Founder Lessons from Immigration: 3 Invaluable Insights

The Spark of Curiosity and a Transatlantic Dream

My initial encounter with a computer occurred at the age of four, courtesy of my father. Almost immediately, my instinct was to disassemble it, driven by a desire to understand its inner workings. This experience ignited a lasting passion within me.

Discovering that both Windows and Mac operating systems originated in the United States occurred when I was ten years old. From that point forward, a strong ambition developed to relocate there and establish a technology-focused enterprise.

From Immigration Journey to Entrepreneurial Venture

Little did I know at the time that achieving the first part of this aspiration – immigrating to the U.S. – would prove to be invaluable preparation for the second – launching a company.

The processes involved in navigating the U.S. immigration system cultivate characteristics, a mindset, and an approach that are remarkably similar to those needed to successfully manage the inherent risks of starting a business.

Preflight: Born from Resilience and Adaptability

In 2019, I founded Preflight, a company specializing in intelligent and rapid no-code test automation software designed for web applications. A significant factor in the company’s current success is the skillset I honed while pursuing asylee status in the United States.

Specifically, I developed proficiency in three crucial areas: embracing ambiguity, cultivating resilience, and fostering a consistently optimistic outlook.

These qualities were absolutely essential in the initial stages of launching Preflight.

Key Takeaways: Parallel Paths

Accepting Uncertainty: Both immigration and entrepreneurship involve navigating unpredictable circumstances.
Building Resilience: Overcoming obstacles is fundamental to both journeys.
Maintaining a Positive Mental Attitude: A hopeful perspective is vital for sustained effort and success.

The challenges encountered during the immigration process unexpectedly equipped me with the tools necessary to build and sustain a thriving business.

The experience proved that the skills required for navigating complex systems translate directly into the world of entrepreneurship.

Navigating the Route to the U.S. and Startup Launch

My initial attempt to realize a long-held ambition occurred during my undergraduate college applications. The core idea was to pursue education in the United States as a pathway to establishing a business there.

However, research quickly revealed the substantial cost of U.S. higher education.

Recognizing the need for a starting point outside of Turkey, my home country, I explored alternative options. France emerged as a viable choice due to its relatively affordable educational system, and I subsequently applied.

Despite three separate applications, securing a student visa for France proved unsuccessful. Consequently, I returned to Turkey and enrolled in a university there. Following graduation, I identified a second opportunity to pursue studies in the U.S. – a master’s degree program.

I successfully gained acceptance into computer science programs, marking a significant achievement.

My journey began with arriving in Georgia to obtain TOEFL certification, followed by enrollment at Tennessee State University, where I secured a teaching assistantship.

It’s crucial to understand that navigating this process required obtaining the appropriate visas. A student visa was essential for my master’s studies, while a work visa would be necessary for post-graduation employment.

However, my ultimate goal wasn’t traditional employment; I aspired to launch my own venture, necessitating a distinct visa category.

Adding to the complexity, my time at Tennessee State (2014-2016) coincided with the period leading up to the election of Donald Trump. This introduced uncertainty, as visa regulations were subject to potential shifts in the coming months.

These challenges mirror the daily realities faced by many entrepreneurs in the process of building and operating a business.

Uncertainty is inherent; we cannot predict product success or market acceptance. Regulatory changes can impact operations, and unforeseen events, like a pandemic, can disrupt even well-established foundations.

Despite these unknowns, perseverance is key. In my observation, the most effective founders don't postpone action awaiting ideal conditions – they understand such conditions are unlikely to materialize. They maximize their current resources and maintain confidence in their ability to adapt to inevitable changes.

This leads to a further important consideration.

The Power of "Not Yet": Reframing Rejection

Receiving a "no" can be disheartening, particularly when it concerns a long-held aspiration.

Throughout my own immigration process, I encountered numerous rejections as visa applications were repeatedly unsuccessful. Had I allowed these setbacks to deter me, I wouldn't currently be leading my own startup within the United States.

A crucial lesson emerged from this experience: interpreting "no" as "not yet." This perspective has proven incredibly valuable as I navigated the path to becoming a founder.

Early Attempts and a Shift in Strategy

During my graduate studies in 2014, I became aware of Y Combinator and set my sights on participating in their program. I submitted applications throughout my time in school, facing rejection on three separate occasions.

Recognizing the limitations imposed by my student visa, I adjusted my approach. I sought employment with companies that had previously graduated from Y Combinator, aiming to gain insights into their operations.

In 2016, I secured a position at ShipBob, a Chicago-based firm that had been part of the Y Combinator Summer 2014 cohort. I joined as their inaugural full-time developer and the first developer located within the United States.

Growth at ShipBob and the Genesis of an Idea

My time at ShipBob was a period of significant learning and growth. Over just two and a half years, the company expanded from a team of 10 to over 400 employees.

I was responsible for developing two applications and, despite this progress, I continued to apply to Y Combinator, receiving two further rejections.

However, while leading a team of developers and contributing to the company’s expansion, I identified a gap in the market: the need for a rapid, no-code test automation solution.

Our development team was dedicating excessive time to creating tests for ShipBob’s updates, ensuring existing features remained functional after each deployment. The speed of code changes frequently rendered these tests obsolete, leading to considerable frustration.

Adding two quality assurance engineers didn’t immediately resolve the issue; it took them four months to achieve just 10% automated test coverage.

These challenges sparked a realization: I could establish a company dedicated to solving this problem, creating a tool that facilitates swift test creation and adapts seamlessly to UI modifications.

Preflight and Acceptance into Y Combinator

This realization led to the founding of Preflight, the company that ultimately secured my acceptance into the Y Combinator Winter 2019 batch. I was overjoyed upon receiving the news.

However, I quickly encountered a new obstacle: my existing visa status prevented me from dedicating myself to Preflight full-time, at least if I intended to eventually draw a salary.

This leads to a further consideration…

Navigating Obstacles with Optimism

Significant changes occurred in my professional life during my time at ShipBob, and my immigration situation also underwent a transformation.

ShipBob successfully petitioned for and secured an H-1B visa on my behalf, granting me eligibility for employment within the United States.

However, acceptance into Y Combinator on my sixth attempt presented a dilemma. Leaving ShipBob to concentrate on Preflight would result in the forfeiture of my H-1B visa and my legal right to work in the U.S.

This type of challenge is a common experience for many startup founders; every new opportunity invariably brings with it a corresponding obstacle.

Therefore, I adopted the approach typical of a founder, concentrating on the positive aspect – my acceptance into YC – and committing to identifying a viable solution for remaining in the country.

Initially, I pursued the EB-1 visa, but the extensive documentation requirements proved overwhelming. Preparing such an application would necessitate several months of dedicated effort, a commitment beyond the reach of most founders.

Subsequently, I attempted to obtain an O-1 visa, but this effort also proved unsuccessful.

I then requested an unpaid sabbatical from ShipBob, a proposition they accepted. This arrangement would allow me to maintain my H-1B status while participating in Y Combinator and developing Preflight. My brothers, who had relocated to Chicago and joined the ShipBob team, generously offered their support.

This provided a temporary solution, but if Preflight achieved success, a more permanent immigration pathway would be necessary.

Transferring my H-1B visa to Preflight was not feasible, as it would have required relinquishing a substantial portion of ownership – between 70% and 80% – to my co-founder and granting them the authority to terminate my employment at any time.

Another option, one I had initially hesitated to explore, was seeking asylee status. Following a 2016 attempted coup in Turkey, my family and I, being supporters of the group implicated in the attempt, faced potential imprisonment should we remain in Turkey. This made us eligible for asylum in the U.S.

I submitted an application, but maintained hope for securing a work visa in the interim, due to the lengthy processing times associated with asylum claims and the possibility of policy changes affecting my eligibility.

My asylum application remained pending when I was accepted into Y Combinator. It was still under review when my initial sabbatical from ShipBob concluded. I successfully requested and received an extension. Eventually, realizing a visa resolution was unlikely, I decided to leverage my pending asylum status, which would grant me work authorization for a period of two years, enabling me to draw a salary from Preflight.

The Culmination of a Journey and the Start of a New One

Asylee status was approved for me earlier this year, a full four years following my initial application. Achieving this status represented a significant accomplishment, enabling me to pursue my ambition of establishing a business within the United States.

Consequently, while one phase of my immigration experience concluded, I found myself at the outset of a new venture – that of a company founder.

Initial Funding Efforts

Immediately, the opportunity arose to implement the knowledge gained over the preceding six years. Our initial objective was to secure funding, which would allow me to begin receiving a salary.

The process involved approaching over 100 venture capital firms before finally receiving a positive response. Ultimately, we successfully raised a seed round of $1.2 million in September 2019.

Challenges and Course Correction

While a substantial achievement for Preflight, the funding did not yield the anticipated transformative impact on the company. This was largely due to an insufficient focus on sales and marketing following the round’s closure.

After a period of disappointing outcomes, I sought guidance from my advisors. Their advice, though seemingly self-evident in retrospect, proved invaluable – namely, maintaining open communication with investors regarding internal developments.

This led to a shift in leadership, with me assuming the role of CEO.

Rapid Growth and Positive Results

Within a month and a half of implementing this revised strategy, aligned with my vision for the company, Preflight experienced a remarkable 600% increase in revenue over a two-month period.

Adaptability: The Cornerstone of Startup Success

The fundamental principle driving the startup world – identifying and rectifying inefficiencies to enhance lives – rests on the understanding that the world is in perpetual flux. The widespread disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic served as a powerful illustration of this reality.

Those who found startups and acknowledge the inevitability of change, welcoming ambiguity, will cultivate the fortitude necessary to navigate setbacks. Maintaining an optimistic outlook throughout the inevitable challenges of startup leadership is also crucial for sustained success.

Personal Journey and the Value of Adversity

From a young age, the ambition to establish a company within the United States was firmly held. Ideally, the path to entrepreneurship would have been less arduous.

However, experience has demonstrated that the complexities of the immigration process actually provided invaluable preparation for the demanding position of a founder.

The challenges encountered along the way fostered resilience and a unique perspective, ultimately proving to be beneficial assets in the startup landscape.