The India–US Corridor: A Step-by-Step Guide for Indian Founders Entering the US Market

Phase 1: Preparation (Weeks 1–4)

Step 1: Complete the Readiness Index™. The Readiness Index™ is an 8-question assessment that evaluates your product maturity, team composition, funding stage, and corridor fit. It takes 90 seconds to complete and produces a personalised score and corridor recommendation within 24 hours.

Step 2: Corridor Assessment Call. If your Readiness Index™ score indicates a fit, Startup Runway will schedule a 30-minute corridor assessment call with Mahesh Nandyala. This call covers your specific market entry hypothesis, your target buyer persona, and the specific introductions that Startup Runway can facilitate.

Step 3: US Entity Formation. Startup Runway's legal partners will incorporate your US entity (typically a Texas LLC or Delaware C-Corp) within 5–7 business days. The cost is $300–$1,500 depending on the entity type and complexity.

Step 4: US Bank Account Opening. Startup Runway's banking partners will open your US business bank account within 2–4 weeks. This is the most common operational bottleneck for international founders, and Startup Runway's banking relationships significantly compress the timeline.

Phase 2: Arrival and Activation (Weeks 4–8)

Step 5: Richardson IQ® Onboarding. Upon arrival in Richardson, you will be onboarded to the Richardson IQ® campus — including desk space, meeting room access, mail handling, and introductions to the campus community.

Step 6: Enterprise Introduction Pipeline Activation. Within the first week of arrival, Startup Runway will begin activating your enterprise introduction pipeline. Every introduction is pre-qualified against your ICP and corridor — you will not be introduced to companies that are not relevant to your product and stage.

Step 7: Government Relationship Activation. Within the first 30 days, Startup Runway will facilitate introductions to the City of Richardson's economic development office, the relevant UT Dallas faculty and research labs, and (where applicable) the state-level agency contacts relevant to your sector.

Phase 3: Revenue and Scale (Weeks 8–16)

Step 8: Pilot Programme Structuring. The first US enterprise meeting typically produces a pilot programme request — a time-limited, scope-limited engagement that allows the enterprise buyer to evaluate your product without a full procurement commitment.

Step 9: Visa Application Support. If you are pursuing an O-1A or EB-1A visa, the government relationship infrastructure at Richardson IQ® provides the institutional documentation that immigration attorneys need.

Step 10: First Revenue Milestone. The target for India–US corridor companies is first US revenue within 90 days of arrival.

Step 11: Post-Landing Support Activation. After the initial soft landing period, Startup Runway's post-landing support structure provides continued access to government relationships, ongoing enterprise introductions, and operational support for the first 12 months of US operations.

Step 12: Scale Planning. At the 90-day mark, Startup Runway conducts a scale planning session covering hiring strategy, office space options, investor introduction strategy, and the specific government procurement pathways most relevant to your sector and stage.