Visa To Venture

In this episode of Visa To Venture, Jacob Sapochnick sits down with Dora Ozsoy, Turkish YouTuber, software engineer, game developer, and Founder of Rogue Duck Interactive. Before expanding into the United States, Dora was already building in Turkey as part of the core team behind Stratera Games. He shares how that foundation led to the creation of Rogue Duck Interactive, a U.S.-based software ente...

In this special episode of Visa to Venture, the tables are turned as host Jacob Sapochnick is interviewed by Dez DeCosta. Jacob shares his personal immigration journey, the global mindset that shaped his career, and a pivotal case that tested every part of his legal strategy. He reflects on advising a high-level executive building a U.S. company, navigating incomplete information, and making criti...

In this episode of Visa To Venture, Jacob Sapochnick interviews Maggie Zhu, founder of Us Two Tea, a modern tea and lifestyle brand rooted in Taiwanese culture. Maggie shares her journey from arriving in the United States on a student visa to building a brand from the ground up in one of the most competitive consumer markets. As a designer turned founder, Maggie breaks down how she approached bran...

In this episode, Jacob Sapochnick interviews Jose Carlos "Charlie" Sarmiento, an inspiring entrepreneur and ultra endurance athlete. Charlie shares his journey from a corporate executive in finance to pursuing his passion for ultra trail running and founding Vertical X, a platform designed to help athletes secure sponsorships and funding. He discusses the challenges of transitioning careers, navig...

In this conversation, Joseph Lee, co-founder and CEO of Supademo, shares his journey from Seoul to Canada to New York and what it took to build an AI-native product used by more than 100,000 people across 100 countries. He reflects on dropping out to start his first venture, scaling a seafood marketplace through Techstars, and pivoting during COVID into profitable B2B software. Joseph dives into h...

In this podcast episode, Jacob Sapochnick interviews Brett Chell . Brett shares his journey from being a high school dropout to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry. He discusses the importance of understanding numbers and leadership in building a business, the evolution of his leadership style, and the lessons learned from his experiences. Brett also introduces his new v...

In this conversation, Yidian Liu, the co-founder of PolyGone Systems , shares her journey as an immigrant entrepreneur focused on tackling the issue of microplastics in water systems. She discusses the mission of her company, the challenges faced by immigrant founders, the importance of diversity in the workplace, and insights into navigating the investment landscape. Yidian also reflects on the r...

In this conversation, Néstor Castillero, the founder of Maera, shares his inspiring journey from starting a business with just $51 to building a successful company that serves clients in over 50 countries. He discusses the challenges of moving to New York, the importance of networking, and how he leveraged social media to grow his business. Néstor emphasizes the need for a customer-centric approac...

In this conversation, Jacob Sapochnick interviews Hassan Khan, the founder of TODAQ Micro, a company focused on enabling micropayments for content creators. They discuss the evolution of TODAQ, the challenges of navigating the U.S. market as a Canadian founder, the influence of military experience on leadership, and the potential of AI in enhancing content creation. Hassan shares insights on the i...

In this podcast episode, Jacob Sapochnick interviews Liesel Vaidya, an immigrant entrepreneur and founder of Imera, a platform designed to assist immigrants in navigating their journey in the U.S. Liesel shares her personal story of moving from Nepal to the U.S., the challenges she faced as a student on a visa, and her journey to becoming a founder. The conversation covers the importance of mentor...

In this episode, host Jacob J. Sapochnick sits down with Tina Jo, who arrived in the U.S. from South Korea at age 15 and transformed her passion for art into a thriving career and business. Tina opens up about overcoming mental-health challenges through creative outlets, building a reputation as a fashion photographer, and pivoting to launch her own clothing label, Eight Cats. She recounts the vir...

In this conversation, host Jacob Sapochnick sits down with Phillip Hwang, founder and CEO of KindredPM, to explore how AI is transforming property management. Phillip begins by sharing his journey from South Korea to the United States, reflecting on how his father’s tireless work ethic inspired him. He recalls the challenges of launching a startup, from navigating cultural differences in how busin...

In this conversation, Jacob Sapochnick and Halen Youles explore the cultural differences between Australia and the U.S., particularly in terms of work ethic and networking. Halen shares his journey of moving to the U.S. for work, the challenges he faced with visa complexities, and how these experiences led him to start his own business. The discussion highlights the importance of adaptability, the...

At the heart of many American startups is a journey that began long before a pitch deck or a first hire: the choice to build a life and a business in a new country. Visa to Venture follows these journeys with care and clarity, tracing how founders turn paperwork into possibility and ideas into companies. Hosted by Jacob J. Sapochnick , an immigration attorney based in San Diego, California, servin...