Bengaluru: Indian entrepreneur Dhananjay Yadav, co-founder and CEO of AI hardware startup NeoSapien, has said he is puzzled after his United States visa application was rejected despite his prior academic history in the country and a planned investor-focused visit. The founder shared his experience in a detailed post on X on February 3, triggering wide discussion online about business travel visas and founder profiles.
Yadav said he attended a visa interview in New Delhi and had applied for a US visa after receiving an invitation from one of his company’s investors and associates. According to his post, the visit was intended for investor meetings and business partnership discussions related to NeoSapien’s expansion.
NeoSapien is known for building a wearable AI device designed to track conversations and analyse emotions, positioning itself in the emerging human–AI interface space.
Says purpose of visit was investor meetings
In his public statement, Yadav explained that he had been invited by Hari Valiyath, co-founder of a US-based company, to meet him and potential partners. He said the trip was structured around business meetings and B2B partnership exploration rather than job-seeking or relocation.
He noted that he had previously studied in the United States and had also worked in Berlin, and therefore had no intention of overstaying or settling in the US through a short-term visa route.
Yadav wrote that he clearly stated during the interview that the purpose of travel was investor meetings and partnership discussions connected to his startup’s business development plans.
Salary question cited as possible factor
The entrepreneur said the visa interview included questions about his salary, which he described as minimal because he is a startup founder drawing a low fixed pay. He indicated that although the trip expenses were to be company-sponsored, the low personal salary figure may have influenced the decision.
He said the visa was rejected shortly after this part of the interaction and added that he found it difficult to understand the reasoning behind the refusal.
Business founders in early-stage startups often draw limited salaries while reinvesting capital into growth, product development and hiring. However, visa assessments in many countries also examine personal financial strength and ties to the home country.
Social media debate on visa criteria
Yadav’s post led to a broader social media debate on how visa officers assess founder titles, startup roles and financial indicators. Several users commented that visa decisions are often based less on designation and more on demonstrable financial stability, travel purpose clarity and return assurances.
Some users suggested that founders with low declared salaries may face additional scrutiny, even if their companies are venture-backed or investor-supported. Others said sponsorship details and visa category alignment are critical in business travel cases.
A few commenters attributed stricter outcomes to tightening immigration attitudes and more cautious screening of short-term business travellers. Others defended the decision-making process, saying that visa officers rely on standard risk parameters and documented financial capacity rather than entrepreneurial titles.
No official reason typically given
US visa authorities generally do not provide detailed public explanations for individual visitor visa refusals beyond standard legal categories. Rejected applicants are often informed under which section of immigration law the refusal falls, but not the full internal reasoning.
Immigration experts note that applicants can usually reapply, often with stronger documentation, clearer category selection, and additional financial or business proof if relevant.
Startup travel and documentation challenges
The episode has also highlighted a recurring challenge for startup founders — aligning early-stage business realities with traditional visa evaluation frameworks. Founders may hold senior titles but show modest personal salaries and fluctuating company revenues, which can appear inconsistent in conventional screening models.
Experts advise startup applicants travelling for investor or partnership meetings to prepare detailed documentation, including invitation letters, funding proof, company registration records, bank statements and travel sponsorship letters.
Conclusion
Yadav’s case has sparked conversation around how entrepreneurial profiles are interpreted in visa processes and the hurdles startup founders may face while pursuing global partnerships. While visa decisions remain discretionary, the incident has drawn attention to the need for clearer category matching and stronger documentation for business travel by early-stage founders.