Global Talent Visa, Demystified: Real Talk for Founders
An honest, founder-first conversation with legal experts, VCs, and founders who have lived it.
Thinking about the Global Talent Visa - or already on it but still figuring things out? This session is for international founders who want clear, practical guidance.
You will walk away with:
What the Global Talent Visa actually is and what matters in a strong application
A breakdown of the latest UK immigration White Paper - what may be changing and what is coming next
What founders wish they had known earlier - the stuff you will not find on official websites
Bonus: How to use your visa status strategically when fundraising, hiring, and scaling.
Expect a high-quality room, sharp legal insight, and honest advice from people who have been through it.
Agenda
09:30 – 09:45: Arrivals, coffee & connection
09:45 – 10:30: Panel discussion moderated by Alex Hood (Fragomen) with
Kimberley Ong (Fragomen – UK immigration for founders & families)
Cansu Deniz Bayrak (Ecosystem builder & GTV recipient)
Alexander Chikunov (VC & GTV recipient)
10:30 – 11:00: Open Q&A + community networking
Who Should Attend
Founders applying for or navigating the Global Talent Visa
Visa holders exploring funding, hiring, or scaling
VCs and ecosystem operators supporting international talent
About Speakers
Alex Hood – Manager and Solicitor, Fragomen
Alex is a Manager and Solicitor based in Fragomen’s London office with over 12 years of experience in UK immigration law. As part of the Worldwide Private Client Practice, he advises clients on complex immigration matters across the private client spectrum. Alex acts for families and high net worth individuals and assists with Global Talent applications (with a particular focus on the tech sector), Tier 1 Investor and Innovator applications, family reunion cases, settlement, citizenship and applications under the EU Settlement Scheme. He also co-leads the firm’s UK sports immigration practice.
Alexander Chikunov - Founding Partner, Verb Ventures
Founding Partner at Verb Ventures, a London-based venture capital firm working on building an exciting international portfolio of high-potential early-stage companies. We partner with Late Seed/Series A stage companies, with a focus on B2B and B2B2C marketplaces and platform solutions.
Cansu Deniz Bayrak - Global Director Tech Partnership, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Cansu leads global tech partnerships at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), a non-profit providing governments with advisory, policy, and delivery via tech for good.
As an independent consultant, she works with various UK/European asset managers on their impact investing and early-stage venturing strategy, as well their impact management and measurement frameworks. She also works directly with hardware and/or impact entrepreneurs via programmes like Virgin Impact Startups or my teaching engagements at LSE, Imperial, and Bayes.
Kimberley Ong – Senior Associate, Fragomen
With over a decade of experience in UK immigration law, Kimberley has been advising clients since 2015 across the full spectrum of private client immigration. Her practice spans from Global Talent visa applications - where she has developed a particular niche - through to sponsored and unsponsored work routes, student, visitor visas, and complex family reunion and EU Settlement Scheme applications. She is trusted by a wide-ranging clientele including ultra-high-net-worth individuals, VIPs, entrepreneurs, founders, and SMEs. Known for her strategic, thorough, and hands-on approach, Kimberley is deeply committed to achieving successful outcomes for her clients.
Powered by Fragomen
Fragomen is the global leader in immigration law. As an Oasis partner, they are opening up what’s often behind closed doors - bringing expertise to the community. To learn more: https://www.fragomen.com/