America is world-renowned for its entrepreneurial business spirit, and this spirit is fueled in large part by immigrants. In every economic census since 1880, immigrants are more likely to be self-employed than the native-born population. While some of these immigrant entrepreneurs were highly educated, many were not. In fact, the only characteristics they share are the courage to leave their home countries and the drive and determination to start a new life in the United States.
43% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by first or second generation immigrants.  | 28% of Main Street businesses were founded by immigrants.  |
43% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by first or second generation immigrants.
28% of Main Street businesses were founded by immigrants.
Here is a tribute to 75 immigrant entrepreneurs who founded some of today’s most influential brands, midsize businesses that are the engines of regional economies and not-for-profits that enhance the lives of many Americans.
Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the News
San Jose native opens doors for immigrant entrepreneurs
June 28, 2022
Yacanex Posadas founded a business to help immigrant entrepreneurs navigate owning their own small businesses, generating revenue and jobs in the process.
What My Immigrant Parents Taught Me About The American Dream
June 8, 2022
Thomson Nguyen watched his Vietnamese American parents chase their American Dream through entrepreneurship and has advice on how others can do the same.
Chi’Lantro CEO hopes to inspire other immigrant entrepreneurs
May 20, 2022
Korean American entrepreneur Jae Kim built his thriving restaurant from a tiny food truck. He wants to inspire business owners who also grew up under difficult circumstances.
My family used to skip meals – I launched a SNAP app to help claimants track food stamps and get extra discounts
April 25, 2022
Motivated by his memories of food insecurity as a child, immigrant entrepreneur Jimmy Chen created an app to help people like his Chinese American parents obtain government benefits.
The 4 Most Valuable US Unicorns Have Immigrant CEOs. So Do 4 Of The 7 Top Public Companies
February 15, 2022
All of the four most valuable private, venture-backed U.S. companies now have immigrant founders and CEOs, and in the public markets, four of the seven most valuable U.S. companies are now headed by immigrants.
Meet the Dominican Sisters Making Curl Care Clean, Affordable and Effective
January 19, 2022
Dominican American siblings Cory Dahlia and Nicol Varona started DNOrganics to help Latinx people embrace “healthy curls.”
Immigrant Business Owners Are the Key to Supercharging America’s Economy
January 12, 2022
Foreign-born entrepreneurs are crucial to a robust economy, but immigration policies stand in the way.
Jubilee Hall: An immigrant’s vision to give back to Portland
November 18, 2021
Immigrant entrepreneur Khupsamlian Khaute is starting a not-for-profit to give newcomers valuable work skills and help them learn English.
Immigrant Entrepreneur Interviews
Immigrant entrepreneurs bring with them a determination and creativity that reinvigorate declining communities, create jobs for Americans and keep the U.S. on the cutting edge of innovation. While much is heard of immigrant businesses, The ILC Public Education Institute gives voice to the entrepreneurs and innovators who help to strengthen America’s economy like immigrants before them.
The ILC’s immigrant entrepreneur video series features immigrant entrepreneurs from around the world and from many sectors of the economy. Watch them here. The ILC has also partnered with Pioneer Institute to create a podcast to feature full-length interviews with immigrant entrepreneurs. Explore them here.
Research on Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Research on immigrant entrepreneurs consistently shows tremendous economic benefits across the country and across the economic spectrum. Here is a sample of some of the most recent and compelling studies.
Immigrant Entrepreneurship: Economic Potential and Obstacles to Success
Bipartisan Policy Center, June 2022
Immigrants are 10 percent more likely to own their own business than U.S.-born people and found approximately 25 percent of all new businesses.
New American Fortune 500 in 2022: The Largest American Companies and Their Immigrant Roots
American Immigration Council, June 2022
43.8 percent of 2022 Fortune 500 companies were founded or co-founded by immigrants.
Immigration and Entrepreneurship in the United States
American Economic Association, March 2022
Immigrants act as “job creators” and play outsized roles in U.S. high-growth entrepreneurship by starting new firms and expanding labor demand.
Immigration and Entrepreneurship in the United States
American Economic Association, March 2022
Immigrants act as “job creators” and play outsized roles in U.S. high-growth entrepreneurship by starting new firms and expanding labor demand.
New American Fortune 500 in 2021: Top American Companies and Their Immigrant Roots
New American Economy, June 2021
On average, New American Economy has found that more than two out of every five Fortune 500 companies had at least one immigrant or child-of-immigrant founder. In 2021, they found that 44 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children.
The Megaphone of Main Street: Unsung Entrepreneurs
Score, May 2021
One in five entrepreneurs in the United States is a first-generation immigrant. This report also found that immigrant entrepreneurs are more likely to hire employees, even in times of financial hardship.
Getting Schooled: The Role of Universities in Attracting Immigrant Entrepreneurs
National Bureau of Economic Research, May 2021
International students are key drivers of economic growth. This working paper found that immigrants have founded or co-founded more than 20 percent of venture capital-backed startups over the past 30 years. Most of these founders immigrated in pursuit of a better education.
Are voluntary international migrants self-selected for entrepreneurship?
Journal of World Business, February 2021
This study of more than 1,000 students found that immigrants have a higher than average tolerance for risk, which makes them more likely to create businesses and jobs.
Immigration Policy Levers for U.S. Innovation and Startups
Harvard Business School, September 2020
This report analyzes the benefits and accomplishments of immigrant entrepreneurs and outlines methods for policymakers to encourage immigrant entrepreneurship.
Immigration and Entrepreneurship in the United States
National Bureau of Economic Research, September 2020
This study discovered that immigrant-owned firms create 42 percent more jobs than firms started by U.S.-born entrepreneurs.
Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Innovation in the U.S. High-Tech Sector
IZA Institute of Labor Economics, February 2019
This study discovered that immigrant-owned firms in the high-tech sector are consistently more innovative across a range of metrics than firms without an immigrant owner.
Immigrants and Billion-Dollar Companies
National Foundation for American Policy, October 2018
This research found that immigrants have started more than 55 percent of America’s startup companies valued at $1 billion or more and are key members of management or product development teams in more than 80 percent of these companies.
Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards
Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Benefit
To call attention to the critical contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs in Massachusetts, The Immigrant Learning Center hosts The Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Benefit each fall.
Other Entrepreneur Award Programs
It’s not just Massachusetts. Immigrant entrepreneurs are making a big splash around the world, but there are still very few opportunities to celebrate them.
- Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit, Ankeny, IA
- Immigrant Journey Awards Program, Dallas, TX
- BCNA Immigrant Heritage Week Awards, New York, NY
- Immigrant Entrepreneur Celebration, Pittsburgh, PA
- New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards, Princeton, NJ
- Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards, Ottowa, Canada
- Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award, British Columbia, Canada
- Global Advantage Business Awards, Guelph/Wellington, Canada
- Leeds Grenville Immigrant Entrepreneur Award, Leeds Grenville, Canada
- Smiths Falls Immigrant Entrepreneur Award, Smiths Falls, Canada
- The MoneyGram Award, Italy
Resources for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Financial Resources for Minority Business Owners
This collection of resources includes more than 100 programs, initiatives and grants for minority-owned businesses across the United States.
DreamxAmerica
Housed at the Harvard Innovation Labs, DreamxAmerica is a new movement that joins storytelling and impact investing to support immigrant entrepreneurs across America.
Global Entrepreneur In Residence
Global EIR partners with universities to connect entrepreneurs with visas and allow them to grow their companies locally through a service commitment to the local community.
StreetWise ‘MBA’
This program from Interise provides small business owners with the business knowledge, management know-how and the networks needed to grow established small businesses.
Center for Women and Enterprise
Offers training and support for starting and growing businesses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont.
NYC Immigrant Business Initiative
The New York City Department of Small Business Services offers business courses and resources to address specific needs of entrepreneurs in immigrant communities.
Legalpad
This organization specializes in helping immigrant founders and start-ups obtain work visas quickly and efficiently.
Resources About Immigrant Entrepreneurs
JobMakers
A podcast produced by The ILC and the Pioneer Institute featuring interviews with immigrant entrepreneurs and leaders who are contributing to their communities
Welcoming America Seeds of Growth
A guide to help communities harness the potential of immigrant entrepreneurs to spur economic growth and job creation
The Immigrant Entrepreneur
Podcast with interviews of and about immigrant entrepreneurs
Breaking the Borders
Podcast and newsletter featuring stories of successful immigrant entrepreneurs
Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Changing Cultures & Economies
A newsletter from Nina Roberts about and for immigrant entrepreneurs including stories, tips and information
Immigrant Entrepreneurs from the Story Exchange
Videos and profiles of women immigrants who have found economic opportunity through business ownership
Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present
Website that explores the entrepreneurial and economic capacity of immigrants by investigating the German-American example in the United States