Entrepreneurs 2 | The Vertical

South Korean Startups in the U.S.: Finding Life Beyond the Valley

For many Korean startups, securing funding and gaining traction in the U.S. is a major milestone, often seen as a sign of success back home. Like many international companies, Korean tech entrepreneurs have long viewed Silicon Valley as their ultimate ambition. But some investors argue that New York City might offer new opportunities for Korean founders.

Trump vs. Harris: What the Election Means for International Tech Founders

With E-day upon us, immigrant entrepreneurs — many of whom cannot vote — must navigate the implications of how Americans cast their ballots. What is to be expected depending on who wins?

Left to right: Morielle Lotan/MILE Advisory, Anya Freeman/Kind Designs, Abijit Aji/Gradiant, Chris Van de Voorde/JUNOO, Pooja Khsola/Entelligent, Timur Davis/Munich Re Ventures. Credit: Andrii Dorosh, The Vertical

Cracking ClimateTech: How International Startups Raise Capital

In the first half of 2024, American VCs invested a whopping $6.7 billion into ClimateTech deals, according to PitchBook. How can international founders tap into U.S. funding?

Katya Stelmakh. Credit: Stelmakh & Associates

How Katya Stelmakh became the go-to immigration attorney for the venture ecosystem

Katya Stelmakh leveraged her international background, VC connections, and tech startup experience to build a successful business immigration law practice.

Over 50% of top climate risk software startups are led by international entrepreneurs

More than half of climate risk software companies, which collectively have raised over $930 million in the past

International Innovators to Meet U.S. Capital at This Season’s Must-Attend Climate Event

Global startups, U.S. investors, and nonprofits will come together for International Innovators Meet U.S. Capital on September 25 at Civic Hall during Climate Week NYC.

Where’s Ilya? The immigrant founder behind Safe Superintelligence

Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s co-founder, is one of the most enigmatic figures in the AI industry. How did his background shape his vision and pursuit of safe technology?

Israel InsurTech Map Points to the U.S. Venture Ecosystem

FinTLV, a global VC fund, has unveiled a new interactive Israeli InsurTech Map, which includes U.S.-based companies.

The Vertical announces IMMIGRANT FOUNDERS REPORT 2024. Showcase your leadership in supporting diversity

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

Olga Ayo, Founder and CEO, Citizen Concierge. Credit: Citizen Concierge

From attorney to startup founder: Olga Ayo challenges status quo with technology

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 simplify the visa application process for others.

Can technology end modern slavery? This Congolese founder holds brands accountable.

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 supplier of cobalt for smartphones, often mined by children who toil in inhumane conditions.

Top 5 organizations helping African entrepreneurs scale globally

There’s plenty of innovation in Africa. But why does it rarely make it across international borders? Who is helping African founders to overcome the barriers?

“Sam is the community”: How a Haitian-born entrepreneur runs five businesses

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.

The pitfalls of mentorship and “Smart Money” in startups

Leaning too heavily on a mentor’s guidance can foster unhealthy dependency, impede necessary pivots, and stifle innovation, writes serial entrepreneur Michael Burtov. What are the red flags?

Israeli-American startups: When “business as usual” is not an option

The war in Gaza has hurt the interconnected American-Israeli tech ecosystem, but there’s still opportunity for growth, say entrepreneurs and experts.

Why is AI dominated by immigrant entrepreneurs?

Immigrants have founded or co-founded nearly two-thirds of the leading AI companies in the U.S. What’s driving so many foreign-born entrepreneurs to get into this field?

What’s up with the ten immigrant-led unicorns 500 Global invested in?

Over the years, the early-stage venture capital firm 500 Global (previously 500 Startups) has invested in early stage entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. Some didn’t have ‘the right face’ for other VCs.

3 immigrant fempreneurs reshaping North America’s creative and media industries

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.

Are startups overly dependent on Big Tech? A case for digital sovereignty.

Startups have always been entwined in a complex web of reliance on tech giants. But this dependence seems to be growing as the global tech industry matures, writes serial entrepreneur Michael Burtov. What risks might immigrant entrepreneurs expect to face in the U.S.?

Underfunded, Underrepresented: Latinx founders forge paths in the U.S. venture ecosystem

Latinx-owned businesses are the fastest-growing demographic among all U.S. entrepreneurs, according to reports. However, less than 1% of funds from the top 25 venture capital and private equity firms have invested in Latinx-led enterprises. Why does this lack of Latinx-led business funding persist?