Startup funding options available to immigrant and non-citizen entrepreneurs
Immigrant founders have built some of the most consequential technology companies in the world — from Google and eBay to Stripe and OpenAI. Despite comprising 14% of the US population, immigrants found more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies and a disproportionate share of venture-backed startups. The funding landscape for immigrant founders, however, contains unique complications: visa status affects eligibility for certain grants, equity compensation structure matters for immigration purposes, and building a US investor network from abroad requires deliberate effort. The good news is that US VCs overwhelmingly do not discriminate based on immigration status, and dedicated programs have emerged to support immigrant entrepreneurs specifically.
Federal Agencies
Federal grants are available to lawfully operating US businesses regardless of founder immigration status. A US entity is required, but founders can be any nationality.
New American Economy
Organization supporting immigrant entrepreneurship with research, policy advocacy, and connections to funding resources for immigrant-owned businesses.
Immigrants Rising
Entrepreneurship fund specifically for undocumented immigrants pursuing business ownership. Provides capital, coaching, and community.
Additional opportunities available in our full grants database.
Our VC database contains thousands of verified funds. Use the search below to find investors that match your specific profile.
Search All VC FundsAll nationalities welcome, visa support available
International founders entering US market
50+ global programs, visa-friendly
Immigrant founders in tech
International founders scaling to US market
Browse our full accelerator database for more programs.
Patrick and John Collison (Ireland)
The Collison brothers arrived in the US for college and built Stripe into a $50B+ payments company. Their immigrant perspective on US payment friction was a direct driver of the insight.
Luis von Ahn (Guatemala)
Luis built reCAPTCHA while a PhD student and then founded Duolingo, raising from Google Ventures and NEA before a successful IPO.
A step-by-step fundraising roadmap tailored for immigrant founders.
O-1A (extraordinary ability), EB-1A (extraordinary ability green card), and the International Entrepreneur Rule each have specific paths for startup founders. Consult an immigration attorney before incorporating.
A Delaware C-Corp allows you to receive US venture capital, issue equity to US employees, and apply for federal grants regardless of your personal immigration status.
Immigrants often have access to diaspora investor networks (e.g., Indian Angel Network, Israeli VC community, Chinese VC networks) that can provide early capital with cultural alignment.
Y Combinator, Techstars, and several other accelerators have experience sponsoring O-1 visas for outstanding founders. Acceptance often strengthens your visa application.
If pursuing O-1A, document speaking invitations, press coverage, industry awards, and your role as a critical employee. Raising a funding round significantly strengthens an O-1A application.
Yes. US VC firms regularly invest in companies founded by visa holders and non-US citizens. The company must be incorporated in the US (typically Delaware), but founders can be any nationality.
Common paths include O-1A (extraordinary ability), EB-1A (extraordinary ability green card), E-2 (investor visa for treaty country nationals), L-1 (intracompany transfer), and the International Entrepreneur Rule (parole). An immigration attorney can identify the best path.
Federal grants like SBIR require a US business entity but do not require founders to be US citizens. State grants vary — some require state residency, others focus on the business location rather than founder status.
Significantly yes. A funding round from a reputable VC firm is strong evidence of extraordinary ability for an O-1A application and of economic benefit for the International Entrepreneur Rule.
A DHS program allowing non-citizen entrepreneurs to obtain temporary parole (up to 5 years) to grow a startup in the US if the company has received at least $264,147 from qualifying US investors or $100,000 in government grants.