Victoria Zavyalova

The Vertical’s Immigrant Founders Report is the first in-depth examination of international talent in the U.S. startup ecosystem.

More than six years ago Slovakia-born lawyer Olga Ayo found herself with a newborn, no means of income or work authorization. She navigated the complexities of U.S. immigration on her own — and succeeded. This experience inspired her to establish her own legal practice and launch a platform to…

From baby pajamas to burgers, many items that we purchase are linked to modern slavery at some point in their supply chains. To tackle forced labor, Congolese-French entrepreneur Déborah Wanza launched a brand accountability startup in Miami. The country of her birth, the Republic of Congo, is the leading…

Serial entrepreneur Sam Jean began his journey helping children and adults with mental health issues and addiction. Today, he simultaneously runs several startups and nonprofits in Miami, striving to make an impact. 

Last year was a nonstop rollercoaster ride featuring AI hype, the startup scamming pandemic, SVB apocalypse, and the WeWork bankruptcy. Check out some of the top stories we covered in 2023.

These three women stand at the center of a major technological shift, changing how the creative economy operates. In their pursuit of success, they first needed to rewire their minds and cultivate new beliefs.

These immigrant women entrepreneurs are leaders in one of the world’s most significant, fastest-growing industries. The global big data market is projected to reach more than $473 billion by 2030.

During lockdowns in major tech hubs such as New York and Boston, VCs and founders from around the world found refuge in Florida’s warm embrace. What’s next for this wild west of entrepreneurship now that the pandemic is over and the U.S. economy starts to slow down?

These three ambitious immigrant women were inspired by their adversity. They launched businesses that now help others avoid having to suffer through the same tribulations.

These women tech founders sold their businesses, raised capital, and launched new products while having their newborns. They are also determined to better the world for their children.

These immigrant women have surmounted prejudice, social injustice, institutional barriers, and fierce competition. Today their startups are thriving.

Until recently, Central Asia remained a blank spot on the world’s tech map. However, as startup infrastructure develops in the region, increasing numbers of local entrepreneurs are aiming to launch their solutions in the U.S. and globally. 

Young LatinX entrepreneurs created an anti-bullying platform to reduce the risk of violent and aggressive behavior in children. So far, their solution, available in 165 U.S. schools, detected around 1000 risk situations, including cyberbullying.

Elohor Thomas, co-founder at an online talent marketplace for developers, says U.S. businesses are still surprised to discover…

Ksenia Yudina, the founder of a FinTech startup helping parents save for their children, moved to the U.S.…

Although at least one third of U.S. tech startups were launched by immigrant entrepreneurs, these founders are often…

When Russia invaded Ukraine, many tech companies were caught up in the chaos — and now they’re dealing…

Joe Duarte, a Portuguese-American entrepreneur with hearing loss, made it his life’s mission to empower those like him. Together with Joseph Lee, a former engineer at Samsung, he developed technology to make phone calls easier for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. During the pandemic, their app, called InnoCaption, saw a…

Coming from non-traditional backgrounds, immigrant and minority VCs are open to investing into overlooked niches. Three newly-established funds are aiming to foster sustainability within the global supply chain, which has recently been disrupted by the pandemic.

With its warm weather, lack of state income tax, and low coronavirus restrictions, Miami is the latest destination for investors and tech executives. Could the city become an alternative to New York and Silicon Valley?