The Vertical

The Vertical’s Investor Breakfast Explores Africa’s AI Education Boom

Investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders gathered last week at Civic Hall for The Vertical’s ‘Investor Breakfast: Opportunities in Africa’s AI Education Boom’ to explore how technology is reshaping education across the continent.

Immigrant-owned startups barred from SBA loans starting March 1

Under revised guidance, a small business will be ineligible for an SBA loan if a noncitizen, including a green card holder, owns even 1% of the company. How will this change affect startups with foreign-born co-founders or investors?

Not ‘the Masters of the Universe’: How Trump’s Policies Affect International Founders

Startups are feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, as attorneys report that international founders face longer processing times and ‘crazy’ reasons for visa denials.

Italian Robotics Firm Oversonic Opens LA Hub, Expands U.S. Reach via NantWorks

Oversonic Robotics, an Italian developer of cognitive humanoid robotics, has opened a 5,000-square-foot office in Los Angeles to support its expansion into the U.S. market. The site will serve as a hub for medical robotics development and national growth.

12 International Innovations That Stole the Show at CES 2026

From panda-shaped caregiving robots to ultra-thin batteries, Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcased a new wave of international innovation. Here are our top global picks from this year’s show.

International Tech Eyes U.S. Chip Market. What’s Standing in the Way?

New semiconductor mega-projects — including Micron’s $100  billion megafab in New York and TSMC’s $165  billion expansion in Arizona — are drawing international companies to the U.S. But potential deals remain tentative amid political uncertainty and a tight labor market.

New York Opens Doors to Global Startups Through SOSA Program

SOSA Accelerator is now accepting applications for growth-stage startups to join its International Landing Pad Network (ILPN), in partnership with NYCEDC.

Dragon’s Curse: U.S. Biotech and Chinese Investment Dilemma

Chinese investors are filling the funding gap in U.S. biotech, but the risks of their capital extend beyond geopolitics. One medtech company’s struggle reveals the hidden costs.

ICE raid at Hyundai-LG battery plant highlights U.S. visa risks for global tech

More than 300 South Korean workers detained by U.S. immigration authorities last week have returned home, but the incident has unnerved investors. Immigration lawyers insist most workers complied with U.S. law, raising questions about how the arrests were handled.

Almost 50% of Israel’s Startups Incorporate Abroad, NYC Emerges as Top Destination

The center of gravity for Israeli tech is shifting across the Atlantic. According to a new study, 45% of about 460 startups established this year incorporated abroad, primarily in the U.S.

“Digital Ellis Island” Welcome Tech tops $80.5M with latest $7.5M raise

Welcome Tech is betting on AI to scale its workforce engagement platform, which connects millions of immigrant households to jobs, healthcare, and financial tools.

Israeli Aerospace Startup AIR Lands $23 M for U.S. Expansion

AIR has secured $23 million in Series A funding to accelerate its U.S. expansion and scale production of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The round brings AIR’s total raised capital to around $50 million.

“You don’t look the part”: The Pakistani founder who cracked the U.S. sales code

“You’re brown and from Pakistan — hire someone local,” they said. Khurram Kalimi, co-founder of Vinn Corp, didn’t listen — and generated $1.2 million in U.S. sales in his first year. Here’s how he did it.

International Investors Rethink Energy Strategies as AI Spurs Demand

As AI’s energy demands surge, international investors are doubling down on grid reliability and supply chain resilience.

Trump’s Megabill: What It Means for International Founders and VCs

On Tuesday, the Senate passed the latest version of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBB), with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. So, what does this mean for international entrepreneurs, startup founders, and foreign investors doing business in the U.S.?

LA’s ‘Most Flammable’ Car: Why Waymo’s Founder Sebastian Thrun Supports Immigration

Burned and vandalized Waymo robotaxis have become symbols of LA’s outrage over Trump’s immigration crackdown. Less widely known is that Sebastian Thrun, Waymo’s German-born founder, has been a longstanding advocate for immigration.

Immigration in Flux: 12 Countries Barred from U.S., Trump’s Gold Card Plan in Limbo

President Donald Trump is doubling down on hardline immigration policy, introducing a travel ban targeting 12 nations while promoting a $5 million “Gold Card” visa aimed at ultra-wealthy foreigners. One blocks the desperate; the other courts the elite — yet both face backlash and legal hurdles.

Demystifying Corporate Venture Capital: Here’s What Founders Need to Know.