Entrepreneurs 4 | The Vertical

She who rules the data: 3 immigrant female entrepreneurs in Big Data

- Entrepreneurs
- Ideas

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.

Innovation in disguise: How “off-label” thinking fuels success

- Entrepreneurs

Most people are familiar with "off-label" drug use. Applying the same concept, with its ingenuity and problem-solving capabilities, to innovation could help immigrant entrepreneurs to succeed. But this mindset has potential drawbacks, says serial entrepreneur Michael Burtov.

The second mouse gets the cheese: The myth of “first-mover advantage.”

Startups from Asia and Eastern Europe have been borrowing and successfully localizing ideas from their U.S. counterparts for years. In fact, there are advantages to being a “second mover”, says serial entrepreneur Michael Burtov. This strategy can be especially beneficial for startups founded by immigrants.

3 Tips to help founders build productive bonds with mentors

Great mentorship is often a game-changer for international founders launching a new business in unfamiliar terrain. Whether you are looking for an expert in your industry or someone who appreciates the nuances of your immigrant background, you need the right strategy. Katja Wald, an expert in coaching programs for entrepreneurs, shares three tips for building exceptional synergy with a mentor.

Female developer uses Tech to preserve ancient Asian language

- Entrepreneurs

When two-year-old Annie Vang and her family came to the U.S. from Southeast Asia, the Hmong refugees left their ancestral home and much of their culture behind. She later learned to code and created an app to keep her language and heritage alive.

I almost joined the Newchip accelerator right before it collapsed. Was it a scam? Here’s what I recommend to other founders.

The recent collapse of Newchip, one of the world’s biggest accelerators, was a shock to the venture ecosystem. Bjorn Erik Hansen, founder and CEO at INTIEM, an AI-based SexTech solution, believes the organization's business model was an intentional deception. Just a few days before news of the bankruptcy became public, his Miami-based startup had said "no" to joining Newchip’s new cohort.

Do investors steal the ideas you pitch them? Yes, all the time, and here’s why.

- Entrepreneurs
- Ideas

Tales about devious investors conniving to take advantage of aspiring entrepreneurs have been circulating in the tech community for a while. Most founders dismiss such stories as urban legends, but in fact, some VCs do steal ideas from early stage startups in order to boost their own struggling portfolio companies. Immigrant entrepreneurs, who have limited access to capital and are often overly eager to find an investor, should approach fundraising with caution, warns Michael Burtov, a star mentor and lifelong entrepreneur.

Florida has earned a name as a global startup destination. But can it keep the party going?

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?

Immigrant entrepreneurs created ChatGPT. Is AI a superior alternative to our flawed systems or a dystopian hellscape?

Artificial intelligence (AI) recently entered the long list of epoch-making technological innovations credited to the hard work of immigrant founders. ChatGTP, which was developed by Open AI, a company that was launched by an international team, has been making headlines over the past few months. Mike Burtov, a star entrepreneur and mentor, is wondering whether AI will usher in a glorious future for humanity or could prove to be a ticking time bomb.

3 immigrant female techpreneurs shaping the future of work

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.