Latest news with #OpenAtlasSummit2025
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Silicon Valleys Open Atlas Summit Tackles The Unspoken Immigration Crisis
Within the lauded corridors of Silicon Valley tech firms happens silent discourse revolving around visa application timing, green card timelines, and immigration uncertainties. These whispered conversations about H-1B lottery results, O-1 petition strategies, and EB-1 eligibility requirements give away the hidden concerns of thousands of skilled professionals, who are the real force behind America's Economy of Invention. Such discussions are now starting to shed light from behind closed corners and private office doors. One would want to say that with the changing times, Open Atlas Summit 2025 intends to go for the crown as the premier immigration event in all of Silicon Valley. With tumultuous changes in immigration policies and severe competition between jurisdictions for talent, the attention of these skilled professionals is diverted elsewhere, and not just towards legal advice; they need community, strategy, and hope. The Immigration Crisis No One Talks About While reports are, generally, confined to border matters and political rhetoric, an altogether different story of immigration unfolds every day in Cupertino, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. Talented engineers are delaying buying their homes because their visa status is uncertain, whereas talented founders are postponing launching companies for lack of work authorization. The rising executives see their American colleagues rise through the ranks, while they are bogged down in bureaucratic red tape that, with a strike of the pen, might well undo years of their careers. Nikin Tharan and Soundarya Balsubramani, as the minds behind the Open Atlas Summit 2025, know this reality from an immigrant perspective. Their pitch for the conference is meant to address the discrepancy between the immigration system on paper and the immigration system in the eyes of the consumers. "Every skilled immigrant has a story about waiting, worrying, and wondering if they'll ever find stability in America," says Nikin Tharan. "We're creating the conference we wished existed when we were navigating these challenges ourselves." Uncommon Legal Advice What separates the Open Atlas Summit from an ordinary immigration seminar is a practical, peer-to-peer methodology. Instead of generic presentations on visa categories, attendees will learn from the very people who actually got an O-1 visa, fought through an EB-1 application, and lived their lives with the burden of immigration law in the background as they built their careers. The very best thing this conference gives away is free: in-person consultations with great immigration lawyers and workshops with visa recipients as instructors. The mixture of technical prosecution and actual law-making by experience gives rise to an educational opportunity almost no one could ever run into in ordinary circumstances. The Canadian alternative and global perspective Recognizing the diversity of immigrant experiences and struggles faced by some immigrants in the U.S., Open Atlas Summit leans into tough truths. It has sessions dedicated to Canada as an alternative stop, by experts who've made professionals cross over. This very candid approach acknowledges what many immigrants think about in their private moments but refrain from speaking about in public. Furthermore, it delves into newer visa categories and alternative ways outside of traditional avenues. J-1 visa sessions for STEM professionals, cap-exempt H-1B sessions, and EB-5 investment visa workshops provide some avenues for those who have been denied access to traditional pathways. Where Policy Meets Personal Experience Soundarya Balasubramani describes the conference's distinctive positioning: "We're not just explaining immigration law, we're connecting people with others who've successfully navigated the system. The difference between theory and practice can literally change someone's life." The summit brings policy analysts, winning plaintiffs, and working attorneys into differing formats that minimize theory and maximize practical value. Fireside chats with immigration lawyers alternate with panel discussions featuring recent visa recipients to provide several angles on complex topics. Integration Throughout the Career Life Cycle Because immigration affects every aspect of the legal profession, the conference considers visa strategy and career development as one. LinkedIn optimization sessions will speak to how immigration status influences how professionals market themselves online. Surviving layoffs will address the special vulnerabilities of visa-dependent employees. Under the entrepreneurship track, problems encountered by immigrants trying to start companies while struggling with work authorization matters will be brought forth. Founders will also share stories about building companies under visa restrictions, sharing practical tips with prospective immigrant entrepreneurs. Community beyond conference walls Even more importantly, Open Atlas Summit creates long-term relationships between people with shared challenges. Special lounges and networking formats assist attendees in finding people at similar stages in their respective immigrant journeys so that bonds can be formed long past the conference weekend. 15 August is almost here, and Silicon Valley will be gearing up to host discussions that happen everywhere but are rarely publicly acknowledged. Thanks to Open Atlas Summit 2025, immigration becomes not a private hardship but a shared path toward success and stability in America.
India.com
4 days ago
- Business
- India.com
The Open Atlas Summit 2025 brings with it the letting down of curtains on the largest union of skilled immigrants in America as it makes its way back to Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley prepares for the gathering of more than 750 skilled immigrant talent, tech leaders, and entrepreneurs for what is going to be the most transformative weekend of the year. Far beyond being any other tech conference, the Open Atlas Summit 2025, taking place on August 15-16 at the India Community Centre in Milpitas is a movement that is attempting to wrench the new change into the way immigrant talent networks, nurtures and grows in America. Organized by the visionary entrepreneurs Nikin Tharan and Soundarya Balasubramani, the summit is slowly cementing itself to be the most resounding congregation for skilled immigrants trying to find their way through the immensely complicated culture of American immigration, career and entrepreneurship. What was once a community need has turned into a two-day transformative experience according to attendees. 'We're not just putting together a conference,' shares Nikin Tharan, speaking to the mission of the conference fostered by his own passion for immigrant empowerment. 'Rather, we view the summit as a gathering where a skilled immigrant could find their tribe, be opening doors to opportunities, and actually realize the American dream. In doing so, we urge immigrants to stand still once in a while and regain some humanity as they bond together instead of whirling in the whirlwind of visa applications and job searching all the time.' The summit's approach to framing the immigrant situation is beautifully bare-bones. Most professional events still mediate career development exclusively, but Open Atlas recognizes the emotional and psychological subtleties in establishing a new life in another land. Soundarya Balasubramani puts it beautifully: 'For me, this summit represents the combined power of immigrant talent in America. When we come together, we are not merely sharing stories-we are building the future for innovation.' Tennis great Vijay Amritraj will hold the opening keynote on 'The Champion's Mindset,' wherein he will correlate athletic excellence with immigrant resilience. The co-founder of Lyft will give a speech on tips for rising to the top as an immigrant in tech, and Kenny Sebastian, one of India's favorite comic talents, will entertain with a live stand-up routine. But it's really in workshops and intimate sessions where the genuine magic happens. A tech leader extraordinaire, Deedy Das will share with the attendees the knowledge of how in O-1 and EB-1A visa applications-who knows? It might well be the knowledge that changes a person's life. Mala Ramakrishnan goes further to paint a picture of breaking into tech and climbing the corporate ladder. These are tightly-marked practical roadmaps by those who have done it. This series is very timely and apt. Attendees qualify for one free legal consultation with an A-list immigration lawyer-these consultations normally charge hundreds per hour. The workshops address such topics as alternatives to the ever-tightening H-1B visa, the controversial strategy of suing the USCIS for delays in application processing, and yes, how to seriously start thinking about Canada as a Plan B-without many immigrants having this discussion openly. With a brilliant vision for the network, it is famous that such networking is done at the summit. Instead of the usual mix, Open Atlas Summit 2025 has considered having special lounges catering to different immigrant experiences. The Founder Lounge brings together entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey. The Extraordinary Lounge connects O-1 and EB-1 visa holders and aspirants. There is even an Immigrant Dating Lounge in partnership with DilMil, because finding love as an immigrant can pose some very unique challenges. The job fair solves a very real problem posed to international students and budding professionals. Being the only (about 50) visa-friendly corporations actively on the hiring spree, therefore, it is the largest of active such kinds within the US. It goes far beyond just job searching: companies get to connect with immigrant talent and really appreciate them. What makes Open Atlas Summit different is that it recognizes an intermediate phase many immigrants go through: here they have the family who is miles away, while there yet retaining their roots, maintaining a culture in the workplace, and granting a sense of belonging in foreign territory. Often sidestepped or ignored in the working world, these conversations form the very heart of the immigrant experience. The entrepreneurship track is equally comprehensive, featuring workshops on everything from bootstrapping to $1M ARR and pitch training for immigrant founders to startup-building for the Indian diaspora. The summit knows that many immigrant families come here with dreams of entrepreneurship, but what they do not have are networks or the actual know-how on how to set about navigating the American startup ecosystem. Nikin Tharan and Soundarya Balasubramani have built this summit on the firm foundation of 'hard-core' understanding of the immigrant experience and a vast network across the tech community. With their work in thousands of cases of high-skilled migrants trying to get talent visas, one finds a perspective that looks at the trends, challenges, and opportunities drowning this community. 'Now, if we do our job right, the attendees would go back to their daily lives as somewhat different people: more connected, more informed, and more empowered,' says Soundarya Balasubramani. 'That's their hero's journey—a call to adventure that turns fear into opportunity.' An event such as this could not come at a better time. With immigration policies forever changing and competition growing for talent visas, skilled immigrants have seldom needed the community and support more. Open Atlas Summit 2025 is going to provide that along with an atmosphere celebrating immigrant contributions to American innovation and success. The weekend will end with a DJ dance night since after two days of being drenched in learning and networking, the sometimes-hectic celebration is indeed deserved. Consider all sides of the human experience-professional, emotional, and social-and that is what the Open Atlas Summit provides-a niche into the conference landscape. Setting up the summit in Silicon Valley goes to show: more than 40% of those world-class companies were begun by immigrant entrepreneurs. Open Atlas Summit 2025 does not focus on just individual achievements; it focuses on unlocking potential America has within its immigrant talent. Organized by the skillful hands of Nikin Tharan and Soundarya Balasubramani that talent is in for an exceptional treatment.
International Business Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Speed Dating for Skilled Immigrants: Open Atlas Summit 2025 Introduces Unique Networking Format
Dating apps understand something that professional conferences consistently ignore: first impressions happen fast, authentic connections require vulnerability, and the best relationships often start with unexpected conversations. While most networking events lumber through awkward small talk and business card exchanges, romantic matching has perfected the art of meaningful connection in minimal time. Open Atlas Summit 2025 is stealing from Tinder's playbook. This August 15-16, the conference will debut the Immigrant Dating Lounge, a speed dating experience designed specifically for skilled immigrants seeking romantic connection alongside professional advancement. Because finding love as an immigrant professional involves challenges that mainstream dating advice completely misses. The innovation reflects a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience that traditional conferences avoid acknowledging. When your social circle consists primarily of work colleagues, when cultural expectations clash with American dating norms, when visa status affects relationship planning, conventional dating becomes extraordinarily complicated. The Hidden Loneliness Crisis Silicon Valley specializes in solving connection problems for everyone except the people living there. Dating apps optimize for engagement rather than relationships. Professional networks prioritize business utility over human connection. Social activities revolve around work conversations that never really end. For skilled immigrants, these challenges multiply exponentially. Cultural expectations about relationships may conflict with American dating practices. Family pressure for traditional marriage arrangements competes with personal autonomy preferences. Visa dependencies create practical complications that affect relationship timing and planning. The result is a generation of brilliant professionals who've mastered complex technical challenges but struggle with something as fundamental as finding compatible romantic partners. They attend endless networking events hoping personal connections might emerge from professional interactions, but conference mixers rarely facilitate the vulnerability required for genuine romantic chemistry. Nikin Tharan, co-organizer of Open Atlas Summit 2025, recognizes this overlooked aspect of immigrant professional success: "Career advancement and personal fulfillment aren't separate challenges. When skilled immigrants build successful lives in America, that includes finding meaningful relationships with people who understand their journey." The Cultural Navigation Challenge Traditional dating advice assumes cultural homogeneity that simply doesn't exist for immigrant professionals. American dating customs may feel foreign or inappropriate. Family expectations might demand involvement in partner selection processes. Religious or cultural practices could require specific compatibility considerations. Yet mainstream dating platforms and social events rarely acknowledge these complexities. Speed dating events focus on superficial attraction rather than cultural compatibility. Professional mixers avoid personal topics entirely. Social activities designed for general populations miss the specific needs of people navigating between cultures. The Immigrant Dating Lounge at Open Atlas Summit 2025 creates space for these conversations explicitly. Participants can discuss cultural expectations openly without fear of judgment or misunderstanding. They can explore compatibility around immigration experiences, family dynamics, and career ambitions that non-immigrant partners might struggle to comprehend. Beyond Professional Networking Most Open Atlas Summit 2025 attendees will participate in traditional professional networking throughout the weekend. They'll exchange LinkedIn profiles, discuss visa strategies, and explore business partnership opportunities. These connections matter enormously for career development and professional success. But human beings need more than professional advancement to build fulfilling lives. They need romantic partnership, emotional and personal relationships that extend beyond work conversations. The Immigrant Dating Lounge acknowledges this reality while providing structured opportunities for romantic connection within a community of people facing similar challenges. Soundarya Balasubramani, co-organizer of Open Atlas Summit 2025, explains the holistic approach: "We're not just helping people advance their careers. We're supporting them in building complete, satisfying lives in America. For many immigrants, finding the right romantic partner is just as important as finding the right job or visa status." The Speed Dating Innovation Traditional speed dating works because it eliminates the pressure of extended conversation while creating opportunities for immediate chemistry assessment. Participants spend brief, focused time with multiple potential partners, allowing natural attraction and compatibility to emerge without the awkwardness of longer interactions that aren't working. The Immigrant Dating Lounge adapts this format for the specific needs of skilled immigrant professionals. Conversation prompts to address topics relevant to immigrant experiences. Participants can discuss cultural backgrounds, family expectations, career ambitions, and immigration goals without these topics feeling forced or inappropriate. The format also accommodates the practical constraints of busy professional lives. Instead of committing entire evenings to single dates that might not lead anywhere, participants can efficiently meet multiple potential partners in a single session. This efficiency appeals to goal-oriented professionals who want to optimize their time investment in relationship building. Integration with Conference Programming The Immigrant Dating Lounge happens during Saturday evening networking at Open Atlas Summit 2025, providing natural transition from professional programming to personal connection opportunities. Participants arrive energized from educational sessions and inspired by success stories, creating optimal emotional states for romantic exploration. The timing allows relationships that begin during speed dating to continue developing throughout the remaining conference programming. Couples who connect during Saturday evening can attend Sunday sessions together, participate in closing ceremonies as partners, and begin relationships with shared conference experiences as foundation memories. The conference environment also provides natural conversation topics and shared experiences that facilitate ongoing relationship development. When traditional first-date conversation feels forced, participants can discuss workshop insights, speaker presentations, or networking discoveries as a relationship-building foundation. Community Building and Support The Immigrant Dating Lounge extends beyond single speed dating sessions to create ongoing community support for relationship development. Participants gain access to continued social programming, relationship coaching resources, and community events designed to support romantic relationship success within immigrant professional contexts. This ongoing support acknowledges that successful relationships require more than initial attraction or cultural compatibility. They need community reinforcement, practical guidance for navigating cultural differences, and peer support from others facing similar challenges. The partnership with DilMil, a dating platform specifically designed for South Asian professionals, provides additional resources and continued matching opportunities beyond the conference weekend. Participants can continue relationship exploration through platforms that understand their cultural contexts and professional demands. When the Immigrant Dating Lounge opens during Open Atlas Summit 2025, it will represent more than an innovative networking format. It will acknowledge that building successful immigrant lives requires both professional advancement and personal fulfillment. Under the thoughtful leadership of Nikin Tharan and Soundarya Balasubramani, the conference recognizes that love and career success aren't competing priorities but complementary aspects of building satisfying lives in America. For complete Open Atlas Summit 2025 information, visit connections begin August 15th in Milpitas.
Business Upturn
26-07-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
30+ Hands-On Workshops Empowering Immigrant Entrepreneurs at Open Atlas Summit 2025
By News Desk Published on July 26, 2025, 21:19 IST The Open Atlas Summit 2025 isn't just another conference—it's a bootcamp for immigrant builders. Organized by Nikin Tharan and Soundarya Balasubramani, the two-day summit will be a launchpad for aspiring entrepreneurs. With 30+ expert-led workshops across two days, the Summit will equip ambitious immigrants with the tools, frameworks, and strategies to launch, fund, and scale ventures in the U.S.—even without an H-1B visa. From practical legal guidance to pitch practice and product roadmapping, the workshop lineup is designed for founders, solopreneurs, creators, and dreamers navigating the complex intersection of immigration and entrepreneurship. Some standout sessions include: Panel: Going from Idea to Startup as an Immigrant Founder (Day 2, 11:30 AM, Studio 4) With founders from ODF, SupermemoryAI sharing their origin stories and early lessons. Workshop: Bootstrap to $1 M ARR (Day 2, 12:30 PM, Studio 2/3) Learn how to build a million-dollar business without raising outside capital. Learn how to build a million-dollar business without raising outside capital. Panel: Pitching to VCs as an Immigrant Founder (Day 2, 3:30 PM, Studio 4) Featuring VCs from One Way Ventures, Together Fund, and the ex‑CEO of Stilt—insights on making your pitch stand out. Featuring VCs from One Way Ventures, Together Fund, and the ex‑CEO of Stilt—insights on making your pitch stand out. Workshop: Scaling from Dubai (Day 2, 3:30 PM, Studio 6) Strategies for launching and scaling your startup in the UAE market Whether you're still fleshing out your startup idea or already pitching to VCs, there's a workshop for every stage—and every kind of builder. With speakers from One Way Ventures, Together Fund, Progressive Ventures, and partners like Deel, Boundless, Manifest Law, and Fakhoury Immigration, the event is a one-of-a-kind collision of legal expertise, startup energy, and global talent. Each workshop is designed to be intimate, hands-on, and actionable—no fluffy panels or death-by-PowerPoint. Attendees will walk away with checklists, pitch drafts, fundraising tactics, and visa strategies they can use immediately. Spaces are limited and filling fast. See the full agenda and grab your pass at Ahmedabad Plane Crash News desk at
