Episode 3 of H1B Founders Live.
Achal Asawa spent 16 years in tech, Meta and then TikTok, leading a global team across London, Singapore, and China. Watching layoff after layoff hit good people convinced him his future couldn’t sit at the mercy of someone else’s decision. So he had his own company petition his H1B.
We talked through:
The proverbial handcuffs. FANG money and a great role that still grind you down, and why that comfort can trap you.
The line that started it: “My immigration future is no longer tied to an employer’s decision.”
The one free move. Write your goal on a whiteboard and read it every morning and every night. His says “I can outwork everyone.”
Can you legally start a company on H1B? Yes. The real nuance is the difference between owning a company and working for one, and the 2025 USCIS modernization rule that made the founder path cleaner.
Part-time, concurrent H1B. Keep the job for cash flow, build on the side, stay compliant. Preparatory work is generally permissible. Active work without authorization is not.
EB1A through a niche. You build the case in whatever domain you’re top of. Achal’s is skydiving, where he holds world records. What’s yours?
Why a peer group beats going alone. Find someone one step ahead of you. Both Launch Club and the new Inner Circle came up here.
The takeaway. You don’t need anyone’s permission. The shift comes first, then the tactics and the right people follow.
Your move, before you close this tab. Achal’s shift started with one line on a whiteboard. Write the one goal you’ve been waiting for permission to chase. Put it where you’ll see it tonight. Then DM me “I’m starting.” Saying it out loud is the moment the control moves to you.
I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. Talk to an immigration attorney about your own situation.
If you want the 3-week cohort that walks you through company formation, compliance, and the attorney handoff, Launch Club is here
