‘What moves the needle’: The Vertical unveils Immigrant Founders Report
On March 21, The Vertical announced the Immigrant Founders Report at ‘What moves the needle,’ an inaugural event
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?
Why Uber is actually a law firm: How stealth business models shape the U.S. tech industry
In the highly saturated U.S. market, hidden narratives are shaping the competitive landscape. Many innovative tech companies are not what you think they are. Immigrant founders should learn to rewrite the rules of the game, recommends lifelong entrepreneur and startup consultant Michael Burtov.
5 AI companies started by immigrant entrepreneurs
In “2019 AI 50”, the Forbes list of the most promising AI startups in the U.S., about 66% of the companies had at least one immigrant founder. How did these entrepreneurs make their way in the tech world and pioneer the future of AI?
Failing is good: Why a high failure rate is a sign of a healthy startup ecosystem
In the U.S., about 90% of startups fail, and only 1.5% of tech companies have a successful exit. In a mature startup ecosystem, failure is the expected and necessary outcome. And yet, it’s benefits are seldom ever discussed. Lifelong entrepreneur and consultant Michael Burtov elaborates on the taboo topic of failure and lessons for immigrant founders.
Innovation in disguise: How “off-label” thinking fuels success
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.
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.
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.
Permissionless innovation: How to survive the Wild West of entrepreneurship
When it comes to new technology, America still has a “Wild West” culture, where the line isn’t always clear between pioneers and outlaws. Mike Burtov, a star entrepreneur and mentor who brought multiple startups from their initial idea to millions in revenue and funding, believes that “fortune favors the bold” who have a worldview with no limits. He recommends immigrant startup founders to embrace the concept of “permissionless innovation” if they want to succeed.
Are startup accelerators a bad idea for immigrant tech entrepreneurs?
Accelerators assist founders with fundraising and help foster relationships with fellow entrepreneurs and mentors. But many also have toxic cultures, unrealistic expectations, relentless focus on fundraising, and simply waste your time with unproductive activities. This begs the question: Are accelerators bad for you? Mike Burtov, a star entrepreneur and founder, reflects on the dark side of the innovation ecosystem in the U.S.
What immigrant founders should know about raising capital in the U.S. post SVB apocalypse.
The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has sent shockwaves across the startup world. How will panic in the VC industry impact international founders raising capital in the U.S.? Mike Burtov, a star entrepreneur and the author of Evergreen Startup, believes it’s time for founders to get out of the high valuations trap.
Ideas worth stealing: Advice for immigrant founders from lifelong entrepreneur Mike Burtov
The key to success in business often lies in the culture. Many immigrant entrepreneurs are struggling in the U.S. because they lack sufficient understanding of their customers’ hidden motives to drive sales and innovation. Michael Burtov, serial venture-backed founder and the author of Evergreen Startup, a book that helps entrepreneurs raise capital, recently discovered an unusual and innovative approach to consumer behavior in a cup of coffee. He shared his observations in this exclusive article for The Vertical.
This LatAm anti-bullying solution went where it’s needed — to Texas.
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.
How Indian American Clubhouse co-founder Rohan Seth started a global audio revolution
Launched in April 2020, the audio-only app Clubhouse now has more than 10 million weekly active users around the world. Its success has led to Twitter introducing Spaces, Spotify launching Greenroom, and Facebook announcing live audio rooms. Despite the Clubhouse boom, few users are aware that one of the app’s co-founders, Rohan Seth, was born in India and raised in its capital city, Delhi.
Could COVID-19 be an opportunity for international startups in New York?
For years, international founders invested heavily in U.S. expansion. Now, New York, one of their top destinations, has been hit hard in the pandemic. How is the city’s global startup ecosystem dealing with the challenges?
How American entrepreneurs are making India great again
In the pre-COVID-19 era, a common sound at a Mumbai Starbucks was a loud American accent. U.S. citizens with Indian backgrounds are returning to their motherland, and technological prowess is moving back with them.
Black Men Talk Tech: Boris Moyston wants the world to listen
Last year, serial entrepreneur Boris Moyston launched a new conference, Black Men Talk Tech, focused on the contribution of people of color in the innovation economy. He is now looking to bring the event to Europe and Africa.
“In the US, people expect you to be confident”: Irish entrepreneur Feargal O’Sullivan talks the art of sales
Feargal O’Sullivan runs an outsourcing sales firm focused on international fintech startups. Early this year, his company, USAM Group, hit the five-year mark. Since launching, O’Sullivan has matched hundreds of US financial institutions with dozens of new tech solutions.