Start building evidence NOW - EB-1A = permanent version (green card) International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) - Need $264K+ from qualified US investors - OR $105K+ in govt grants - Must own 10%+ of startup - 2.5 years + 2.5 year extension https://lnkd.in/ghcGkyEk H-4 EAD (Dependent Work Authorization) - For spouses of H-1B holders with green card process - Full work authorization - Can operate company - BUT depends on spouse maintaining status US Citizen Co-founder Path 1. They operate initially (51%+) 2. You maintain minority stake + advisor role 3. Transition control as you get work auth 4. Can be on H-1B or keep concurrent cap-exempt H-1B for safety Critical: Clear agreements + control docs E-2 Treaty Investor - Must be from treaty country (not India/China) - "Substantial" investment ($100K+ typical) - Must own 50%+ of company - Renewable indefinitely - Faster processing than most options EB-5 ($800K-$1.05M investment) - Direct path to green card - Full business control - Create 10+ US jobs - Faster option if capital available - No country caps except China Key Tips for all paths: - Start gathering evidence early - Document EVERYTHING - Get immigration counsel first - Build network/advisory board - Consider future transition plans Many billion-dollar companies were started by immigrant founders who navigated these exact paths. Complex but doable with planning. This is not legal advice. Always consult an immigration attorney.

Big News for H-1B Visa Holders - DHS has confirmed that H-1B visa holders can now own and operate their own company, even if they own 100% of the business! For years, many H-1B visa holders believed they couldn’t pursue their entrepreneurial dreams while on the visa. But that’s no longer the case! The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that H-1B visa holders can now own and operate their own company, even if they own 100% of the business! This is a game-changer for entrepreneurs on H-1B, and it opens up exciting new opportunities for those who want to build startups in the U.S. What’s New? Previously, many believed that the H-1B visa restricted holders to working for an employer and prohibited them from starting or running their own business. Now, with this new clarification, H-1B holders can start a business, as long as certain criteria are met. Why is this Important? Ownership: You can own 100% of your company without needing a co-founder or partner. Spouse’s Work Authorization: If your I-140 petition is approved, your spouse can get work authorization through the H-4 EAD (Employment Authorization Document). No Need for Extraordinary Skills: Unlike the O-1 visa, which requires proof of extraordinary ability, you don’t need to meet that high bar. The H-1B visa now allows regular skilled workers to become entrepreneurs too. Eligibility Criteria To qualify for starting your own business on an H-1B, you’ll need to meet some basic conditions: Legitimate Business: Your company must be legally registered, have a solid business plan, and show legal presence in the U.S. Salary Requirements: You must be paid at least the minimum wage for your job within the company. The salary must be reasonable and comparable to industry standards. Role Alignment: The role you play in the business should be closely related to your educational background (i.e., your job should match your degree). Costs Involved Starting a business and applying for an H-1B isn’t cheap, but it’s definitely doable. Here are the costs: Incorporating your company: ₹41,000 (approx.) H-1B filing fee: ₹1,65,000 (approx.) Premium processing: ₹2,05,000 Lawyer fees: ₹1,20,000 to ₹5,80,000 (depending on the attorney you hire) What Are the Catchpoints? While this new rule is fantastic for aspiring entrepreneurs, there are still some important things to consider: Lottery system: You still need to be selected in the annual H-1B lottery, which means not everyone will be approved. Proof of Financial Stability: You must demonstrate that your company can pay you a salary for at least 3 years. (Working part-time is an option to reduce costs and stretch your budget.) "Fireable" Requirement: As a founder, you must still be "fireable" from your company. This is typically managed by setting up a board of directors that has the authority to remove you if needed.

In 1992, I arrived in Silicon Valley from Iran with $700, unable to speak English and knowing only a handful of people. My first home here? An attic above a yogurt shop where I worked. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. That attic was the foundation of a journey that would lead me from working at a car wash to becoming a seed investor in some of the world’s leading companies, like Dropbox and DoorDash. Here are a few lessons from that journey: 1. Solve Real Problems, Not Just Big Ideas The best entrepreneurs are deeply connected to the problems they’re solving. It’s not about chasing the “next big thing” but addressing a real, specific issue. Start with a problem you’ve experienced firsthand and understand deeply. 2. Perseverance Is Key I’ve learned that building anything worthwhile is hard, often unpredictable. Setbacks are part of the journey, and success comes to those who adapt and keep pushing forward. When I struggled, it was my commitment that kept me going. 3. Strong Co-Founder Chemistry Matters Founding a company is a long, challenging journey. Teams with a history of working well together tend to weather storms better. Chemistry and mutual trust among co-founders are invaluable assets. 4. Be in It for the Right Reasons The best founders think long-term. Their drive isn’t just about quick financial wins; it’s about making an impact. Focus on creating value—whether that’s through happier users, meaningful jobs, or industry transformation. 5. Stay Paranoid (in a Good Way) A little paranoia can be healthy. The best founders plan meticulously, double-check every step, and make decisions carefully. Yet, this caution is balanced with kindness—a quality I look for in leaders who inspire loyalty in their teams. 6. Never Give Up My journey began with hope and the belief that I could make something of myself. Today, I’m grateful for that hope and resilience. From that yogurt shop attic to investing in groundbreaking companies, I’ve learned that every humble beginning holds the potential for greatness if you stay focused, work hard, and never, ever give up.

I’ve been an entrepreneur for over a decade, and now run 3 companies that collectively do multiple 8-figures in revenue. Here are the 15 things I wish I knew before I started my businesses: #1 Hire fast, fire faster, promote fastest. Your team is the lifeblood of your business. Lockup winners and discard losers. Promote from within, and let go of those who aren’t contributing. Don’t waste time on being the “fairest boss ever,” focus on building a winning team. #2 Be passionate about retention. While recruitment, growth, and revenue are essential, don’t forget about retention – it’s the most important “R!” Happy customers are your best ambassadors, so focus on keeping them satisfied and loyal. #3 Don’t take money off the table too early. Reinvest your earnings into your business and build for value, not cash. Be patient and aim for long-term gains rather than short-term profits. #4 Ideas mean nothing without planning and execution. Great ideas are a dime a dozen; what matters is putting them into action. Develop processes to plan and execute your ideas. #5 Progress before goals. Goals are important, but obsessing over them can be counterproductive. Focus on making progress every day, and the goals will take care of themselves. #6 Stop comparing and start creating. Don’t let comparisons to others stifle your creativity. Embrace your uniqueness and focus on building your own business empire. #7 Be long term greedy. Make sacrifices today for the long-term success of your business. Your future self will thank you for it. #8 Bet on yourself first. Trust yourself above all others; you’re the only person you have full control over. #9 Speed to lead above all else. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress. Be quick, decisive, and agile in all aspects of your business. #10 Focus on the horizon, not the competition. Keep your eyes on your goals and don’t get bogged down in comparing yourself to others. (They’re probably just as worried about you!) #11 Everyone should be uniquely qualified to work with you. Don’t just hire the smart or passionate; hire those who are uniquely qualified for the job. #12 Supply customers with the absolute most value for the lowest possible cost. This one is self-explanatory. In the early stages, focus on expanding and brand. #13 MIT: Market Idea Team Analyze every business opportunity by considering the market (what's the market and how big is it?), idea (what's the idea, and is it a good one?), and team (who's actually going to do the work?). All three are crucial to success. #14 Give customers what they want, not what you think they need. Don’t assume you know what your customers need; ask them! Surveys are your friend - listen to customer feedback and adjust your offerings accordingly. #15 Treat everyone with respect - even the assholes. Even the most difficult customers and employees deserve respect. Treat everyone fairly, and life will reward you.

To immigrants who were laid off: here’s an in-depth guide w resources. Bookmark this. In 2024, about 150,000 people were laid off, with at least 10-20% being immigrants facing the daunting prospect of leaving the country within 60 days. You've built a life here, and suddenly, everything feels uncertain. But uncertainty doesn't mean defeat—most of the time. Below are some of your options to stay back, start companies, & explore job boards that can help: ✅ Strategies to stay back: 6 ideas: - Request "garden leave" from your employer (they keep you on payroll for an extra month or two) - If married to an H-1B holder with approved I-140, shift to H-4 visa & get an EAD - Shift to a B-2 visitor visa temporarily via Change of Status (you can also renew it after 6 months) - Return to school on an F-1 visa for a year (Change of Status) - Switch to a cap-exempt H-1B by working for a uni/hospital/non-profit research org - Apply for the O-1 visa through an agent (which has no cap or min. salary) ✅ Becoming an entrepreneur: Layoffs might be your unexpected launch pad as an entrepreneur. Consider these VC firms specifically supporting immigrant founders: - Born Global Ventures - Unshackled Ventures - One Way Ventures - AI2 Incubator - MARL Accelerator - Day One Ventures - Underscore VC - TiE Silicon Valley - Amplify Partners - Global Founders Capital ✅ Relevant job boards for immigrants: These are ones that at least say they offer sponsorships: - MyVisaJobs.com - H1BVisaJobs.com - H1BGrader - TechFetch.com - On Demand Tech Workforce hiring platform - Glassdoor (https://shorturl.at/gDeRw) Finally, if you find the new job post 60-days, apply for an H-1B transfer away, and cross the RFE bridge when you get to it. P.S. This isn't legal advice, but rather insights based on my research. 👉 Follow me for insights on job search, immigration, and entrepreneurship! #immigration #visastrategies #techLayoffs #entrepreneurship #unshackled #1000daysoflove #writing #author #america #india

Unlock Your Inner Founder: How to Think Like a Founder 👇 Whether you’re building your own company or excelling in your current role, adopting a founder’s mindset can help you see opportunities, solve problems, and lead with purpose. Use these tips to shift into Founder Mode and think like a true entrepreneur! 🚀 Tip 1: Spot Everyday Problems Train yourself to notice inefficiencies or recurring frustrations in daily life. Whether it’s a clunky process at work or a common issue people complain about, these problems are often the seeds of great ideas. 🚀 Tip 2: Focus on Solutions, Not Obstacles When faced with challenges, shift your mindset to “How can I fix this?” instead of “Why is this happening?” Founders thrive by turning roadblocks into opportunities for innovation. 🚀 Tip 3: Take Ownership of Everything You Do Approach your work as if you own the company. Take responsibility for outcomes, big or small, and hold yourself to the highest standard. This level of accountability builds trust and sets you apart as a leader. 🚀 Tip 4: Embrace Risk and Learn from Failure Founders don’t fear failure—they see it as a stepping stone to success. Take calculated risks, analyze what went wrong when things don’t work out, and use those lessons to improve future decisions. 🚀 Tip 5: Develop a Long-Term Vision Think beyond immediate results and focus on the bigger picture. Ask yourself how today’s decisions align with your long-term goals or the mission of your organization. A clear vision will guide your priorities and keep you motivated. 🚀 Tip 6: Stay Curious and Keep Learning Founders are lifelong learners who seek out new knowledge and perspectives. Read books, listen to podcasts, attend events, and ask questions that challenge conventional thinking. Curiosity fuels creativity and growth. 🚀 Tip 7: Build Strong Relationships Surround yourself with people who inspire, challenge, and support you. Network with mentors, peers, and collaborators who can offer insights and help you grow personally and professionally. 🚀 Tip 8: Act Fast on Ideas Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment—start testing your ideas now. Founders know that action beats overthinking every time. Even small steps forward can help validate an idea or reveal the next move. 🚀 Tip 9: Balance Empathy with Tough Decisions Great founders lead with emotional intelligence but aren’t afraid to make difficult calls when necessary. Balance empathy for others with objectivity to ensure decisions are fair and aligned with your goals. 🚀 Tip 10: Stay Resilient and Adaptable The entrepreneurial journey is full of twists and turns—stay flexible and open to change. Resilience helps you push through challenges while adaptability ensures you’re ready for whatever comes next. 👉 Follow me for more tips on thinking like a founder! 🔄 Share this post to inspire others to embrace their inner entrepreneur!

Here’s 3 limiting beliefs that’ve held me back as an entrepreneur: Hopefully you can learn from my brain damage: 1. Nobody can do this as well as me I’ve worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and this is by far the most pervasive limiting belief. The frustrating thing is, in the beginning, you’re probably right. You’ve worn every hat in the business and performed every task countless times. Also, you’re the owner which means you’re uniquely incentivized to care about the output of your work. And to make matters worse, you’ve probably never systematized what you do or how you do it… and so in the beginning, you SUCK at training people. Which means they inevitably fail to live up to this lofty standard you’ve set. Most entrepreneurs take this as proof that “it’s impossible to find good help these days” and then make the decision that it’s better to stay where they are… But the problem isn’t with the people you’re hiring. It’s with the systems you’ve created and with your ability to communicate/train those systems. Mastering the two skills of systems building and training is the secret to breaking through. 2. I can't afford to... The best entrepreneurs are scrappy and resourceful. They figure out how to stretch a dollar to its absolute limit. At Escape Climbing, we focused on hiring MacGyver, not Batman… Because MacGyver figures out how to do more with less, whereas Batman just throws money at the problem. Now, this works… but only up to a point. Because, unfortunately every business comes to an inflection point where the only solution is to throw money at the problem. For instance: Hiring A-players is 3-5x more expensive than hiring B-players… But there’s an exponential difference in the potential upside. Truth is, there's only two times to hire: 1. Too soon 2. Too late The cost of hiring too soon is capital. The cost of hiring too late is missed opportunities. As a general rule: The cost of the second is almost always greater than the cost of the first. When viewed through this lens, the limiting belief becomes: “I can’t afford NOT to…” 3. We need more products to grow… Building out a robust product offering feels like low hanging fruit for increasing lifetime customer value. But what often gets missed is the increased complexity spawning from each additional product. Here's how this usually plays out: Revenues don’t grow proportionally as expected… and expenses balloon. Now you have shrinking margins coupled with increasing operational complexity. Bummer… Truth is, most businesses should focus on delivering fewer products at an exceptional level. Instead of coming up with more products to sell your existing customers… Just go find MORE customers for your current products. Focus on nothing else until you hit at least $10M in revenue. *** There are two more limiting beliefs I see holding most entrepreneurs back. I broke’em down in a recent podcast. Comment “BELIEFS” and I’ll hook you up with the link.

In 66 months, I helped grow Gong from $200k ARR to $7.2B in valuation and worked alongside some of the planet's best sales leaders. Here's the 6 biggest lessons I learned: 1. Overinvest in great marketing early on. I’m still shocked at how few startups do this. Sales with no (effective) marketing early on to pave demand and provide air-cover is a brute-force way to build. 2. Measure twice, cut once when hiring leaders. Your first leadership hires will have cascading effects on your company that ripple through many years. Their fingerprints will weigh heavy on everything from your sales motion, to company culture, to the people they hire, whether you want it to or not. Even after they’re gone. Recruit and hire accordingly. 3. Beat the hell out of what’s working. Finding what works in growing a startup is like drilling for oil. You’re going to drill a number of "wells" and come up dry. But soon, you’ll find one to go DEEP with. Drill it for all it’s worth. Don’t screw around trying to find too many other oil wells when you haven’t even maxed out your best one. 4. Hire salespeople who thrive on ambiguity. Not just those who CAN do that, but those who LOVE to do it (because they'll be doing this for a while as your market evolves). Do this, and you’ll accelerate your learning curve to a repeatable sales motion. Hire entrepreneurial reps. 5. Inject risk into the business as you scale. As you scale, your “portfolio” of growth initiatives should contain more and more risk. It's as if you're a fund manager. Early on, find what works and cling to it. But as you grow and you’re able to rely on several well-established growth vectors, start to introduce risk into your portfolio. Examples: Experimenting with channel partnerships, international, new segments of the market or use cases. 6. Realize the "growth at scale" playbook is different than the "scale up" and "startup" playbooks. What got you to $50M or $100M will not get you to the next level by itself. The path to $100M, and going beyond that (“growth-at-scale”) are two very different situations demanding different means of growing. Early on, nothing matters but (the right) customer acquisition, controlling churn, and making your product absolutely amazing. But if you’re going to continue growing at a fast rate, several other methods have to start firing: high net dollar retention (NDR), multi-product and multiple streams of ARR, going hard and fast on international expansion, and crossing the chasm into “low tech” industries. This list is non-exhaustive. For those of you who have ridden that tornado, what would you add? P.S. Turn "open opps" into paying customers at any phase of growth with these 10 closing motion scripts: https://lnkd.in/gtxYd9Vs

You spend 8 hours a day on someone else's dream. Try spending 1 on your own: 9-to-5s are riskier than ever. Each year brings new mass layoffs, And AI is a lurking threat. While you don't need to quit your day job or start to panic,  You should be building a side hustle. Something that gives you ownership, flexibility, and purpose. This post breaks down how to tackle my favorite one - Buying a business - In just 1 hour per day. Truth be told, acquiring small businesses is now my full-time job, And my side hustle is creating content like this. But buying businesses started as my side hustle. And here's my exact, 10-step playbook: 1. Know the Myths Myth: You need an MBA or finance background ↳Fact: Most small business owners have neither Myth: You need to be rich ↳Fact: Most purchases are financed Myth: It's way too risky! ↳Fact: There's definite risk (as there is with 9-to-5s too) - starting as a side hustle reduces that 2. Define Your Why Your goal informs your strategy. Do you want to: ↳Eventually quit your job and do this full time? ↳Just build passive income? ↳Be your own boss, with ownership and flexibility? ↳Diversify your investments? ↳Be an entrepreneur but avoid the startup grind? 3. Know Your Limits Keep these in mind as you start searching. Be honest with yourself and write down: ↳How many hours you can commit ↳How much money you are willing to invest ↳What your skills and blind spots are relevant to running a business ↳What your risk tolerance is 4. Start Searching There's no commitment in looking. Where to explore: ↳BizBuySell - marketplace for local businesses ↳Quiet Light / Empire Flippers - for online businesses ↳Local brokers - Google "business broker [your city]" ↳Off-market - CPAs, bankers, lawyers - and talk to small business owners 5. Dig Into Deals Find several that fit your answers to number 3, and dive deeper: ↳Review P&Ls and financial statements ↳Look at their website, storefront, and customer reviews ↳Check customer concentration ↳Ask the owner why they're selling -Retirement = green flag -Anything else - ask more questions to ensure they're not running from a sinking ship 6. Explore Funding You don't need to buy in cash: ↳Small business loans can cover up to 90% ↳Traditional loans are also an option ↳Some seller financing is common (don't ask right away - build rapport first) ↳Consider friends, family, or colleagues as investors in exchange for equity 7. Be Picky Look for: ↳Boring businesses with steady cash flow (ex: HVAC, plumbing, cleaning, landscaping, auto repair, pest control) ↳Limited owner involvement or the cash flow necessary to hire a manager ↳Recurring customers ↳Low staff turnover / easy hiring ↳High margins [See infographic for 8, 9, and 10] Don't wait for opportunity to come knocking. Start building yours today. Have you thought about buying a business before? --- ♻️ Repost to share this with others. And follow me George Stern for more.

All startups are not all created equal. Here are 10 takeaways from my own experience that have shaped my view on how you should think about building and scaling. 1. Invest in brand from day one. You will regret it if you don't (more on this later). Investment can be strategic. 2. Think strategically about your board and VCs. It's best to have people surrounding you that can look to the future of your industry, other industries and really push you as a business. 3. Raise when the sun is shining. If you require capital to fuel growth (also I applaud and now look to models that can bootstrap to $$), raise when the sun is shining. Raise when numbers are up and to the right. Or when your competitors are doing the same... you don't want to be the last man standing. 4. Cost centers will become increasingly scrutinized so think about margins day one. If you don't this will come back to haunt you and will require a large (or impossible) course correction later down the line. 5. Right people, right seats. Early on in a startup, it's easy to juggle and move people around to meet the needs of the business, but as you scale, you need to realize that some early employees will not be able to grow into the roles required for the business to reach the next phase. 6. Fire toxic employees early. There's nothing worse then letting an unhappy employee fester within an organization for too long. It can cause irreparable damage to the culture if issues aren't addressed. 7. Focus on the right things. There are SO many distractions that it can be easy to fall victim to the "look everywhere" syndrome, but ruthless prioritization is required for success. 8. One thing will not "save" your business. You need to be firing on all cylinders, with many of your bets paying off. This takes time and investment.. it's not a miracle that will happen overnight. 9. Think about your exit early. Think about the numbers an acquirer or public markets will care about. If your margins are terrible, you're going to need other X factors to get preferred multiples. This is where momentum and brand comes in. 10. Urgency is everything. Creating a culture of urgency is mission critical. Urgency drives things forward, it creates momentum, it allows you to avoid complacency and stagnation. Of course, not EVERYTHING is equal when it comes to prioritization of urgent tasks, but I'm convinced you can't build successful company without it. Anything you would add?