Happy MLK Day! U.S. Inauguration Thoughts and Announcing the Hackathon
"Remember that all of us... are descended from immigrants and revolutionists” - President John F. Kennedy on inauguration day (1961)
I just turned on my under-performing, overused heater to warm my frozen hands because I wanted to send this out before the end of the day. I thought it was especially important to get this email out today because I know that while there may be some folks who are jubilant about our new President, there are others who are anxious about their futures on this inauguration day. No matter your thoughts about the current U.S. political environment and into the future, my natural optimistic disposition is telling me that Foreign Founders, a community of innovators and creative thinkers, can and will help each other to create a better future.
If there’s anything I can do to help, please hit respond. Happy MLK Day!
America’s Next Chapter of Innovation
Every four years, the U.S. inauguration marks the end of one chapter, and the beginning of another. No matter what changes in the macro landscape, the energy to innovate and create in America, largely driven by immigrants and children of immigrants, does not change. I’ve heard it first hand by talking to the entrepreneurs in the community and interviewing them on the podcast.
“We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people -- our strength -- from every country and every corner of the world... Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we're a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge." - President Ronald Reagan on his second inauguration day (1989)
Then there’s the technological change that’s upon us that is rapidly changing every day. From incredible innovation around science, biotech, climate tech, abundant energy production, human and agent enabling AI, there’s so much going on.
I’m most optimistic about the rapid availability of functional tech that enables more people (like me) to build, and build quickly. More products built by an even more diverse group of people. They’re going to write the next chapter of innovation, and that’s why Foreign Founders is co-hosting the Immigration Hackathon in NYC on January 30th.
Hacking with a Purpose
The word “hackathon” might sound intimidating to some people, but it shouldn’t be. Through the hackathon, we’re creating an environment where everyone can bring their own experiences and skills to solve real problems.
I’ve been super impressed by our RSVP list! We have everyone from designers to developers, from operations to go-to-market professionals.
The format of the hackathon is simple. We’ll kick-off on January 30th at 5:30PM ET and focus on the following foundational pillars that we believe will lead to a better tomorrow:
Finance
Health
Language
Legal
We’ll have subject matter experts supporting you in your projects, these are founders and executives of companies who are building within the foundational pillars that can provide additional context and thought starters for your discovery.
"There is no deficit in human resources; the deficit is in human will...” - Martin Luther King Jr. from "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" (1967)
You'll have a whole week to build your projects at General Assembly’s space for free, meet others who are passionate about building for immigrants and building within the foundational pillars above. This is an incredible opportunity to drive real change and impact.
Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch on February 6th (the following Thursday) to a group of peers, entrepreneurs, operators, venture capitalists, and even potential employers!
This event would not have been possible without the following supporters:
General Assembly (Ariadne and Maurice) for offering their space for an incredible week! If you don’t know General Assembly they are a long-standing part of the tech and innovation community and the forefront of shaping the future of work and upskilling. The NYC campus serves as a dynamic hub where individuals and the city’s vibrant tech community converge.
Website: https://generalassemb.ly
Adro (Sara and Amarildo) for being super early supporters of this hackathon. They basically enabled this event to happen! With Adro you can open no-fee US checking and saving accounts and credit cards before you even arrive in the U.S.
Website: https://www.joinadro.com
Lawfully (Matt and Joon) for our continued partnership into 2025, and being long time supporters of the Foreign Founders community. Lawfully is a powerful platform where you can track, analyze and get consultation on your immigration and visa cases.
Website: https://www.lawfully.com
We’re packing this event with purpose and human will, and I invite you to join us on January 30th!
Community Highlights
Our friends at Imera are looking for their first two hires! Imera is a venture-backed startup building the go-to platform for immigrants moving to the U.S. for education and employment opportunities. The co-founders, Liesel and Vicka, are fantastic people building the product they wish they had when they first moved to the U.S.
Job Description Below
Our friends at Making in America is hosting an event this Thursday with Ankur Nagpal of Carry.com. I highly recommend going to the event, it’s one of my favorite communities with a lot of creative and talented people in attendance. RSVP here
Foreign Founders first event with Unshackled VC. Thank you to everyone who came to the event and kickstarted the year with us. Thanks to Nitin, Elisabeth, Fernanda and Emily from the Unshackled VC team!
Until next time!
Andy, Foreign Founders