Global Entrepreneur In Residence

Global Entrepreneur In Residence (GEIR)

The purpose of the Global Entrepreneur In Residence Program (GEIR) is to provide provide international students with opportunity to launch their entrepreneurial endeavors in Northeast Ohio.

Apply

If you are a international student entrepreneur at the ideation or startup phase, please apply using the following application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Apply Here

Support

Your monetary contribution to Global Cleveland’s GEIR program helps keep international entrepreneurs in Cleveland. We appreciate your support.

Partner

If you are a university with international students, provide technical assistance or mentoring for entrepreneurs in various fields, and want to become an affiliated partner, please contact us using the button below.

How It Works

Our program manager meets with possible founder candidates who want to move to Cleveland. Candidates include international seniors (graduate or undergraduate) at universities who want to start a company and newcomers with an idea who don’t have work permission pathways.

Founders submit their business plan/idea for evaluation by a 7-person committee made up of stakeholders and independent experts.

Founders are selected and onboarded.

Founders spend 8-10 hours a week supporting Global Cleveland’s entrepreneurial work or that of the school. Other time is spent developing their company.

Universities lend resources such as:

Market research
Maker spaces
Evaluative feedback

Local resources are also available to founders, like VC networks and incubators.

Within 12-18 months the founder transitions to an O-1A visa once enough capital has been raised.

The Benefits of Our Community Partner Model

Our EIR program will partner with various colleges and universities in the region to maximize the applicant pool and access to resources for founders.

Gains of the GEIR Program

Our EIR program will partner with various colleges and universities in the region to maximize the applicant pool and access to resources for founders.