Client story
Client's Background
Where they started
The client was young but already an accomplished entrepreneur in the USA: he had capital and ambitions to expand beyond the American market. Europe appealed to him both as a market and as a base—a platform from which to conduct business throughout the EU.
Why the standard route did not work
Initially, he had doubts about whether his young age would be an obstacle: he believed serious programs were designed for mature investors. In reality, Italy's investment residence visa focuses not on age but on capital and project merit—youth presents no impediment whatsoever.
What BRIDGES had to solve
Among the program's available pathways, entry through an innovative startup appealed to him most—both in spirit (he comes from an entrepreneurial, technology-focused background) and in terms of the accessible threshold of €250,000. This provided a European base through a format he understood—an active project rather than a passive asset.
Why a standard answer would not do
The client came to BRIDGES to make an early, well-informed decision: to secure an Italian investment residence visa through a startup and establish a European foothold at the beginning of his career, rather than years later.
I am young, my business is in the USA, and I wanted a European base to enter the EU market. I had doubts about whether it was too early for such programs. Sergey explained that age is irrelevant here—what matters is capital and the project. We proceeded through an innovative startup, which aligns with my mindset, and the threshold is reasonable. We obtained the residence visa, and now I have a European foothold at the very beginning of my journey. The best move is to make it early.
