In a LinkedIn post, entrepreneur Rahul Sasi reflected on a pivotal moment from 2012 when his visa application to enter the United States and speak at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference was rejected, a setback that could have stalled his international ambitions.
Nearly a decade and more of persistence later, his startup CloudSEK achieved a significant milestone by securing Series B2 funding, with backing from Connecticut Innovations, the state government’s venture fund, underscoring elevated confidence in India-built cybersecurity solutions on the global stage.
The journey from early rejection to attracting institutional support abroad highlights not only the resilience of founders but also the increasing global appetite for Indian tech ventures. It comes amid an era where US visa vetting now includes social media scrutiny and broader background checks, making international engagements more complex for entrepreneurs and professionals alike.
His story reflects how early challenges, including geopolitical and administrative hurdles in mobility, can be reframed as part of a larger success narrative as Indian innovators expand their global footprint.
