Case study
This blog post features the success story of one of our clients, who secured endorsement under the UK Global Talent Visa with Beyond Borders on the first attempt. Below, we explain step by step how we structured the application and built a strong case.
Client Profile
Our client was a Product Designer with significant expertise in product management and slightly more than 5 years of experience across various tech companies, including a crypto startup and an agency that launched proprietary technology apps and products.
Although the client had only slightly more than 5 years in the tech industry, their track record was remarkable. Our strategy was to leverage this strong track record and package it into a winning Global Talent Visa case.
Total timeline: 4 months from signing the offer to receiving the endorsement.
Our client was a Product Designer with significant expertise in product management and slightly more than 5 years of experience across various tech companies, including a crypto startup and an agency that launched proprietary technology apps and products.
Although the client had only slightly more than 5 years in the tech industry, their track record was remarkable. Our strategy was to leverage this strong track record and package it into a winning Global Talent Visa case.
Total timeline: 4 months from signing the offer to receiving the endorsement.
Challenges
The main challenge was that although the client had several examples of recognition, such as winning an international hackathon, these achievements were not individual. They were team victories to which the client had contributed. Therefore, we focused on strengthening her public profile by highlighting several examples of individual recognition.
Another significant challenge was work experience. One of the companies where the client made a significant contribution did not fully satisfy the definition of a product-led digital technology company, as her formal employer was an agency that owned a widely used fitness app. It was therefore crucial to choose the right strategy for positioning this experience without risking rejection on formal grounds.
The main challenge was that although the client had several examples of recognition, such as winning an international hackathon, these achievements were not individual. They were team victories to which the client had contributed. Therefore, we focused on strengthening her public profile by highlighting several examples of individual recognition.
Another significant challenge was work experience. One of the companies where the client made a significant contribution did not fully satisfy the definition of a product-led digital technology company, as her formal employer was an agency that owned a widely used fitness app. It was therefore crucial to choose the right strategy for positioning this experience without risking rejection on formal grounds.
Strengths
At the same time, her profile had several outstanding strengths:
At the same time, her profile had several outstanding strengths:
- Her work was top-ranked in the final round of a design competition.
- She contributed as a judge and co-organiser of a global startup competition.
- She was among the startup’s first employees, which provided a strong basis for demonstrating her significant contribution to its subsequent success, including its successful investment rounds.
Case structure
For this application, we submitted the maximum 10 pieces of evidence permitted by the Tech Nation guide.
Mandatory Criterion
To demonstrate that the applicant had been recognised as a leading talent in the technology sector, we submitted the following evidence:
Optional Criterion 2: Contribution Beyond the Applicant's Occupation
For Optional Criterion 2, to demonstrate the significance of the client’s contribution to the wider community, we developed a specific strategy:
Optional Criterion 3: Significant Technical and commercial Contribution
As product expertise was a strong part of our client’s profile, we provided 4 pieces of evidence to demonstrate it from different angles and mitigate the risk that any single experience might be considered ineligible under the Global Talent Visa criteria.
One example showed that her work contributed to an app being nominated several times as the App of the Day on the App Store. Another piece of evidence demonstrated her unique contribution through the speed and quality of the platform’s launch, as well as its success in securing investments and prestigious grants. Although the client was not a founder, her work significantly influenced the startup’s success during its early stages. We even managed to secure letters from VCs confirming the connection between the product’s quality and the company’s investment outcomes.
For this application, we submitted the maximum 10 pieces of evidence permitted by the Tech Nation guide.
Mandatory Criterion
To demonstrate that the applicant had been recognised as a leading talent in the technology sector, we submitted the following evidence:
- Evidence of victory in an international hackathon. Although it was a team victory, we emphasized the significance and leadership of the client’s contribution to the team’s ultimate success in the competition.
- Victory in a design competition. In reality, the client did not win the competition. However, we emphasized that being among the top-ranked submissions placed the client’s work significantly above the majority of entries, putting it in the top 3% of all submissions.
- Evidence that the client acted as a judge in a startup competition. We not only demonstrated the fact that the client served as a judge, but also explained the prestige and international significance of the competition.
Optional Criterion 2: Contribution Beyond the Applicant's Occupation
For Optional Criterion 2, to demonstrate the significance of the client’s contribution to the wider community, we developed a specific strategy:
- We aimed to demonstrate that the client deliberately focuses on contributing to the UK community.
- We aimed to show that it is specifically the UK startup community that benefits from her expertise.
- Co-organising a startup competition, highlighting its importance to the UK startup ecosystem and the client’s contribution to it.
- Acting as a judge and mentor during a hackathon, where we demonstrated her cross-disciplinary expertise and showed how she uses it to help startups become stronger and more successful.
- Speaking at 2 events with more than 100 attendees, demonstrating her willingness and ability to share her expertise with a wider professional community.
Optional Criterion 3: Significant Technical and commercial Contribution
As product expertise was a strong part of our client’s profile, we provided 4 pieces of evidence to demonstrate it from different angles and mitigate the risk that any single experience might be considered ineligible under the Global Talent Visa criteria.
One example showed that her work contributed to an app being nominated several times as the App of the Day on the App Store. Another piece of evidence demonstrated her unique contribution through the speed and quality of the platform’s launch, as well as its success in securing investments and prestigious grants. Although the client was not a founder, her work significantly influenced the startup’s success during its early stages. We even managed to secure letters from VCs confirming the connection between the product’s quality and the company’s investment outcomes.
Letters of recommendations & Personal Statement
To further strengthen the application, we carefully selected three referees whose letters aligned closely with the supporting evidence.
The personal statement addressed the key question: “How will the UK digital technology sector benefit from your work?” Rather than relying on generic or aspirational statements, we outlined the challenges facing the UK startup ecosystem today and explained how the client’s extensive experience could help address them.
To further strengthen the application, we carefully selected three referees whose letters aligned closely with the supporting evidence.
- 2 referees focused on the client’s outstanding product design expertise and the impact of his work on product success, as detailed in the evidence submitted under OC3.
- The 3d referee highlighted his contributions to the wider technology community. This referee was the founder of an international startup community to which the client had actively contributed.
The personal statement addressed the key question: “How will the UK digital technology sector benefit from your work?” Rather than relying on generic or aspirational statements, we outlined the challenges facing the UK startup ecosystem today and explained how the client’s extensive experience could help address them.
Conclusion
In less than 4 months from signing the agreement with us, the client successfully secured UK Global Talent endorsement on the first attempt.
What was even more surprising was that our client was relatively young, under 30 years old, yet she was endorsed under the Exceptional Talent category rather than Exceptional Promise. This was a strong indication that age does not determine eligibility - what matters is the level and quality of the applicant’s achievements.
In less than 4 months from signing the agreement with us, the client successfully secured UK Global Talent endorsement on the first attempt.
What was even more surprising was that our client was relatively young, under 30 years old, yet she was endorsed under the Exceptional Talent category rather than Exceptional Promise. This was a strong indication that age does not determine eligibility - what matters is the level and quality of the applicant’s achievements.
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