Sohrab Vazir
Consultant | Founder | Global Citizen | Writer
Ireland’s Startup Visa Program (STEP): A Comprehensive Guide
The Startup Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) in Ireland is a dynamic initiative aimed at attracting foreign entrepreneurs to launch innovative businesses within the country. Launched in 2012, this program is part of Ireland’s broader strategy to become a global hub for startups and innovation. Ireland offers several benefits to entrepreneurs, including access to the European Union (EU) market, a highly skilled workforce, and a favourable corporate tax environment. Here’s an in-depth look at the STEP, including its advantages and drawbacks. What is the Startup Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)? STEP allows non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals to establish a high-potential startup in Ireland with the aim of promoting job creation, innovation, and investment in the country. Successful applicants are granted a residency visa, which permits them to live and work in Ireland. Key Eligibility Criteria: Pros of the Ireland STEP: 1. Access to the EU Market One of the biggest advantages of establishing a business in Ireland is access to the broader European Union market, which consists of over 400 million consumers. This opens up significant opportunities for startups to scale and expand into Europe easily. 2. Low Corporate Tax Rate Ireland boasts a 12.5% corporate tax rate, one of the lowest in Europe, which is a strong incentive for startups looking to minimize their tax burden. Additionally, Ireland offers several tax reliefs for research and development, providing further benefits for innovative businesses. 3. Favorable Business Environment Ireland has a well-established startup ecosystem supported by organizations like Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, which offer mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs. These organizations are instrumental in helping startups navigate the Irish business landscape and achieve growth. 4. High-Quality Talent Pool Ireland has a highly educated workforce, particularly in technology and life sciences. Its universities produce a steady stream of skilled graduates, and the country is home to many global tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, fostering a collaborative business environment for startups. 5. Fast-Track Residency STEP offers entrepreneurs and their families the opportunity to live in Ireland with a Stamp 4 Visa, which provides long-term residency. After living in Ireland for five years, applicants can apply for citizenship. Cons of the Ireland STEP: 1. Financial Barrier The €50,000 minimum investment requirement, although lower than many other countries, can still be a significant hurdle for some early-stage entrepreneurs, especially those from countries with lower access to capital or foreign exchange restrictions. 2. Sector Limitation The requirement for a high-potential startup that is scalable and innovative restricts the types of businesses that can qualify. Traditional businesses or those in non-tech sectors may find it difficult to meet the program’s strict criteria, limiting participation to more niche sectors. 3. Competition for Funding While there is strong support from Enterprise Ireland, competition for state-backed funding and grants can be fierce. Entrepreneurs need to have a well-thought-out business plan and demonstrate clear potential for growth to secure financial backing. 4. Strict Evaluation Process STEP’s application process involves rigorous vetting by the Evaluation Committee to ensure that applicants meet all the requirements. This can be time-consuming, and the outcome is not guaranteed, even for qualified candidates. Conclusion: Ireland’s Startup Entrepreneur Programme offers a fantastic opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs to establish a business in a thriving European economy with access to a talented workforce and favorable tax conditions. While the program has some limitations, particularly in terms of the investment requirement and sector eligibility, the benefits of building a business in Ireland make it an attractive option for those in innovative and scalable industries. With access to the EU market, strong governmental support, and a low corporate tax rate, Ireland continues to position itself as a startup-friendly destination, particularly for businesses with high growth potential. However, entrepreneurs should carefully consider the financial and strategic commitments involved before applying for the visa. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme. Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses.
How to get more TikTok views
Getting more TikTok views can be tricky, but it’s certainly doable. I started my TikTok channel in late 2023. For the first few months, I didn’t post often and my videos had between 500-1000 views with minimal engagement. However, between July and September 2024, I got almost 500,000 TikTok views for my videos. Getting more TikTok views is any creator or business’s goal who has a presence on TikTok. Yet, many struggle to achieve this. I will share some of the steps that I implemented that led to more TikTok views on my channel. Be authentic The most important principle is authenticity. There is too much generic and inauthentic content these days, and people loathe it. Authenticity is a rare trait in today’s world, and it is certainly valued by others. Be relatable People engage with content that they can relate to. Make sure that you prioritise relatability in your content creation strategy. Understand your audience. In doing so, as the following: What makes them happy? What makes them sad or angry? Embrace the trolls Once you get some traction, you will have trolls on your page. It simply doesn’t matter what your post is about. Sadly, there are people in the world with too much free time on their hands who take pleasure in bringing others down. Do not let them discourage you, humorously engage with them. Trolls hate seeing their tactics failing and this will keep them coming back to your page, which helps your content in the algorithm. Have a good content strategy Having the right content strategy is vital. Make sure you have a good roadmap of the content that you want to create. Your content strategy should consider all implications in terms of engagement, compliance with applicable laws as well as your resources. Want help in getting more TikTok views? Contact me today to discuss how I may be able to help. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international graduate, I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Currently, I help aspiring founders, content creators and companies with their digital presence.
3 Tips for Successful Immigration Marketing
In an increasingly globalised world, immigration services are in high demand. Whether you’re helping individuals with visa applications or offering advisory services for expatriates, effectively marketing your immigration business is key to reaching potential clients. To stand out in this competitive industry, it’s crucial to employ the right strategies. Here are three tips to help you improve your immigration marketing and attract the right audience. 1. Understand Your Audience’s Pain Points Effective marketing starts with understanding your audience. People seeking immigration services often face complex issues, from navigating legal systems to finding the right visa for their needs. Identifying their pain points will allow you to create content and marketing materials that speak directly to their concerns. Actionable Steps: SEO Tip: Use keywords that match your audience’s queries. Keywords such as “immigration process tips,” “visa application help,” and “immigration consultant advice” can improve your search engine ranking and visibility. 2. Leverage Testimonials and Case Studies Trust is everything in the immigration industry. Potential clients want to know that your services are reliable and effective before they invest their time and money. One of the most powerful tools for building trust is social proof—testimonials from satisfied clients and detailed case studies showcasing your success stories. Actionable Steps: SEO Tip: Optimise case studies and testimonials with location-based keywords like “immigration consultant in [City]” or “successful visa applications for [Country]” to attract local search traffic. 3. Use Paid Ads Strategically While organic marketing through SEO and content creation is essential, paid advertising can also be an effective tool for immigration marketing, especially if you want quicker results. Platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, and LinkedIn allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and locations, ensuring your services reach the right audience. Actionable Steps: SEO Tip: Use landing pages optimized with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and headings. Ensure the landing page loads quickly and includes easy-to-complete contact forms to convert leads from paid traffic. Conclusion Immigration marketing requires a thoughtful approach to resonate with clients and build trust. By understanding your audience, leveraging social proof, and utilizing paid ads, you can stand out in this competitive industry and attract more clients to your services. Implement these tips, and watch your immigration business grow! I offer tailored marketing consulting and writing services for immigration law professionals. Contact me today to discuss how I may be able to help you. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international graduate, I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. In doing so, I navigated the UK’s immigration system through multiple business visas. Currently, I help aspiring founders, companies and law firms with their digital presence.
The unemployable entrepreneur: why founders become unemployable?
The tail of the unemployable entrepreneur is less often discussed. Many business owners believe that they have the option of employment if their business fails or they simply decide to shift their careers. If you are considering starting a business or are already an entrepreneur, you should be aware that you may be or become an unemployable entrepreneur. There are multiple reasons behind why entrepreneurs become unemployable and I will highlight some of them in this article. Many entrepreneurs believe that starting and growing a business equips them with skills that will assist them in employment, should they choose to pursue it at a later stage. And this is true in principle, however, the reality is that as an entrepreneur you are likely to become unemployable. Let’s look at some of the reasons why. Your skills are not the only factor As an entrepreneur, you will develop a multi-dimensional set of skills. These may help you excel in employment. However, employers often consider other factors and do not exclusively focus on your abilities alone. Long-term commitment Being a former or current entrepreneur undermines the prospects of your long-term commitment to a company. Many employers will assume that you are seeking a role for the short-term and will not commit to the company on a long-term basis. This translates to further costs incurred to the employer to re-hire and replace you as an employee. Obedience Yes, I used the word “obedience”. And please do not get me wrong: there are many employers who are great and do not expect “obedient” people in the strict definition of the term. However, being an entrepreneur undermines your ability to take orders and not be the “one in charge”. In an employer’s view, this raises the possibility of workplace conflict and ultimately having to let you go. The latter also comes with financial and legal liabilities for the employer. Conflict of interest And lastly, an employer may believe that you are seeking to work for them for the sole purpose of accessing their trade secrets, client base and internal protocols to start a competing business at a later stage. I do not need to explain this any further as there is no single company that would willingly assist a potential future competitor. If you are considering entrepreneurship, you must understand and accept the reality that you may become an unemployable entrepreneur if you consider a career shift in the future. Therefore, you must balance all probabilities and accept that this path may be permanent. I have also made a YouTube video on this topic with reference to my own example, make sure to check it out. If you need help with either entrepreneurship or employment. Feel free to reach out to me to discover how I can help. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international graduate, I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
Business Ideas: Do you have to solve a problem?
Business ideas have become synonymous with solving a problem. However, do you always have to solve a problem when coming up with a business idea? I will highlight the supporting and opposing arguments concerning a problem-solution-based approach to business ideas. Business ideas, and finding the right one, are not easy tasks in this day and age. There is stiff competition and there is a chance that any good idea that you come up with has already been implemented. This has led to many professionals, consultants and even academics advocating for a problem/solution approach to validating business ideas. Business ideas should solve a problem? Okay, let’s look at the solution-based approach to business ideas. I do support this principle and my ventures so far have implemented it. The benefits of a solution-based approach is that: The issue with this approach is that: However, not all successful ventures are based on solving a problem. Consider the following business models/companies: -Coca Cola -Dating apps such as Tinder -OnlyFans None of these companies solve a problem per se. Yet, they are billion-dollar ventures. With dating apps, one may argue that they solve the problem of loneliness. However, one does not necessarily need a dating app to meet their partner. The reason why these companies are successful is one factor: demand. And demand is not always necessarily based on solving a problem but rather on people’s willingness to pay for what you offer. To summarise: solving problems is a useful approach to coming up with business ideas. However, the aforementioned should not be the exclusive principle and founders must prioritise demand as the core factor. Struggling to come up with a business idea? As a business consultant and former tech founder, this is my specialty. Contact me to see whether I can help you with finding the right business idea or check out my advisory program specifically designed for new/prospective business owners. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
Patents: 4 Basic Facts
Patents are complex, and obtaining them is only part of the hurdle. As a business consultant working with innovative founders, I get a lot of questions about patents. While I am not a patent attorney, I will share 4 basic facts about patents that will give you an idea about protecting your intellectual property through this route. Obtaining patents is certainly a complex path. You must consult a patent attorney if you wish to do so. However, to get started, I will share 4 basic facts about patents that will give you an idea of what to expect. 1. Patents are expensive First of all, patents cost a lot. As an example, let’s look at the UK: Summary of Costs As you notice, the key costs are associated with patent attornies, which you must consult if you decide to file and register a patent. For more information on UK patent costs, check here. 2. Patents take time It takes time to register a patent. On average, you are looking at 1 to 2 years (although this may vary). However, the key principle is that, unlike trade marks, patents are more complex and time-consuming. 3. They are jurisdictional Similar to trade marks, patents usually cover a certain jurisdiction, for instance, the UK. If you wish to obtain multi-jurisdictional protection, there are higher fees. 4. Obtaining a patent is not the end Lastly, it should be noted that obtaining a patent is not the end of the line. Your competitors, often firms with more resources, will most likely seek to find a way around your patent or worse, get into a legal patent battle with you. And what must be noted is that these legal battles will cost you, a lot. If you are seeking to register a patent, it is important to consult a patent attorney. Working with me as your business consultant includes introducing you to one to ensure you obtain solid advice before making any decisions and investing your resources. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
Remote jobs: 3 things to know
Remote jobs are the ultimate dream for many. And that means that they are harder to find and secure. I will share 3 things you must know about remote jobs to help you get on track. Remote jobs have become very popular in the post-COVID world. The perks speak for themselves: more autonomy, no time/money spent on transportation and sometimes the ability to travel the world while working. However, they are far harder to come by now that it’s been over four years since the global lockdowns. Let me share 3 key things that you must know about remote working. 1. Being a specialist in your field is helpful, and somewhat necessary The key principle with specialism is that you have more bargaining power and advantage, including the ability to work remotely. More specialisation in your field correlates with less competition, meaning that there are fewer people to fill that role. For instance, a software engineer is more specialised than a marketing manager. As long as it’s practically possible to perform your role remotely, more specialisation increases your chances of landing remote jobs. 2. Remote jobs are harder to come by now As I stated in the beginning, remote jobs are popular and desired by many. Thus, they are more competitive. Additionally, let me tell you something that you may already know: many employers are not so keen on remote workers. They’d much prefer to be able to observe you and your work. 3. You need to offer something that other candidates don’t Building on the previous points, remote jobs (and life in general) are about competition. If you are simply on par with a wide pool of other candidates, your chances of landing a remote job are minimal. Therefore, ask yourself: what can you offer an employer that other candidates do not? These tips should give you a head-start for searching (and hopefully securing) remote jobs. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
How to start a business with no money
If you wish to start a business with no money, you have a difficult journey ahead. However, it is certainly not impossible. I will give you some realistic tips and steps that can help you start a business with little or no money. I personally comprehend the difficulty of starting a business with no money. Back in 2016, I was a 22-year-old graduate and embarked on the path of business ownership whilst I had less than £500 to my name. To make things worse, I was on a business visa in the UK and had to meet certain milestones, making it even harder. Read more about my story here. However, I eventually grew the business to over 30 UK cities and a team of four. Yes, I did have additional capital available to me, but the business’ foundation and traction was achieved with less than £500. Here are some options that may be worth considering if you want to start a business with no money. 1. Business grants Depending on where you are and your proposed business, there may be business grants available to you. Some grants provide a lump-sum payment, and some others cover a portion of your business expenses. 2. Credit cards & loans In the UK, you can search for grants via the UK government website here. This is a tricky one. I am personally against racking up debt, and certainly in the case where that debt is spent towards a non-certain outcome. However, starting a business is about taking risks. Therefore, this is an option worth considering. 3. Barter This is an option that is less often referred to. However, it is worth considering if you possess in-demand skills. Barter is essentially exchanging a good/service in exchange for the same. For instance, you may have solid writing skills. You meet a developer who needs a copywriter for a project. At the same time, you require an app. By exchanging skills, you can achieve certain outcomes towards starting a business with no money. These options are worth considering if you wish to start a business with no money. Although they may not be applicable to everybody, it’s important to not allow the lack of capital to deter you from pursuing your vision. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners with starting and scaling the ventures.
Why I hate LinkedIn?
Over the years, I’ve come to hate LinkedIn with a passion. Sadly, a platform meant to foster connections, learning and employment opportunities has become the total opposite of its original purpose. I didn’t always hate LinkedIn. I used it for over 10 years and was active on the platform. However, starting my consultancy business shed some light on how useless (and irritating) it’s become. Plus, as my audience may be aware, I am an authentic individual and have adopted the same approach towards my work. Authenticity somehow conflicts with the way people use LinkedIn in the present day. And this is not the only reason that I hate LinkedIn. Allow me to list my reasons for growing to hate LinkedIn with a passion. 1. Mostly useless for business I’m a business person. Therefore, how I feel about a certain platform, individual or issue is not the sole determinant of my decision-making. However, what bugs me with LinkedIn is that it proved to be extremely useless for my business growth. I rarely, if ever, got a client from LinkedIn. I did have people expressing interest in my services, yet they all turned out to be dead-end prospects. The issue is that LinkedIn is filled with people/businesses trying to sell their services, and this makes you just another “salesperson”. There is hardly anything unique about you or your business seeking to gain prospects. For reference, I’m partially talking about those sales DMs that most of us receive in our inboxes. 2. Fakeness Fakeness and inauthenticity are essentially the core of most social media and networking platforms. Not only is LinkedIn not an exception, but it has become a champion of BS content and posts. And the worst part is that most people on LinkedIn believe they are unique, yet they are mimicking what everybody else is doing. 3. Virtue signalling Building on the last point, the virtue signalling on LinkedIn is beyond the scale. Let’s look at the immigration industry, one which I am familiar with. Most “professionals” in this sector are quick to post content on migrants’ rights and cultural sensitivities. I saw a post from an individual stressing the importance of getting foreign names right. Yet, this very same person ironically misspelt my name in a direct message to me. This made me think: “I’ll make a post about this just to demonstrate the fakeness of these people” and perhaps to emphasise the importance of getting other people’s names right as basic courtesy. And oh boy, I had these leaches jumping under the post condemning me. Not to mention that one of these people worked in the immigration sector too. 4. Constant sales messages Not a single day went by without me receiving some form of sales message on LinkedIn. And the worst part is that these messages are so generic and not personalised. 5. LinkedIn “influencers” Lastly, let’s talk about these “Top Voices” on LinkedIn who for the most part provide little to no value. I’m talking about those who share generic posts such as “pay your people more”, and “be kind” and having 10,000 people reacting to such posts as if they have paved the way for living on Mars. LinkedIn may be beneficial for some, but I grew to hate it more and more in the last few years. Perhaps it’s time for a new platform? One that is not centred around BS and vanity. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners with starting and scaling the ventures.
Innovator Founder Visa Changing?
Many wonder whether the current Innovator Founder Visa policy will change under the new Labour government in the UK. This is a question that only time will answer. However, I will outline some areas where change ought to be made. These proposed changes will ensure that the Innovator Founder Visa policy is robust and creates an attractive entrepreneurial ecosystem for international entrepreneurs. None of the content in this article, website, or my services constitute immigration advice or services. This content is presented as general information and on the basis of personal opinion. For immigration assistance, please refer to a regulated solicitor or immigration advisor. Before I highlight the potential areas of change to the Innovator Founder Visa regime, let me briefly describe this visa. I previously wrote an article and made a video on the flaws of the Innovator Founder visa policy, which you can read here. What is the Innovator Founder Visa? The Innovator Founder Visa is an immigration pathway designed for international entrepreneurs who may wish to set up an innovative business in the UK. Please refer to the UK Government website for full information about this visa. How should the Innovator Founder Visa policy change? There are several areas in which the Innovator Founder policy ought to change. An overview of the changes that I deem to be beneficial are: Let’s look at each one in more detail: Innovation One of the common issues I have observed since the launch of this visa is the innovation requirement and its interpretation. The “issue” with this requirement is that no specific factor determines innovation. For instance, patentability / Intellectual Property (IP), and no trade marks do not fall under this category. However, the problem with setting this as an absolute requirement is that many businesses, despite being innovative, cannot obtain patents. Thus, this would exclude a considerable number of founders and their businesses. Although this is a common problem, there is no clear fix either. Currently, determining innovation is subjective and up to each Endorsing Body to determine. Visa Fees This is sadly a problem that many founders are unhappy about. There are several costs associated with this visa, which are: With the first cost, the Endorsing Bodies have to charge applicants as this fee enables them to sustain their operations. However, the visa processing fee, payable to the UK government can be lowered. This is especially true when looking at other countries such as the Netherlands, where a similar visa costs around €380, in contrast to £1,191 for this visa. However, it is important to state that the Dutch self-employment visa only lasts for one year and has to be renewed. Nevertheless, given the lower number of applicants for the Innovator Founder Visa, in contrast to other visa routes such as the Skilled Worker pathway, it is sensible to consider lowering this fee. The Endorsing Bodies Firstly, allow me to clarify that this is not to criticise the current Endorsing Bodies. However, I believe that a higher number of Endorsing Bodies means more options for founders and additional sector-specific expertise. However, a potential issue that may arise from increasing the number of Endorsing Bodies is a potential conflict of interest between them. But looking at other countries such as Canada, we notice that applicants have more choices when it comes to third-party approval. With Canada in particular, founders have the option to either raise investment from VCs, or angel investors or enrol in incubation programs (but they do come with a cost). These are some of the areas in which the Innovator Founder visa policy may be reviewed and potentially changed. I have made a video on this topic as well, which you can view below: If you require business assistance as an international founder, have a look at my services designed for founders wishing to set up a business in the UK here. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme. Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses.