Visa To Venture is where bold ideas cross borders. Hosted by leading immigration attorney Jacob J. Sapochnick, this podcast uncovers the inspiring journeys of entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers building their ventures while navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.
Each episode features raw, insightful conversations with founders, investors, and visionaries who turned their immigration story into a startup success. Whether you're on a visa, need a visa, or simply want to understand how global talent shapes American innovation, this show is your go-to resource for motivation, clarity, and community.
From O-1 visa stories to venture-backed breakthroughs, Visa To Venture is where possibility meets process—and borders become bridges.
Tune in every other week for new episodes available on all major platforms.
Visa To Venture EP 13 – Gaming, AI, and Global Growth: Dora Ozsoy on Building Rogue Duck
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 entertainment company.
With more than 700,000 subscribers on YouTube, Dora built a global audience while developing strategy and simulation games designed for long-term replayability. In this conversation, he discusses scaling across borders, navigating immigration as a tech founder, and transitioning from creator to company builder in an increasingly competitive industry.
The episode also explores how artificial intelligence is influencing game development, production systems, and player experience. Dora explains why AI represents a structural shift in the industry and why founders cannot afford to wait for perfect information before taking action.
This conversation offers practical insight for immigrant founders, global operators, and entrepreneurs building in technology and entertainment.
Learn more about Rogue Duck Interactive at: http://rogueduck.net/ (http://rogueduck.net/)
14 Jan 2026
Visa To Venture EP 12 – From Immigrant to Advocate: Jacob Sapochnick’s Journey to Building a Global Immigration Practice
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 critical pivots under pressure.
The conversation also explores how immigration law requires constant adaptation to policy changes, the importance of flexible pathways to permanent residence, and what today’s immigrant entrepreneurs should understand when building companies in the United States.
This episode offers real-world insight into strategy, mindset, and decision-making for founders, executives, and global talent navigating the U.S. immigration system.
Learn more at: https://www.h1b.biz/ (https://www.h1b.biz/)
31 Dec 2025
Visa To Venture EP 11 – Brewing a Business: Maggie Xue and The Creation of Us Two Tea
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 brand-building with intention, differentiated Us Two Tea in a crowded tea landscape, and translated cultural heritage into a modern product experience. She also opens up about the realities of building a company as an immigrant founder, navigating uncertainty, and turning personal challenges into creative direction.
This conversation covers practical insights for early-stage founders, including how to stand out in saturated markets, build meaningful networks, think about fundraising, and stay resilient while building in today’s startup environment.
Learn more at https://www.ustwotea.com (https://www.ustwotea.com/)
17 Dec 2025
Visa To Venture EP 10 – From Corporate Executive to Ultra Athlete: Charlie Sarmiento's Journey
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, navigating the U.S. visa process, and balancing family life with entrepreneurship. Charlie emphasizes the importance of mental resilience, the lessons learned from his children, and the drive to create a positive impact through his work.
Learn more:
https://www.vtxathlete.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliesarmiento
3 Dec 2025
Visa To Venture EP 09 – How Joseph Lee Pivoted Through Crisis and Built Supademo for 100,000+ Users
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 his O-1A visa path and overcoming an RFE, why the United States is unparalleled for founders, and how he builds culture with trust, radical candor, and a flat, meritocratic team. He also talks fundraising as a foreign founder, why brand and distribution matter more in the AI era, and the mindset that makes you undeniable. He closes with advice to act instead of over-researching and a reminder he would give his younger self to enjoy the moment.
Learn more at superdemo.com
19 Nov 2025
Visa To Venture EP 08 – How Brett Chell Went from High School Dropout to Oil & Gas Entrepreneur
In this podcast episode, Jacob Sapochnick interviews Brett Chell (https://www.instagram.com/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 venture, Bricks, which aims to create a community for entrepreneurs, and addresses the challenges of navigating immigration as a Canadian entrepreneur in the U.S.
5 Nov 2025
Visa To Venture EP 07 – How Yidian Liu Is Fighting Microplastics and Building a Mission-Driven Startup
In this conversation, Yidian Liu, the co-founder of PolyGone Systems (https://www.polygonesystems.com/), 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 recognition received from Forbes 30 under 30 and the influence of her family on his entrepreneurial journey, concluding with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.polygonesystems.com
22 Oct 2025
Visa To Venture EP 06 – How Néstor Castillero Built a Global Business from Just $51
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 approach and the value of understanding market trends, while also providing valuable advice for young entrepreneurs.
Learn more at https://www.maera.com/home (https://www.maera.com/home)
8 Oct 2025
Visa To Venture EP 05 – How Hassan Khan is Redefining Content Creation with TODAQ Micro and AI
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 importance of adaptability, the significance of building a strong network, and the lessons learned from failures in entrepreneurship.
Learn more at https://todaq.net
24 Sept 2025
Visa To Venture EP 04 – How Liesel Vaidya Built Imera to Empower Immigrants in the U.S.
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 mentorship, the role of immigrants in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and practical advice for aspiring founders, particularly those on visas. Liesel emphasizes the need for personal branding, distribution strategies, and the significance of building a supportive network.
10 Sept 2025
Visa To Venture EP 03 – How Tina Jo Leveraged Authenticity and Resilience to Launch Eight Cats and Empower Through Fashion
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 viral moment that validated her leap into fashion design and shares the unique obstacles immigrant entrepreneurs face—from cultural barriers to establishing trust in a new market. Tina explains how staying authentic has cultivated a dedicated community around Eight Cats and offers practical advice for aspiring founders: trust the process, lean on your experiences for strength, and build a brand that empowers others through genuine expression.
Follow Tina Jo's journey:
https://www.instagram.com/iamtinajo
https://shopeightcats.com/
27 Aug 2025
Visa To Venture EP 02 – From Seoul to Silicon Valley: How Phillip Hwang Leveraged AI to Transform Property Management Efficiency
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 business is done in Korea versus the US to building trust with property owners. Along the way, he highlights the importance of networking and how accelerator programs like Techstars accelerated his growth. Phillip also explains why academic grades matter less than real-world connections in the American VC landscape. He closes by offering advice to his younger self—focus on consistency, listen closely to customers, and let AI handle the heavy lifting, and lays out his vision for a fully autonomous AI property manager.
Follow Phillip Hwang's journey:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-hwang-kindredpm
13 Aug 2025
Visa To Venture EP 01 - How Halen Youles Turned Cultural Adaptation into Entrepreneurial Success
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 entrepreneurial spirit, and the unique aspects of navigating the U.S. immigration system as an entrepreneur. In this conversation, Jacob Sapochnick and Halen Youles discuss the intricacies of the E2 visa, the challenges and strategies of starting a business in the U.S., and the personal growth that comes from relocating. Halen shares insights on business planning, hiring, and transitioning from a service-based to a product-based business. They also explore the impact of family background on entrepreneurial decisions, the importance of independence in decision-making, and the future aspirations tied to visa status. Halen reflects on the lessons learned and the advice he would give to his younger self regarding career choices and the pursuit of success.
Follow Halen on his journey:
https://www.instagram.com/halenyoules
8 Aug 2025
Visa To Venture EP 00 - Welcome To Visa To Venture! Hosted by Jacob J. Sapochnick
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, serving clients worldwide. Jacob speaks with entrepreneurs, founders, and investors who are building in the United States while navigating the immigration system. Each conversation moves past headlines and hype to the steady work of applying, waiting, learning, and building. You will hear the practical steps, the tough tradeoffs, and the quiet wins that make real progress possible.
What to expect
Straightforward visa stories tied to real companies and careers
Plain-language explanations of timelines, options, and common pitfalls
Practical lessons on funding, hiring, compliance, and sustainable growth
Frameworks, resources, and next steps for immigrant-led ventures
Candid, unscripted, conversations about the personal and business realities of starting up in America
New episodes every other week on all major podcast platforms. Learn more at h1b.biz.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Visa To Venture
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Visa To Venture?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
