Key Takeaways
- DACA tech founders have been passed over by VCs citing immigration status — Bankable evaluates revenue only
- Software, SaaS, app development, and IT services businesses qualify with no citizenship requirement
- Funding for product development, engineering hires, marketing, and sales team expansion
- Revenue-based model means no equity dilution — keep 100% of your company
- 48-hour decisions — faster than any VC term sheet, with no pitch deck required
DACA founders have built companies that have raised venture capital, generated millions in ARR, and competed directly with Silicon Valley startups. But they've also been passed over by investors who — explicitly or implicitly — factor in immigration status when evaluating risk. Bankable doesn't play that game. Your MRR is your pitch deck.
The VC Gap for DACA Founders
Venture capital is theoretically citizenship-agnostic, but in practice, many VCs avoid DACA founders over concerns about work authorization stability. This bias has left talented tech entrepreneurs with limited options: bootstrap indefinitely, or find non-dilutive capital that doesn't care about their immigration status. Bankable is that option. We fund based on revenue, traction, and the business fundamentals — nothing else.
What Tech Startup Funding Covers
- Engineering talent: Salaries for developers, designers, and DevOps engineers
- Cloud infrastructure: AWS, GCP, Azure — the backbone of any SaaS business
- Product development: Feature buildout, QA, compliance requirements
- Sales and marketing: GTM team, demand generation, content marketing
- Working capital: Bridging the gap between ARR and cash collection
- Hardware: IoT devices, developer workstations, server equipment
Revenue-Based Funding: The Non-Dilutive Alternative
Unlike equity financing, Bankable's revenue-based tranche funding doesn't take a piece of your company. You retain 100% ownership while accessing the capital you need to scale. Repayment is a percentage of monthly revenue — aligned with how SaaS businesses actually generate cash. No fixed monthly payments, no board seats surrendered, no investor approval required for business decisions.
Requirements for DACA Tech Founders
| Factor | Standard |
|---|---|
| Immigration | DACA with EAD + SSN — no citizenship required |
| Business Revenue | $15,000+ monthly recurring or project revenue |
| Business Age | 12 months in operation (pilot customers count) |
| Business Type | SaaS, IT services, app development, consulting, managed services |
| Funding Range | $25K to $5M depending on ARR and growth rate |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable funds tech startups and established software businesses with no citizenship requirement. Your monthly recurring revenue and business trajectory are the qualification factors.
Bankable requires $15,000+ in monthly revenue as a baseline. For pre-revenue or early-stage startups, we recommend reaching that threshold first — either through consulting revenue, pilot customers, or initial product sales.
No. Bankable provides revenue-based debt capital, not equity investment. You keep 100% of your company's ownership.
Yes. SaaS is an ideal business model for Bankable's revenue-based tranche structure. MRR provides predictable revenue visibility that allows us to structure larger tranches with confidence.
We accept Stripe payouts, bank statements, QuickBooks exports, and SaaS platform analytics. We look for consistent monthly revenue and growth trends over the past 3–12 months.
Yes. Payroll and contractor costs for engineering talent are a covered use case. This is one of the most common ways tech founders deploy Bankable capital.
DACA recipients can legally form and operate US companies. Your EAD provides work authorization. The company's legal existence is separate from your personal immigration status.
Yes. An app generating $15K+ monthly through in-app purchases, subscriptions, or advertising is a strong Bankable candidate. We fund based on that revenue, not your app's valuation.
Significantly. A Bankable decision arrives in 48 hours. A seed raise typically takes 3–6 months and requires pitching 20–50 investors. For founders who need capital now, Bankable is the faster path.
Your funding is a business obligation between Bankable and your company. DACA's legal status does not affect your repayment obligation. We recommend maintaining current EAD renewal as standard business practice.