Gale, Startup Using AI to Streamline US Visa Application Process We raised $2.7 million in seed funds for our employers and workers.
Its co-founder, who is all immigrants, has launched a startup with the 2025 winter cohort of Y-combinators, following their own frustration navigating the US visa system.
The trio – Rahul Gudis, Rishab Zambale and Hakun Ching told Business Insider they found the process confused, delayed and bureaucratic.
“If I wanted to answer questions about my visa status, I would be able to minimize the chance of a lawyer like four business days coming back to me,” said Goodis, who previously worked for Tesla and Nvidia.
He added that the traditional approach of using a law firm means that cases could be dragged over for several weeks unless the client is willing to pay a premium fee. “Simple questions need to be communicated up and down the chain of staff and lawyers, so multiple steps can be taken to resolve them,” Gudise said.
Gale's web-based platform automates many of the administrative tasks involved in Visa applications. Instead of manually filling out long forms, users can upload resumes and passports for processing by the Gale platform. Authorized immigration attorneys will conduct a final review prior to submission. Currently, startups are focusing on H-1B visas.
Gudise said the goal is to free up lawyer time by onboarding “as fast as possible” for applicants and automating repetitive tasks.
“Attorneys don't have to spend time on busy work or rely on paralegals to prepare documents,” Gudise says. The team aims to answer client questions within hours rather than days.
Compliance is another important focus for Gale. Gudise said most law firms will hand over the process once the visa is approved, ensuring employers will handle the ongoing requirements themselves.
Gale is building a platform to monitor changes such as job titles and promotions that may affect workers' visa status. The team is also developing integrations with the company's HR system, helping employers stay complacent as requirements change.
Gale plans to use the new funds to boost compliance tools and grow their team. Building new partnerships with employers and immigration lawyers is also a key focus as the company expands, Qin told BI.
“At the end, we want to promote legal immigration to the state and help employers be obedient. This is how we do that on a sustainable basis,” Gudise added.
The startup seed round was led by Axiom Partners and introduced participation from the Pioneer Fund, 468 Capital, Elevation Capital and Y Combinator.
This is the exclusive view of the pitch deck Gale, which is used to raise $2.7 million.
