Rejected 4 instances in H-1B lottery, Google worker give up job and constructed startup
4 min learnUp to date: Could 31, 2026 01:19 AM IST
Rejected 4 instances within the H-1B visa lottery, a Google worker feared he must depart the USA and transfer again to Nepal. As an alternative, he give up his high-paying job, launched an AI startup and ultimately secured a inexperienced card.
Karki not too long ago shared his journey on X, saying: “GOT OUR GREEN CARDS TODAY!”
Within the publish, he revealed that two years in the past, he was rejected from Google’s H-1B visa lottery for the fourth time. The repeated setbacks left him contemplating a transfer to Canada and even returning to Nepal.
“I used to be taking a look at having to pack every little thing up. Strive Canada, or return to Nepal, and dwell hundreds of miles away from the individual I really like. That evening I got here house and I used to be freaking out. My spouse and I sat on the kitchen desk and talked for a few hours. She instructed me we had sufficient saved to remain afloat, and that this was my dream in spite of everything. That was all of the conviction I wanted,” he wrote.
At 27, Karki walked away from a Google job that paid round Rs 2.8 crore a 12 months. The choice was daunting, given how a lot he stood to lose.
Nevertheless, as a substitute of hesitating, he threw himself into entrepreneurship. He started testing concepts, discussing them with mates, mentors and fellow founders in San Francisco. Throughout that course of, he realised that what he actually wished was to not work for firms, however to construct one himself.
GOT OUR GREEN CARDS TODAY! Right here’s the complete story, no BS, and a particular thanks to my dad.
My dad did his postdocs at Harvard and Berkeley after I was a toddler. Then his marriage ended, and he needed to care for my brother and me on his personal.
Going again to Nepal was the one… pic.twitter.com/DK7a16enlH
— Pratik Karki (@ai_evals) Could 27, 2026
“Someplace in that haze, I found out what I really wished to construct. The definitive human knowledge layer for frontier labs and enterprise AI groups. What had been an instinct from failed AI pilots at Google changed into an actual product alternative,” he wrote.
The primary style of success
Issues moved shortly after that realisation. At a founders’ occasion in San Francisco, he met his future co-founder, Mannat. Quickly after got here their first knowledge pilot and their first enterprise capital funding.
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“Unexpectedly, we had an actual firm on our arms,” Karki mentioned.
Across the similar time, he employed a lawyer and utilized for an O-1 visa, which was authorized. His inexperienced card course of adopted quickly after.
Karki additionally spoke concerning the progress of his firm, Anthromind, which has since taken off and given him the chance to work with a number of notable firms.
Reflecting on the milestone, he wrote: “Right now my spouse and I are each holding our inexperienced playing cards. I maintain trying down at mine and feeling exuberant. Two immigrants, one firm, one kitchen desk dialog that modified every little thing.”
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Karki started his publish by thanking his father, whom he credit for uplifting his dream of transferring to the USA and constructing a life there.
“My dad did his postdocs at Harvard and Berkeley after I was a toddler. Then his marriage ended, and he needed to care for my brother and me on his personal. Going again to Nepal was the one approach. He walked away from every little thing he had inbuilt America for us. We moved to my grandparents’ home in a small room within the attic,” Karki wrote.
He added that his father’s journey motivated him to return to the US and proceed the life his father had as soon as envisioned there however had been unable to pursue.
Karki ended his publish by dedicating the achievement to his father, writing: “Baba, this one is for you, because of all of your sacrifices and classes.”
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