How many people can say a Wall Street Journal article starts with their name?
“Manisha Puppala, an Indian national who recently graduated with a master’s degree in Technology, Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from the Rochester Institute of Technology...”
That’s the opening line of today’s WSJ feature on H1B reform. Not buried in paragraph 10. Not a passing mention. THE LEAD.
Here’s the thing - Manisha wasn’t trying to get press. She was just showing up every day, building H1Founders, answering questions at midnight, creating tools during our lunch breaks. That’s how real recognition happens - you don’t chase it, it finds you while you’re busy working.
What WSJ didn’t capture: While they quoted Manisha asking “What do I do now?” - she already knew the answer. She’s exploring the O-1 visa route (extraordinary ability in business), which is perfect for platform builders. We’re not victims waiting for policy changes - we’re builders creating alternative paths.
The article mentions we’re helping founders “sponsor themselves on other kinds of visas” but didn’t explain HOW:
O-1 visas for founders with traction
EB-1A for those with extraordinary ability
EB-2 NIW for founders whose work benefits America
E-2 for those who can invest
We’re not sitting around asking “what do we do?” - we have the playbook and we’re executing it.
For those thinking about EB-1A, pay attention:
WSJ coverage isn’t just press - it’s the platinum standard of media evidence. When USCIS sees Wall Street Journal coverage, they don’t question credibility. This single article provides:
“Published material about you in professional/major trade publications” ✓
“Evidence that you have performed in a leading or critical role” ✓
“Evidence of your original contributions of major significance” ✓
Manisha now has documentation that 99.9% of EB-1A applicants dream about. And she got it by doing the work, not by trying to get featured.
During the $100K fee panic last week, while consultancies charged $5K for “strategy calls,” we were in WhatsApp groups at 11 PM answering questions. Manisha was building free tools. No fees, no gatekeeping - just founders helping founders figure this out together.
The article quotes me saying: “This isn’t reform, it’s a sledgehammer... this ensures that only companies with the deepest pockets can play.”
But here’s the irony: WSJ came to us for the solution story but published the victim narrative. They have quotes about “What do I do now?” but missed that we already have answers. They came because we were the ones actually DOING something during the crisis - not panicking, but building.
The real story: While others charged $5K for “visa strategy calls,” we published free guides. While consultancies spread fear, we spread blueprints.
Manisha went from RIT student with $120K debt → building H1Founders → Wall Street Journal feature. In 6 months.
She didn’t plan this trajectory. She just kept building.
That’s what’s possible when you stop waiting for permission and start creating value.
Proud to work alongside her.
Full article: https://www.wsj.com/world/india/h1b-visas-india-tech-engineering-834e079a
#H1B #EB1A #Immigration #H1Founders #WSJ