2024 H1B Founders Community: Year in Review

From LinkedIn Post to 700+ Founders: Real Stories, Real Growth, and Lessons from America's Immigrant Entrepreneurs

When I shared my story of self-sponsoring an H1B through my startup, I never imagined it would spark a community of 700+ immigrant founders supporting each other. As we begin 2025, I want to reflect on the incredible wisdom gathered through our WhatsApp discussions, monthly calls, and founder journeys in 2024. More than just theory, these are battle-tested insights from founders actively building in America.¹

Key Learnings from Our Community

The Reality of Founder Immigration

Our community has demonstrated that building a company while navigating immigration is challenging but achievable. Some key insights:

• Multiple paths exist: H1B self-sponsorship, O1 visas, and various green card strategies (EB1-A, EB2-NIW)

• Revenue matters more than funding: Many successful founders bootstrapped rather than seeking VC funding

• Compliance is critical but manageable: From BOI filing to E-verify requirements

• Business structure matters: The choice between LLC vs C-Corp has long-term implications

Success Stories from 2024

• Multiple members successfully secured H1B approvals through their startups

• Several founders hit significant revenue milestones ($100K+ MRR)

• Community members hired each other, creating a supportive ecosystem

• Multiple successful transitions from employee visas to founder visas

Practical Insights We've Gained

Business Formation

• Entity Formation: Most founders found success with services like Stripe Atlas ($300) or FirstBase

• Bank Setup: Mercury and traditional banks both work well for new businesses.

  I found Mercury to be particularly effective for startup banking - it's fast, modern, founder-friendly, and works well for both US and international transactions. You can sign up using our community link for faster application processing.

• Initial Requirements: EIN, DUNS ($50-100), business bank account

• Board Structure: New USCIS guidance has relaxed certain requirements

Financial Management

• Prevailing Wage: Typically needs $70-100K in business account

• Payment Solutions: Gusto ($12/month) for payroll, QuickBooks for accounting

  I use Gusto and manage both W2 and contractor payments without issues. Use our community link to get $100

• International Hiring: Direct contracts work better than complex entity setups

• Revenue Focus: Building sustainable revenue streams before seeking investment

Looking Ahead to 2025

Immediate Priorities for Founders

1. BOI Filing Deadline: January 1, 2025, for existing companies

2. New USCIS Digital Systems: Prepare for modernized filing processes

3. H1B Modernization: Watch for upcoming entrepreneur-friendly changes

Community Initiatives

1. Monthly Expert Sessions: Immigration attorneys, successful founders sharing experiences

2. Resource Hub: Expanding h1bfounders.com with practical tools and guides

3. Mentorship Program: Connecting experienced founders with newcomers

Lessons That Changed Our Perspective

1. Revenue First, Structure Later

   • Focus on building a real business that generates revenue

   • Legal structure can evolve as the business grows

2. Practical Over Perfect

   • Start with minimum viable compliance

   • Add complexity only when necessary

3. Community Support Matters

   • Real examples are more valuable than theoretical advice

   • Peer support helps navigate uncertain paths

Final Thoughts

This year has shown that immigrant entrepreneurship in America isn't just possible – it's thriving. While the path isn't easy, it's becoming more defined. Our community has proven that with the right approach, preparation, and support, founders can build successful businesses while navigating complex immigration requirements.

As we enter 2025, remember:

• Start small but think big

• Focus on revenue and real customers

• Stay compliant but don't let fear paralyze you

• Leverage the community for support and guidance

Here's to another year of building, growing, and supporting each other!

P.S. For those just starting: Join our monthly calls, check out h1bfounders.com, and remember – you're not alone in this journey.

1. I exported the H1B Founders Whatsapp group chat (~1 MB), and asked AI to create a FAQ style document based on all the questions I and few others have answered. I did some agent style structural transformation of chat so it can add insights, corrections and guidance provided by me and other over here on similar topics that keep recurring.

This is unique community as it self selects for high agency individuals who have already stepped beyond their comfort zone. I am glad it grew and came about in the way it did. I see my, my business, you and everyone here maturing and evolving along with the community. We share our industry specific knowledge, immigration stories, resources, and we do our best to build a brighter future.