Immigrant Founders + Investors Mixer (with Unshackled + One Way + Fusion Fund)
Details
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:
Manan Mehta — GP, Unshackled Ventures
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.
Eugene Malobrodsky — Partner, One Way Ventures
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.
Lu Zhang — Managing Partner, Fusion Fund
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!!
Agenda
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Speakers
Manan Mehta - Unshackled Ventures (Founder)
Unshackled Ventures is the only “inception" (pre-revenue, pre-product, pre-incorporation) venture fund for immigrant-founded startups. We manage over $65M. We lead, making our own decisions, and don’t like waiting for anyone else. We aim to be the partner willing to take the same risks as immigrants do.
The first VC fund built specifically to back immigrant founders and help them …
Eugene Malobrodsky - One Way Ventures (General Partner)
Eugene Malobrodsky is a General Partner at One Way Ventures. Eugene began investing with One Way as a Venture Partner in 2019 and joined the partnership in 2021 after leaving AnchorFree and Pango.
In 2005, Eugene co-founded AnchorFree, a startup that raised over $295 million and was ranked the 13th most innovative company globally by Fast Company in 2019. AnchorFree is the maker of Hotsp…
Lu Zhang - Fusion Fund (Managing Partner)
Lu Zhang - Founder + Managing Partner, Fusion Fund
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 …
Hosted By
James Gee, Global Partnerships Manager
I recently relocated from the UK to Silicon Valley to expand Startup Grind's sales and partnership program, collaborating closely with Derek bringing fresh ideas and forge new connections that will fuel future growth.
I'm also an entrepreneur at heart, launching my own startup in 2015, experiencing the thrilling highs and challenging lows of being a founder firsthand. This unique perspective fuels my excitement for connecting with founders and partners at the 2024 Global Conference. Beyond the world of startups, I am an avid sports fan, whether it's playing or watching a game. If you're in the Bay Area, don't hesitate to reach out - as I’d be thrilled to join you for a game!
Derek Andersen, Chapter Organizer
For the past 15 years Derek has been building communities. He is the co-founder/CEO of Bevy, a SaaS product that helps companies like Salesforce, Atlassian, Google, Snowflake, and Adobe build virtual and in-person communities. Bevy has raised $60M from Accel, Upfront Ventures, and others. He co-founded Startup Grind, a community of 600 Chapters in 125 countries educating, inspiring, and connecting startup people. Since 2012 Startup Grind has hosted 20,000 events. In 2010 he co-founded Commonred which was acquired by Income.com. Derek also previously worked as a product manager at Electronic Arts. He currently lives in Palo Alto CA with his wife and four children.
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Global Partner
Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind)
Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com.
Strategics
CANOPY (https://www.canopy.space/)
Discover concierge-style amenities and world-class design at boutique CANOPY coworking spaces in Silicon Valley.
Our Menlo Park flex office and coworking space encompasses community space, customizable private offices, outdoor patio workspace, and conference facilities.
Springline
Springline is redefining downtown Menlo Park. Bringing a resort-style campus with culinary destinations, creative offices, modern residences and a mix of outdoor experiences. It’s a destination and a journey – a place where you can collaborate and innovate, host clients, meet new people, live modern, share drinks and dinner, escape or encounter, and be a local in the coolest new neighborhood around.
Aspire (https://aspireapp.com/us/startup-grind)
Aspire is the finance stack for global founders. We help founders build, run, and scale in the US and beyond. Multi-currency, multi-market, multi-timezone — Aspire does business like you do.
Headquartered in Singapore, Aspire serves 50,000 clients globally across 30+ markets and is backed by top-tier investors, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Y Combinator, and PayPal.
Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.
Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-silicon-valley-san-francisco-bay-area-presents-immigrant-founders-investors-mixer-with-unshackled-one-way-fusion-fund/.