Latest news with #SoundaryaBalasubramani
India.com
3 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.
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
NDTV
29-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
All About O-1 Visa, Entry Route To US Gaining Popularity Among Indians
Washington: As Indians face challenges in getting a work visa in the United States due to long queues and the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, the O-1 visa is emerging as an alternative for professionals seeking job opportunities in the US. The O-1 is a specialised non-immigrant visa for individuals with "extraordinary ability" in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), arts, education, business, athletics, or the film or television industry. Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, the O-1 visa is being touted as an alternative to the increasingly competitive H-1B visa, but "with no lottery system." What Is An O-1 Visa? The O-1 offers a temporary entry into the US to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary ability by sustained national or international acclaim, or a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television industry. To get this visa, applicants are required to meet at least three of eight rigorous criteria, such as major awards, scholarly publications, or original contributions to their field. Unlike the H-1B, which has a mere 37 per cent approval rate due to intense scrutiny, the O-1 allows high-skilled talent to bypass systemic uncertainties. It gives more eligibility flexibility to applicants, as it requires no minimum salary or formal degree, and accepts international awards or media coverage as proof of an individual's achievements. However, an O-1A visa application is typically much costlier than the H-1B application. Its costs range from $10,000-$30,000, around 10 times higher than H-1B fees. But, it has a success rate of 93 per cent and offers initial validity for up to three years with unlimited extensions. O-1 Visa Gaining Popularity Among Indians According to the US Department of State data, O-1A issuances surged from 8,838 in FY2020 to 18,994 in FY2023, with Indians driving much of this growth. Per the FY2023 data, Indians were the third-largest cohort of O-1A visa recipients globally, by receiving 1,418 O-1A visas, trailing only the U.K. and Brazil. The visa is not only becoming increasingly popular among solo entrepreneurs, but also among multinational firms like Google and Tesla. Highlighting its accessibility beyond traditional employment, Soundarya Balasubramani, a 28-year-old founder of educational venture The Curious Maverick, told Ecanomics Times (ET), recounted the ease with which she secured an O-1A as a solo entrepreneur. "I got my O-1A (visa) approved as the solo founder and 100 per cent owner of an educational venture that publishes books and builds communities," she said. Another reason for its popularity is no lottery system in the O-1 category. Sahil Nyati, founder at Jinee Green Card, describes the O-1A as an H-1B visa without a lottery. "There's definitely higher interest in O-1A, simply because it's like an H-1B without a lottery, although it's not a piece of cake," Nyati told ET. In FY2024, a total of 225,957 H-1B visas were approved as compared to only 22,669 O-1s. But since then, the demand for H-1B has seen a declining trend, while O-1s are witnessing nearly 10 per cent year-on-year growth. Aslam Ahmed, Partner, Singhania & Co, told the publication that companies like Google, OpenAI, Tesla, and McKinsey are among those open to recruiting promising new talent from India and attracting well-established players in their fields to their US headquarters. "Top universities like Harvard, Yale and Columbia are always looking to hire the best faculty and researchers globally," he added.
Mint
27-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
What is O-1 visa? New entry scheme to United States gaining popularity among Indians
The O-1 visa, designed for individuals with "extraordinary ability" in fields like STEM, business, arts, and athletics, is rapidly gaining traction among Indian professionals as a reliable alternative to the H-1B visa. Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, the visa requires applicants to meet at least three of eight rigorous criteria, such as major awards, scholarly publications, or original contributions to their field, but offers significant advantages: no annual lottery or caps, a 93% approval rate, and initial validity for up to three years with unlimited extensions. Unlike the H-1B, which faces intense scrutiny and a 37% approval rate, the O-1 allows high-skilled talent to bypass systemic uncertainties, fueling its appeal. U.S. Department of State data reveals O-1A issuances surged from 8,838 in FY2020 to 18,994 in FY2023, with Indians driving much of this growth . Indian nationals are now the third-largest cohort of O-1A visa recipients globally, trailing only the U.K. and Brazil. In FY2023, Indians secured 1,418 O-1As—a staggering 191% increase from 487 in FY2020—as STEM graduates, AI researchers, entrepreneurs, and artists leverage this pathway. Major U.S. firms like Google, Tesla, and McKinsey actively sponsor O-1 talent, while universities like Harvard and Yale recruit Indian faculty through it. The AI boom has intensified demand, with companies funding credential-building initiatives: candidates are urged to publish research, speak at conferences, or file patents to strengthen applications. For example, Soundarya Balasubramani, a 28-year-old founder of educational venture The Curious Maverick, secured an O-1A as a solo entrepreneur, highlighting its accessibility beyond traditional employment . Despite costs ranging from $10,000–$30,000—10 times higher than H-1B fees—employers and applicants increasingly invest in the O-1 for its predictability. Immigration firms like Jinee Green Card report client rosters expanding from 60 to 300 amid soaring demand, particularly from Indians rejected in multiple H-1B lotteries. While O-1A issuances (22,669 in FY2024) remain dwarfed by H-1B approvals (225,957), they grow at nearly 10% annually. Experts attribute this to the visa's flexibility: it requires no minimum salary or formal degree, accepts evidence like international awards or media coverage, and processes some petitions in as little as 10 days. As U.S. tech talent wars escalate, the O-1 represents both a lifeline for elite Indian professionals and a strategic tool for companies securing "extraordinary" global talent .
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How O-1 visa is talented Indians new route to the American Dream
US is tightening scrutiny around the traditional H-1B visa pathway making the process unpredictable due to lotteries and caps. Now the skilled Indian professionals are turning towards the O-1 visa a lesser known route. As reported by The Economic Times, Indian professionals are going for O-1 visas which is a specialised non-immigrant visa for individuals with 'extraordinary ability' in fields like STEM, arts, business, and sports. After the unpredictable nature of popular H-1B visa, the O-1 visa is gaining a lot of traction among Indians who wish to go and work in the US. As per the report by Economic Times, Indian were granted 487 O-1A visas in FY 2020, this number was increased to 1,418 in FY 2023. With this increase, India became the third largest recipient of O-1 visa after UK and Brazil. The O-1 Visa is introduced under the Immigration Act of 1990. The Visa has total eight criterions and the applicants are required to fulfil at least three of them. These criterions include demonstration of national and international acclaim. These include published work, awards, original contributions, and media coverage. While the process of O-1 visa is difficult and it's cost can range from $10,000 to $30,000, but its approval rate is 93% much higher than 37% for H-1B visa. The ET report also mentions entrepreneurs like Soundarya Balasubramani, who launched an educational venture in the U.S., are among the new wave of Indian applicants using the O-1 to bypass the H-1B bottleneck. 'I got my O-1A approved as the solo founder and 100% owner of an educational venture,' she told ET. The report also adds that companies like Google, Tesla, OpenAI are using the O-1 visa route to tap Indian talent and are also encouraging potential candidates to publish research or attend conferences to strengthen their application.
