Thinking of switching from the UK Graduate visa to the Innovator Founder visa? Venturing into entrepreneurship may be a suitable option. However, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the Innovator Founder visa. Moreover, I will share some key tips to help you avoid common mistakes and better understand the Innovator Founder pathway. 

You may have several reasons for considering the Innovator Founder visa. However, it is imperative that you have a genuine intention of starting your own business. Moreover, you must pre-plan extensively for both entrepreneurship and pursuing the Innovator Founder visa.

Not just a mere immigration route to stay 

First and foremost, you must understand that the Innovator route is not merely a way to remain in the UK. 

It is understandable that it’s challenging to find a sponsored job, especially as you have invested time and money, and wish to build a future in the UK. 

Nevertheless, the Innovator Founder visa is not a three-year-long visa which allows you to think of your next visa. It requires extensive planning, and a viable business concept. 

Additionally, you will have checkpoints with your endorsing body at 12 and 24 months into the visa. During these checkpoints, you must show that you have achieved the milestones specified in your initial business plan. 

Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of your endorsement and therefore the visa. 

Utilize your time on the Graduate visa 

Presuming you have a genuine ambition to pursue entrepreneurship, it is imperative that you use your time on the Graduate visa wisely. 

One of the key requirements of the Innovator Founder visa is “viability”.

This partially concerns your skills and abilities as a founder to successfully launch and scale the business. 

As such, previous entrepreneurial experience is a key assessment factor for the endorsing bodies. If you lack the aforementioned, you should use your time on the Graduate visa to:

• Gain professional experience, ideally in a startup
• Test and validate your business idea/model 
• Launch the business

On the last point, launching your business, there is a key point to be aware of. 

The UK Government guidelines state that a business should not be trading upon the endorsement application. However, we have clarified this with one of the endorsing bodies. 

As long as you are the sole/key founding member of the business, and not join the business after its foundation, you will still qualify for endorsement. 

Don’t leave it to the last minute 

One of the worst, and most common mistakes, is leaving everything to the last minute. 

Planning a business, and producing the required documentation, for example the business plan, is a lengthy process. 

You should allocate at least 6–12 months (ideally more) before the expiry of your Graduate visa to this. 

Understand the practicalities of entrepreneurship 

Lastly, I wish to share some harsh realities of entrepreneurship that I learnt. As a former international student who pursued entrepreneurship after graduation in the UK, I believe I am qualified to share this. 

First, entrepreneurship is risky. You could do everything correctly, and even have success with the business. Yet, an adverse external event completely outside your control can crush your business. This is the reality of this path, and you should understand and accept this risk. 

Second, entrepreneurship can make you unemployable, particularly after you spend many years as a founder. I have written a separate article on this subject and I strongly encourage you to read it.

Graduate visa to Innovator Founder | Working with me

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About | Business consultant and VC scout, specializing in helping founders access funding and scale internationally. At the age of 22, shortly after completing my master’s degree, I launched a PropTech startup under the endorsement of Newcastle University. Over the years, I grew my startup into a presence across 30+ UK cities, hired a total of 13 people, and, through my entrepreneurial journey, achieved both Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship.