Crimson Education Graduates Into The Workforce With New Visa Spin-Out, Concord Visa
After guiding more than 3,000 student visa applications through Crimson Education, Concord Visa has been created to support another under-served, high performing group; the ambitious people and high growth startups trying to access new markets.
'With Crimson Education our mission was to unlock the best academic and career possibilities for students anywhere in the world. Concord is the natural extension of this philosophy, allowing extraordinary people and businesses to work where their ambitions take them,' said Crimson Education CEO, Jamie Beaton.
'We started Concord because we saw the same pattern again and again. Our Crimson alumni were doing incredible things; founding companies, joining high-growth and impact teams, conducting high-impact research, performing, competing, creating, but constantly trying to navigate visa hurdles. The process was confusing, slow, and often disconnected from the actual value they were bringing,' said Beaton.
Concord Visa is built on the premise that neither career nor company growth should be stifled by bureaucratic hurdles. Its core offering expedites and optimises visa applications, particularly for highly sought-after categories like the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities and achievements or the L-1, E-2, E-3, EB-1A, NIW, and skills shortage visas.
The O-1 visa for 'extraordinary' individuals has gained in popularity in recent years, particularly amongst the growing class of startup founders and talents looking to expand their companies and careers in the United States. There is no annual cap on O-1's issued annually, meaning there is potential for more well prepared candidates to reach the US using them.
'My own journey to getting an O-1 visa was totally random. I bumped into a fellow Kiwi entrepreneur who mentioned she's secured a green card through this mystical process. After going through the application, I managed to land my visa, enabling me to build Crimson at full speed,' said Beaton.
Australia and New Zealand non immigrant visas have been on the rise since COVID. Up 25% in Australia between 2022 and 2024, and 28% for New Zealanders over the same period.*
"Our approach is fundamentally different," explains Kevin Park, CEO and co-founder of Concord Visa.
"We don't just process paperwork; we partner with our clients to understand their unique trajectory and build a compelling narrative that maximizes their chances of visa success.'
As well as providing individual support for all immigration applications, the new business is also developing automation tools, and a modern, digital experience. This is contrasted with the industry writ-large, which has been bogged down by inefficiencies, high cost, and a lack of innovation.
For startups, time and money are critical, and traditional immigration services often drain both. Concord offers flat-fee packages, ensuring transparency and predictability, while significantly reducing the time commitment required from founders and employees.
Lifting up the next generation of ANZ unicorns
Traditional visa services often operate with outdated methodologies, leading to significant delays, exorbitant costs, and a lack of tailored advice for the dynamic startup world.
Before publicly launching its new immigration consultancy, Concord Visa has already guided more than 100 individuals and companies through their U.S. visa process, including brand tracking startup Tracksuit.
Mikayla Hopkins, Head of Marketing at Tracksuit, used Concord to navigate visa applications during a critical period as they closed in on a mammoth $25m USD Series B raise.
"Navigating the complexities of international visas was essential to Tracksuit's growth and helped avoid setbacks during a crucial phase. Ensuring our talent moves freely keeps the business scaling globally. Their expertise was instrumental in enabling our expansion into the U.S. market," said Hopkins.
Likewise, Wayne Zhou, GM at Paraform Recruiters, relied on Concord to pave his path from Australia to the world stage as the company closed a $20 million USD Series A.
Solving startups problems before they happen
Concord Visa offers strategic guidance that goes beyond compliance, consulting with startups on their broader business objectives, identifying potential pitfalls related to visa compliance that traditional firms often overlook.
For example, many international startups heading to the States receive advice to pursue treaty visas (E2 visas), which are initially straightforward but can become invalid when a company raises funding from diverse international investors. This can lead to a scramble to secure alternative visas under tight deadlines, or needing to leave the country within 60 days.
"We act as strategic advisors, looking far down the road to anticipate challenges," adds Park.
"A common issue we see is companies outgrowing their initial visa strategy after successful funding rounds. Our expertise helps them plan for these eventualities, ensuring their talent remains compliant and their growth trajectory isn't disrupted by unforeseen immigration complexities."
Concord Visa is also building innovative technological solutions to further streamline the immigration process. Currently in development, these tools will proactively monitor changes in employment status, promotions, or residential addresses, automatically flagging potential visa compliance issues before they escalate.
Concord Visa is 100% owned by Crimson Education, and currently helps with immigration into Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States.
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