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 foreign-born entrepreneurs, enabling them to contribute to UC San Diego’s entrepreneurial ecosystem while advancing their ventures. Under the program, 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 four days each week, Global EIRs then devote their remaining work week to their own companies.
The program is now accepting applications, with candidates evaluated on their standing, startup viability, potential impact, and alignment with UC San Diego’s mission. If you’re a visionary foreign-born founder looking to grow your business in California, the GEIR program could be your opportunity to make a lasting impact.
Upcoming Information Session: TBA
We are setting up a comprehensive information session to help answer your questions so you know if this program is the right one for you and your startup. Once it is established, we will be sure to let you know. Till then, feel free to reach out Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Roben with your questions.
Apply before the DATE deadline.
Eligibility
We invite all interested, foreign-born 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.
To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- be a non-U.S. permanent resident or non-citizen
- hold the requisite educational qualifications to be eligible for an H-1B visa
- be a graduate student at UC San Diego, OR
- have a master’s degree or above in STEM or related business fields
- be a start-up entrepreneur in a leadership position (CEO, Co-Founder, or the like) within an early-stage venture that is headquartered in California and able to affiliate with a venture center within UC San Diego
- demonstrate business viability, including growth potential and existing financing- sufficient to support the application for a concurrent visa.
- agree to work one day per week for this office as a Global EIR, typically engaged in activities that help the office to evaluate and support the development of new startup companies with the remaining four days per-week devoted to their own companies, subject to the company obtaining the required concurrent visa.
For additional questions, contact Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Roben.
Application Process
Upon submission of a completed application form, applications will be reviewed by the President's Entreprenurship Network Council from all ten University of California councils. The council will then prioritize and ultimately select the most credible applicants to receive the designation of Global Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Funds from the initial $2 million allocation will then be divided amongst the total selected candidates and used to pay the selected candidates to work the 1 day a week for the university and for the h1b visas.
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 Open: DATE
Application Full Proposal Closed: DATE
Internal Proposal Review Complete: DATE
In Person Proposal Review Panels: DATE, at the Design & Innovation Building
Selection Announcement: DATE