When I first came to the US, almost 4 years ago, it was hard to imagine that I would end up where I am today. After a mildly successful startup out of college and two failed attempts to start a new venture in Portugal, I thought my times as an entrepreneur were gone. After all, I was coming to business school with the promise of a juicy 6-figure salary. I underestimated two effects: a startup-friendly environment, not only at MIT but later in the Bay Area, and my appetite to build new products and businesses with the implied increased risk.

Today I feel the same rush I felt the day I decided to turn down my well-paid job offer out of college and start my own company. There is a huge difference though – the amount of support and encouragement I’ve been getting from the startup community in the Bay Area is hardly comparable to that I received in Portugal and Spain 12 years ago.

As an immigrant in the US, it is now evident to me why this country has been able to sustain its leadership in innovation – the creative energy and support to entrepreneurship is incomparable to what I’ve seen in other parts of the world and it pushes you to come up with new ideas and build new products, some of which will change the world.

This is day 1 as immigrant entrepreneur in the US and I’m hoping this is the beginning of my contribution to change the world.