Turning potential into proof for exceptional talent worldwide
O-1 Buddy helps exceptional talent turn potential into proof. We guide founders, engineers, and researchers through the O-1 and EB-1A process, making extraordinary ability measurable, actionable, and achievable.
O-1 Buddy began with one immigrant's journey. I grew up in Montreal, Canada, and moved to San Francisco in June 2020 after meeting my wife in a bar in February 2020 while visiting a friend, just two weeks before the pandemic. Like many, I came to the U.S. on temporary visas, finishing college remotely on a B1, then joining a startup as its first hire on a J1.
The company, Funden, helped founders raise venture capital, and I later served as Director of Sales when it was acquired. After the transition year, I joined Deel and continued working with founders. Over time my focus shifted from fundraising to something more personal: helping immigrant founders move to the U.S. and secure talent visas and green cards.
Every day I spoke with incredible candidates who had the skills and achievements to qualify for an O-1 or EB-1A, but lacked the evidence or clarity to prove it. Most were missing just a few key signals to check three of the eight criteria. I began creating personalized game plans after each call to help them strengthen their profiles step by step.
Soon I started building AI tools to generate these plans automatically. When GPT-5 launched, the quality jumped. It made me realize something: what if I didn't need to meet every candidate to help them qualify? What if anyone, anywhere, could answer a few questions, see how close they are to a strong profile, and get a personalized roadmap to qualify within three to six months? That idea became O-1 Buddy.
O-1 Buddy exists to make extraordinary achievement accessible. We give candidates the clarity, structure, and tools they need to succeed. Founders, H-1B holders, students, researchers, artists, and filmmakers can all use O-1 Buddy to evaluate their profile, identify their next steps, and build toward approval with confidence. We are keeping it free forever.
We are building the first AI-powered immigration readiness platform. In less than 60 seconds, O-1 Buddy maps your achievements to official visa criteria, identifies gaps, and provides a personalized action plan. From there we help you grow your public profile through press, judging, publications, memberships, and more, then connect you with trusted legal partners when you are ready to file.
Everyone deserves the freedom to work where their talent thrives.
No shortcuts, no gray areas, only ethical, transparent pathways to qualification.
Every success story lifts another. We are building a network of global professionals who help each other succeed.
Immigration should not feel mysterious. We make the complex simple, the process transparent, and the goal achievable.
By 2027, our goal is to help 1,000 immigrants secure O-1 visas or EB-1A green cards. Beyond the numbers, we are creating a movement—a community of builders, founders, and dreamers who turn their achievements into opportunity.
Whether you are applying for your first visa, exploring a green card, or simply curious about your readiness, O-1 Buddy is your guide from ambition to approval.