Credit: Mohana Chandiran Dhukkaram
Credit: Mohana Chandiran Dhukkaram

How I Secured Capital for My Early-Stage Startup as an Immigrant

I came to the U.S. with a dream of building my own business. Like many immigrants, I lacked a strong network for a ‘friends and family’ round. How did I manage to secure 150K in funding with nothing but an idea, while still on an H1B visa?

I grew up in a family of doctors, first in Saudi Arabia and then in India, and my parents hoped I’d follow their path. What truly shaped my perspective was my own health journey. I had two inflammatory conditions that went misdiagnosed for years. 

By late middle school, I began researching medical journals and forums, eventually pinpointing the right diagnosis, which a biopsy later confirmed.That experience was a wake-up call: despite their expertise, doctors often lack the time to fully understand your unique case. 

It made me realize that we must take ownership of our health. This motivation guided me throughout the fundraising process. 

Choosing entrepreneurship as a career

In 2018, I moved to the U.S. to pursue a degree in Computer Science at Purdue University. During my time there, I co-organized the student-run accelerator called The Boiler.

Entrepreneurship fascinated me, but I was also aware of its risks. So, after graduating, I joined Bloomberg as a software engineer and moved to New York. In two years, I paid off my student loans and started chasing my dream. 

I attended networking events several times a week, and at one of them, I met Unshackled. They understood all the challenges immigrants face, and they knew I needed funding upfront. 

Their program called Unshackled Residency offers funding to immigrant entrepreneurs at the idea stage. This kind of support is rare: most VCs claiming to invest in early stage startups still want some traction.  

Apart from Unshackled, I looked into two other programs that provide pre-seed funding — Antler and South Park Commons. Both focus on backing people and ideas. 

But for me, Unshackled stood out as the best choice, especially because they provided immigration support through a partner law firm. They helped me transfer my H1B.

Applying, winning, and pivoting 

After discovering Unshackled, I stayed connected with their immigrant community. I focused on refining my pitch, and by the time the residency applications opened in February, I was prepared.

My first idea was about breaking down the data silos in healthcare. There are so many apps that each hold different pieces of your health data, and I wanted to bring it all together so doctors could access it in one place.

The interviews were all about my journey as an immigrant entrepreneur. There were three or four rounds, each focused on getting to know me better. 

They asked things like, “If you did this for six months, what would it look like? What motivates you?” It was a really engaging process.

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As a result, eight other founders and I each received $150K for 10% equity from Unshackled Residency. As an entrepreneur, I decide how long to stretch the funds. I’m aiming for 22 months, though some burn through it faster.

Since August 2024, I’ve been working on my idea, but by December, I realized it wasn’t going to fly. 

The U.S. healthcare industry is primarily driven by business interests, not health outcomes. Hospitals and insurance providers wouldn’t pay for my idea. Unless it drives revenue, improves billing, or increases foot traffic, it simply doesn’t align with their priorities.

I put in a lot of effort to find a revenue path. Over time, the idea started to shift into something I wasn’t excited about. It began resembling healthcare billing management and didn’t spark my passion. 

I realized that instead of pushing myself to continue down a path just because I had started it, I can pivot. Now, I still have 16 months of runway to figure out my next move. So I am currently testing an idea of a new animation app.  

Unshackled was incredibly supportive of my pivot. They understand that ideas aren’t enough — it’s all about execution. For execution to succeed, the founders must focus on what aligns with their vision.

What I would do differently 

If you’re an immigrant founder looking to raise early-stage capital, here’s the advice I wish I had when I started. 

First off, don’t wait for the perfect conditions — get to work. You can participate in hackathons, network, and build your reputation. Pre-seed is about betting on the founder, not traction.

Don’t focus on your immigration status. If you raise the funds, you can sponsor yourself for a visa. 

Also, don’t wait to raise money first. Instead, focus on building your company, selling, and getting traction. Put together a waitlist, talk about your progress, and let investors come to you.

Finally, learn to brag. Share your wins, even the small ones. Build your credibility by being visible and active, especially on social media platforms like Twitter. The more you talk about what you are building, the more people will notice.

Don’t wait to raise capital — start building now, and let the money follow.

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