Sohrab Vazir

UK Innovator Founder Visa

The UK's leading business consultant for international entrepreneurs

Built and scaled a UK startup. Hired 13 people.
Secured British citizenship through entrepreneurship.

Now I help founders develop commercially viable, endorsement-ready businesses.

Innovator Founder Visa | Overview

The UK Innovator Founder Visa allows non-UK nationals to set up a new business in the UK, provided the business idea is endorsed by an approved Endorsing Body.

This visa category aims to attract entrepreneurs with high-potential business ideas that are innovative, viable, and scalable. 

Requirements

Business Idea
£ Investment
Endorsement
Age
Language
Good Character
Application Fees
The Process

Business Idea

Your business idea must meet three core criteria:

  • Innovative: this must be at the core of your concept, not a secondary dimension.
  • Viable: commercially realistic with a credible path to revenue.
  • Scalable: demonstrable potential to grow beyond a local market.
How I can help: Through an evaluation call, I provide a commercial assessment of your concept: highlighting strengths, identifying weaknesses, and offering actionable recommendations to strengthen your proposal.

Investment

There is no minimum investment requirement for the Innovator Founder Visa.

However, you must have sufficient initial operational capital to launch and scale your business. The amount varies depending on the nature and scale of your business idea.

Endorsement

You must receive an endorsement letter from one of the 4 approved Endorsing Bodies:

Important: Nobody can guarantee an endorsement. Be cautious of any such promises.

Age

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for the Innovator Founder Visa.

Language

You must demonstrate an acceptable knowledge of the English language as part of your visa application.

Good Character

You must be a person of good character and not subject to any of the following:

  • Any material civil or criminal investigation or proceedings relating to corruption, financial crime, or other financial misconduct.
  • Any non-criminal sanction, including disqualification from acting as a director or from performing regulated financial activities in any jurisdiction.

Application Fees

Endorsement Application Fee £1,000 + VAT
Home Office Visa Application Fee £1,274 per person (applying from outside the UK)
£1,590 (applying from inside the UK: extension or switch)
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) £3,105

The Process

Approximate timeline: subjective and based on estimation:

1
Business plan preparation 3–12 months
2
Endorsement application 4–8 weeks
3
Visa application 3–8 weeks

Innovator Founder Idea Assessment Financial Feedback Market Evaluation Sales Plan Consultation

I do not offer free consultations. 

All founders must first complete an Innovator Founder Idea Assessment (£99) before accessing additional services.

Working With Me | The Process

1. Endorsement Readiness Assessment

Commercial assessment of your business idea to assess whether it meets the endorsement criteria of innovation, viability and scalability.

This session must be booked before purchasing additional services. For many founders, this session alone is sufficient. 

If my analysis shows significant gaps in your model’s viability, I will recommend you to pause rather than investing in further development.

This ensures fairness and helps prevent founders from spending unnecessary money on concepts that may not yet be commercially or strategically suitable for endorsement.

Endorsement Readiness Assessment

Direct, unfiltered feedback from someone who has been through the process firsthand — scaling a business to 30+ UK cities and obtaining British citizenship through the entrepreneurship route.

£99 1 hour · Video call

Most founders invest months and thousands before finding out their idea was not viable and their endorsement gets refused.

Idea Feedback

Innovation Assessment

Business Plan Guidance

Financial Evaluation

Skills Assessment

Endorsement Readiness Guide

Endorsement Readiness Guidance

Book Evaluation →

Already Applied? Rejected?

You can still book the evaluation call above for:

  • Any queries that you have while the endorsement is being processed
  • Interview preparation

For those who have been refused, we will go through your refusal and I will provide actionable feedback on improving your idea’s viability. 

2. Additional Support

Apply for endorsement with confidence. My support increases your endorsement readiness and develops lifelong commercial skills. The real challenge begins after endorsement. That is why every service is designed to help you build a business that is realistic, commercially viable, and built for high growth.
Business Plan Review

Full comprehensive review with 1 revision round

£500

Innovation Assessment

Business Plan Evaluation

Financial Review

Legal Compliance

Marketing Plan Evaluation

CV Review

1 Video Call

Business Plan Review

Full comprehensive review with 2 revision rounds

£800

Innovation Assessment

Business Plan Evaluation

Financial Review

Legal Compliance

Marketing Plan Evaluation

CV Review

3 Video Call Sessions

Advisory Program

End-to-end guidance from evaluation to endorsement.

£2500 full support

Endorsement Guidance

Business Plan Review

Custom Action Plan

Business Plan Guidance

Innovation Assessment

Financial Review

Funding Guidance (VC & Angel)

Interview Preparation

Business Legal Compliance

Strategy Consulting

Marketing Plan Help

CV Review

Intro to Professionals

Interviews with the Endorsing Bodies

Exclusive interviews with official UK Innovator Founder Visa endorsing bodies, offering practical insight into how founders and business ideas are assessed in practice.

This series includes conversations with Innovator International, Envestors, and UK Endorsing Services (UKES). To my knowledge, I am the first person to independently interview all Innovator Founder Visa endorsing bodies to promote greater transparency around the endorsement process.

Successful Clients

Testimonials from clients who successfully received their Innovator Founder endorsement. 

More Reviews →

Due to high demand, I’m currently focusing exclusively on strategic reviews and not taking on full business plan writing projects.

Important Notes
Important notes
✕

Please note that I cannot guarantee an endorsement, nor can any other individual or entity.

I provide commercial and strategic feedback on your business concept, focusing on innovation, market positioning, and scalability, along with clear, actionable recommendations to strengthen your proposal.

  • An evaluation session must be booked prior to enrolment on the Advisory Program or purchasing the business plan review package.
  • If, following the evaluation, your business idea is assessed as unsuitable for endorsement, I advise you not to engage in further services. This is to ensure fairness.
  • The Advisory Program does not include business plan writing.
My services are strictly commercial in nature and do not include immigration advice or services under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. For any immigration-related matters, you must consult a suitably regulated adviser.

The endorsement is the goal.
The business is the investment.

Increase your endorsement chances. Gain lifelong business skills.

Most founders focus on getting endorsed. Few are prepared for what comes next. Building a business that actually works — commercially viable, strategically sound, financially realistic — is the harder part. My support does not just strengthen your case for endorsement. It is expert commercial insight based on 10 years of experience scaling a business, hiring 13 people, and obtaining British citizenship through entrepreneurship.

My clients range from first-time entrepreneurs and recent graduates to founders with up to £10m in VC backing.

About

image of Sohrab for Startup and Innovator business plan services provided by Sohrab Vazir

My Journey

Business & Personal Milestones — from a Student Visa at 17 to British Citizenship through Entrepreneurship

Milestones

My company, StudyFlats, through which I settled in the UK, achieved the following:

  • Business development & property portfolio growth from 2 to 30+ UK cities (10,000 student rooms)
  • 1,000+ students consulted & assisted
  • Enquiries from 50+ countries
  • 2 endorsements from Newcastle University for business visas (annually limited to 20 out of 6,000 students)
  • Job creation for 13 people in the UK

To summarise: I know & have been through the journey...!

The Journey

Age 17

Moved to the UK Alone on a Student Visa

Moved to the UK alone in pursuit of further education. Completed a Master's Degree in International Law. Obtained 3 separate Student Visas.

Post-Masters

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa

Endorsed by Newcastle University — one of only 20 out of 6,000 students annually.

Endorsed by Newcastle University

NatWest

NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator

Accepted onto the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme — a former legacy Endorsing Body for the Innovator Visa.

Scaling StudyFlats

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

Initial & Extension. Scaled StudyFlats to 30+ UK cities, 10,000 student rooms, and hired a total of 13 people.

2020

COVID-19 Devastated the Business

The pandemic wiped out the student accommodation market overnight. StudyFlats took a severe hit. Despite this, Visa status was retained and the entrepreneurship journey continued.

Setback — Not the End

ILR

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Indefinite Leave to Remain granted through the Entrepreneurship Route.

Final Milestone

British Citizenship

British Citizenship obtained through the Entrepreneurship Route. No lawyer used throughout the entire journey.

Mission Complete

Business Services

These services are provided through the business plan review and the Advisory Program packages. 

Endorsement Guidance & Assistance ⌄
Commercial and strategic guidance to help strengthen your UK Innovator Founder Visa endorsement application. I assess your concept against the core innovation, viability, and scalability criteria used by the approved Endorsing Bodies — giving you clear, actionable feedback on where your proposal stands and how to improve it.
Business Idea Feedback & Evaluation ⌄
A rigorous commercial stress-test of your business idea against the UK Innovator Founder Visa's high-growth benchmarks. I identify whether your concept demonstrates sufficient innovation, scalability, and commercial potential — before you invest further time or money in development.
Business Plan Review ⌄
Detailed commercial review of your Innovator Founder business plan covering innovation positioning, market viability, financial projections, scalability strategy, and overall clarity. Designed to strengthen your proposal before it reaches the Endorsing Body's evaluation committee.
Cultural Proficiency ⌄
Practical guidance on navigating the UK business culture, market norms, and professional environment as an international founder. Understanding cultural context is critical to both your endorsement application and your long-term success in the UK market.
£
Funding ⌄
Strategic guidance on funding options for Innovator Founder Visa applicants — including VC, Angel Investment, and grant opportunities in the UK. I help you understand what type of funding is appropriate for your stage and how to position your business to attract it.
Introductions & Referrals ⌄
Where relevant, I can facilitate introductions to other professionals within my network — including legal, financial, and business specialists. These are provided on an independent basis and do not constitute immigration advice or supervised referrals.
Strategy & Market Research ⌄
Strategic guidance on business model refinement, UK market entry strategy, and competitive positioning. I help you analyse market demand, identify your target audience, and build a commercially credible go-to-market strategy aligned with the Innovator Founder Visa's scalability requirements.
Skills Assessment ⌄
An honest assessment of your skills, background, and experience as they relate to your proposed Innovator Founder business. I evaluate whether your personal credentials credibly support your business concept — a key factor that Endorsing Bodies consider when reviewing applications.

Team

Business consulting with access to independent immigration support

Sohrab Vazir

Business Consultant

10 years of experience with start-ups and tech innovation. Sohrab has successfully navigated the UK's immigration system and obtained British citizenship.

denis menabit innovator founder visa self-sponsorship uk services

Denis Menabit

Immigration Consultant

Denis has a strong and extensive track record in the UK's immigration law. She is an IAA-regulated advisor and provides immigration advice independently in her own capacity as an IAA-regulated adviser.

🗨️ Innovator Founder Visa | FAQ

What is the UK Innovator Founder visa?

The UK Innovator Founder visa is for those who wish to set up a business in the UK.

Can you help with the Innovator Founder Visa endorsement?

My help consists of assessing your business on the basis of its viability in the UK. 

Endorsement advisory may be offered by the OISC-regulated advisor whom I work with. 

Please note that nobody can guarantee an endorsement (beware of any such promises).

Do you work with all types of businesses?

Yes. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a small business or a medium organisation seeking to establish a UK branch, I am able to help.

There are certain businesses which I will not work with due to ethical and legal considerations.

Do you only help with specific types of businesses or industries?

No, I work with a very broad range of businesses. 

However, there are certain exceptions & specific types of industries which I may not be able to assist with due to ethical or legal considerations. 

Do you provide immigration advice?

No. My services are only of a business advisory nature. 

For immigration advice or services, I will refer you to an OISC-regulated advisor that I work with.

Can you negotiate the prices or provide a discount?

No. My prices have been adjusted to make it viable for both myself and the clients. 

What is the process of working with you?

2 stages:

1. Evaluation session: I will assess your idea against the endorsement criteria and provide actionable feedback. For many clients, this session alone is sufficient.

2. Engagement in further services: if I deem that your idea has potential for endorsement, you can enrol in my Advisory Program or other services such as business plan review and/or writing. If your idea is not suitable for endorsement, I generally will not provide other services unless they are general commercial assistance.

Note: all clients must book an evaluation session, and I do not provide free consultations. This cannot be negotiated.  

Can we first have a "quick call"?

No. 

My services and professional/educational background are laid out clearly in this website. 

As much as I would like to have a chat, it is logistically not possible for me to do so with my current inquiry volumes.

Can you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?

I do not sign NDAs at any stage of my work. Here’s why:

  • Confidentiality is already built in: all client matters are treated with strict confidence as a professional standard. Our engagement agreements include confidentiality clauses that offer the same protection as an NDA.

  • Unnecessary legal risk: NDAs often create broad obligations that could create exposure to claims even when acting in good faith. By avoiding NDAs, I remove unnecessary legal complexity while still safeguarding your information.

  • Fairness across clients: I work with multiple clients in overlapping industries. Some NDAs are drafted so widely that they could unfairly restrict me from applying general expertise to other projects.

  • Practicality: NDAs are difficult to enforce internationally and rarely add meaningful protection beyond what is already in place.

In short: while I don’t sign NDAs, you can be assured that everything you share is treated as strictly confidential, both ethically and contractually.

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