Immigrant Founders + Investors Mixer (with Unshackled + One Way + Fusion Fund)

Apr 2, 11:00 PM – Apr 3, 2:00 AM (UTC)

Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay Area

CANOPY Menlo Park, 1300 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 94025

The event brings together immigrant founders, VCs, angels, operators, and ecosystem partners for an afternoon of high-quality networking, storytelling, and deal-flow — hosted in the heart of Menlo Park. We’re bringing together three of the most active investors backing immigrant founders in Silicon Valley for an honest conversation about building and funding startups as an immigrant in the U.S.

In-person event
Panel DiscussionParty

About this event

Silicon Valley was built by immigrants.

From first-time founders to repeat entrepreneurs and the investors who back them, immigrant builders have shaped the most iconic technology companies in the world.

This one will be special.

We’re bringing together three of the most active investors backing immigrant founders in Silicon Valley for an honest conversation about building and funding startups as an immigrant in the U.S.

Joining us:

The first VC fund built specifically to back immigrant founders and help them secure visas while building their companies. Unshackled has become one of the most important launchpads for foreign-born founders in the U.S.

One Way invests exclusively in exceptional immigrant founders at the seed stage and has backed dozens of breakout companies started by founders who came to the U.S. from around the world.

Fusion Fund invests in promising start-up companies who have technology barriers in their business models. We invest in many industries including connected industries (robotics, mobility), network technologies (connectivity, security), artificial intelligence (computer vision, NLP), and digital health/medical devices. Our sweet spot are the Seed and Pre-A rounds.

These are three of the best investors in the Bay when it comes to immigrant founders.

If you’re building a startup in the U.S. as an immigrant — or investing in the talent coming from all over the world — you’ll want to be in this room.


What to Expect

🎤 Headline Panel: "Making it in America - Immigrant Entrepreneurship and Success"A candid panel chat with a successful immigrant founder in Silicon Valley, sharing:

  • Their journey to the US
  • Early challenges and inflection points
  • Lessons on fundraising, hiring, and scaling
  • Advice for founders navigating visas, capital, and growth

🤝 Founder & Investor Networking

  • Meet fellow immigrant founders, angel investors, VCs, and operators in a social, open-air setting.

🚀 Founder Exhibit OpportunitiesSelected immigrant founders will have the opportunity to:

  • Exhibit with roll-up banners around the perimeter of the venue
  • Showcase their product, traction, and hiring needs

🍸 Drinks, Sunshine & Real ConversationsA bar area, open networking zones, and a fun, social atmosphere — this is not a stiff conference.



Who Should Attend

Founders

  • Immigrant founders + builders
  • Actively building, fundraising, or scaling
  • Technical, product, or GTM-led teams

Investors

  • Angel investors & syndicate leads
  • Seed & early-stage VCs
  • Family offices & scout programs

Operators & Ecosystem

  • Experienced immigrant operators
  • Startup advisors, accelerators, and platform leaders
  • Partners supporting founders (legal, finance, talent, infra)


Founder Exhibit Applications

Immigrant founders can apply to:

🏷️ Exhibit with a roll-up banner in the networking area

Space is limited and selection is curated to ensure quality and relevance for investors.

👉 ​Purchase a Startup Exhibitor ticket and we'll be in touch


Why Attend

  • Meet people who understand the immigrant founder journey
  • Build real relationships — not just collect business cards
  • Get visibility with investors who actively back immigrant founders
  • Leave with introductions, insight, and momentum
  • Expect a relaxed, high-energy setting with great conversations, meaningful connections, and founders actively building and raising.

Non-immigrants welcome? Of course!!

Check out what happened

Speakers

  • Manan Mehta

    Unshackled Ventures

    Founder

  • Eugene Malobrodsky

    One Way Ventures

    General Partner

  • Lu Zhang

    Fusion Fund

    Managing Partner

When

When

April 2 – 3, 2026
11:00 PM – 2:00 AM (UTC)

Organizers

  • James Gee

    Startup Grind

    Global Partnerships Manager

  • Derek Andersen

    Startup Grind

    Chapter Organizer

Global sponsor

Carta logo

Carta

Strategic

CANOPY logo

CANOPY

Springline logo

Springline

Deel logo

Deel

Aspire logo

Aspire

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