When Sophie Alcorn was a shy little girl in Southern California, she would follow her father, an immigration lawyer, to his office on Saturdays. If she managed to send a fax correctly to the INS, she’d earn a sugar cube as a reward. That small ritual planted the seeds of what would become her life’s calling.

Years later, after resisting the path of “becoming just like dad,” Sophie returned to immigration law on her own terms. Today, she’s one of the most trusted voices guiding international founders through the complexities of building companies in the United States. She’s written for TechCrunch, hosts her own podcast, and has built a practice that has helped countless entrepreneurs secure visas and bring their ideas to life.

In this conversation, Sophie shares her journey from bookworm to advocate, why U.S. policy still lags in supporting immigrant founders, and how options like the O-1 and H-1B are shaping the future of global entrepreneurship. She also opens up about the emotional toll of navigating “extraordinary ability” visas, the myths that waste founders’ time, and what the U.S. stands to lose without a real startup visa.

It’s part story, part guide, and part call to action, a must-listen for any founder dreaming of scaling their vision on American soil.