Corporate & Immigration Counsel For Ambitious Founders
Founder Law provides founder-focused U.S. immigration and corporate legal counsel to international founders, investors, startups, and growing companies. We help founders navigate visas and green cards—including O-1A, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, H-1B, and L-1—and provide legal guidance on company formation, founder equity, compliance, and growth as their companies take root in the United States.
Every Founder's Path Is Different
Every founder faces a unique path. Whether you're applying from abroad, transitioning from a student visa, or leaving an employer to build your own company, Founder Law maps the legal steps and scalable business strategies that fit your stage.
The International Founder
Building abroad and need a U.S. visa pathway to relocate and lead your company.
The Student Founder
On F-1 or OPT status, with a company you're ready to launch.
The Engineer Turned Founder
On an employer-sponsored visa and preparing to strike out on your own.
The Established Founder
Status secured. Now you need an entity, equity structure, and clean compliance.
Legal Infrastructure Built For Ambitious Founders
These services are built to work in sequence. Immigration secures your right to build here; formation and equity work make what you build durable and fundable. Whether you are fundraising, scaling your team, or seeking strategic legal counsel for expansion, each service page explains the process, the timelines, and what to prepare.
Start with the one matching your next milestone.
Founder Immigration
O-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW strategies for founders and key talent.
Corporate Immigration
H-1B, L-1, and employment-based visas to hire and retain global teams.
Company Formation
Delaware C-Corp incorporation, bylaws, EIN acquisition, and foreign qualifications.
Equity & IP Protection
Restricted stock agreements, vesting schedules, 83(b) elections, and IP assignment.
Venture Financing & Fundraising
Strategic counsel for SAFEs, convertible notes, priced equity rounds, and investor term sheets.
Organized Around You And Your Dreams
Complex scaling requires absolute precision, professional accountability, and an uncompromising standard of excellence. We deliver the final result.
Founders stay with us because the counsel compounds: the better we know your company, the sharper the strategy becomes. We plan your visa with your fundraise in mind, structure your equity with your next hire in mind, track statutory deadlines, and protect your foundational equity so you can focus on scaling your life's work.
Confidentiality & Next Steps
Every inquiry is read and reviewed by our legal team. All inquiries are strictly confidential. Once submitted, the Founder Law team will thoroughly review your details and reach out to recommend the most strategic legal path tailored to your specific founder needs.
Meet Founder Law
Founder Law began in Silicon Valley on a simple observation: the world's most ambitious companies are often started by people the immigration system was not designed for. After a decade securing visas and green cards for founders across tech, biotech, hardware, and deep tech, our founder-first philosophy became what clients kept asking for: one firm for the whole journey: immigration, entity formation, founder equity, and compliance, held to one standard of precision and accountability. When you work with us, you gain a dedicated legal team invested in your ultimate success.
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Client Success Stories
“ I came to the United States with a vision and a deadline. Founder Law created a clear pathway forward, allowing me to build my company with confidence."
" Leaving my engineering role at [a large tech company] felt risky. Founder Law helped me focus on getting things done instead of second-guessing myself."
" Raising our first round brought a completely new level of complexity. Founder Law became the partner who helped us protect the long-term health of the business."
" Founder Law was so much more than just “legal.” Every recommendation was grounded in where we wanted to go, not just where we were."
" As we expanded and began hiring across multiple countries, Founder Law helped us build the legal infrastructure necessary to scale."
Latest Articles & News
U.S. immigration policy and corporate law change constantly, and timing often decides outcomes. Our articles cover what founders actually need to know, including visa strategy, incorporation decisions, deadlines, and fundraising groundwork.
Immigration for Elite Startup Founders: Eliminating Operational Friction and Reclaiming Executive Focus
Immigration uncertainty can create a unique source of stress for startup founders. When your ability...
IP Protection for Foreign Founders: A Pre-Visa Blueprint for Deep Tech and AI Founders
Can foreign founders protect their startup IP before getting a visa? Yes. Foreign founders can...
International Founder Visa Due Diligence For VCs: A 2026 Guide
Immigration due diligence for VCs is the process of reviewing a foreign-national founder’s immigration status,...
How Solo Founders Can Prove “Extraordinary Ability” for the O-1 Visa in the 2026 Creator Economy
An interesting benefit of bootstrapped founder immigration is that the legal standard has not typically...
Frequently Asked Questions
Building a startup is challenging enough without the added complexities of U.S. immigration and corporate law. We’ve compiled answers to the most common questions international founders ask us about visa strategies, early-stage compliance, and taking the first steps in the U.S. market so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business.
Which visa is best for startup founders?
There's no single answer. O-1A suits founders with strong achievements; EB-2 NIW offers a green card path without employer sponsorship; L-1 fits founders expanding an existing foreign company. Your background and timeline determine the strategy.
Can I start a U.S. company before securing a visa?
Yes. Foreign nationals can own a U.S. corporation, typically a Delaware C-Corp. Actively working for it inside the U.S. requires work authorization — which is why we plan formation and immigration together.
What is an O-1A visa?
A visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in business, science, or technology. Founders often qualify through funding raised, press coverage, judging roles, and original contributions. It is renewable and has no annual lottery.
What is EB-2 NIW?
A green card category for work in the U.S. national interest. Founders can potentially self-petition by showing their venture has substantial merit and national importance.
Can F-1 students launch startups?
Yes, with some notable care. OPT and STEM OPT can authorize work for your own company when requirements are met. Planning the transition to O-1 or another status early protects your runway.
What is an 83(b) election, and why does the deadline matter?
A tax election filed when purchasing restricted stock, taxing shares at grant value rather than as they vest. The 30-day filing window is statutory. Once it’s missed, it generally cannot be recovered.
Do you only work with clients in California and New York?
No. We represent founders and companies across the United States and internationally. Immigration law is federal, and our corporate work supports Delaware entities operating nationwide.
What happens after I submit an inquiry?
Our team reviews every submission and responds with a recommended path, typically a consultation. Please keep sensitive details out of the initial form — save those for the consultation itself.