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Global Entrepreneur-in-Residence 

Choose California for Your Startup, Become a Global EIR

The Global Entrepreneur-in-Residence (GEIR) program at UC San Diego is an incredible initiative designed to empower international founders to establish and grow their startups in California, ensuring the state continues to attract top entrepreneurial talent from around the world. The GEIR program not only incubates innovative startups but also connects entrepreneurs with regional resources to support their success. By doing so, the program fosters future job creation and drives economic development across California.

Supported by a $2 million allocation from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), this two-year pilot program offers a vital pathway for international entrepreneurs, enabling them to contribute to UC San Diego’s entrepreneurial ecosystem while advancing their ventures. Under the program, international entrepreneurs may apply to the GEIR program. If accepted to the program, they may be eligible to work part-time at UC San Diego and be sponsored for an H-1B visa. Global EIRs work one day a week for the Office of Innovation and Commercialization as a university employee evaluating and supporting the development of new startup companies in our ecosystem. The remaining 4 days per-week they will work on their own companies, subject to the company obtaining any necessary concurrent visa.

The program is now accepting applications, with candidates evaluated on their experience, startup viability, potential impact, and alignment with UC San Diego’s mission. If you’re a visionary international founder looking to grow your business in California, the GEIR program could be your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

 

The application window is officially closed as of February 13, 2025 at 12:00 a.m.

Eligibility

We invite all interested, international entrepreneurs to apply to the GEIR program directly through the UC San Diego's Office of Innovation and Commercialization via the UC San Diego GEIR application form. 

Eligibility requirements: 

  • Graduate student or Postdoctoral scholar at UC San Diego
  • Candidates must be a start-up entrepreneur in a leadership position (CEO, Co-Founder, or the like) within an early-stage venture;
  • Candidates must have the necessary education and specialty occupation to qualify for an H-1B visa;
  • Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or above in STEM or related business fields; 
  • Candidate’s start-up venture must be headquartered in California and able to support any necessary concurrent visa
  • International founder who would require an H1-B visa, or equivalent, to launch and grow their company in California

For additional questions, contact Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Roben. 

Application Process

Upon submission of a completed application form, applications will be reviewed by the Office of Innovation and Commercialization for eligibility and program fit. Selected applications will then be sent to the President's Entreprenurship Network Council for UC system-wide review. The council will then prioritize and ultimately select the most appropriate applicants to recommend to the President for funding. Successful applicants will receive the designation of Global Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Funds from the initial $2 million allocation will then be allocated to the campuses to support the selected GEIRs.

Selected GEIRs may then be eligible for part-time employment at UC San Diego and will be supported in their application for visa sponsorship, paid for by a portion of the funds allocated for this program. Their company may then obtain any necessary concurrent visa, allowing the GEIR to work on developing the company in California.

For additional questions, contact Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Roben. 

Visa Sponsorship

Selected entrepreneurs are provided with visa sponsorship, paid for by a portion of the funds allocated for this program. Typically, these individuals transition from an F-1 student visa to an uncapped H-1B visa, which is the most common immigration visa, for the work they perform as an employee of the UC. Their company can then apply for a concurrent H-1B, allowing them to work on their startup for two years in the United States with a potential 1-year extension.

Key Dates & Timeline

Application Full Proposal Closed: 2/12/25 at 11:59 p.m.

Selection Announcement: TBA