In today’s business ecosystem, where adaptability and innovation are non-negotiable, startups that simplify complex everyday challenges have an undeniable edge. But as Violetta Bonenkamp, a seasoned serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience across industries and continents, emphasizes, simplicity is never simple to achieve. This is why JustiGuide’s solution to navigating the U.S. immigration system is not only relevant but revolutionary. For entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business owners managing diverse teams, this AI-driven innovation promises to alleviate obstacles in hiring global talent or handling personal immigration hurdles.
Having navigated immigration systems herself during her entrepreneurial journey, Violetta sees a deeper significance in JustiGuide’s mission as both a practical tool and a social equalizer. For those looking to hire internationally or relocate for opportunities, JustiGuide offers automation, accuracy, and accessibility, marking a turning point in how tech can humanize bureaucracy.
The Complex World of U.S. Immigration: Why JustiGuide Stands Out
Every entrepreneur understands the frustration of paperwork, regulatory barriers, and legal uncertainty, especially when expanding into international markets. But immigration systems take these challenges to the next level. According to a report by the USCIS, 95% of immigration applications require extensive legal knowledge, leaving individuals and businesses grappling with delays, high costs, or outright rejection.
Here’s where JustiGuide positions itself as a game-changer. Founded by Nigerian immigrant Bisi Obateru, the platform was born from his own grueling experience navigating the U.S. system. Over three million undocumented immigrants, and even legally residing temporary workers who make up significant portions of tech startups, are directly impacted by these challenges that JustiGuide aims to solve. Let’s dive into the key elements that set it apart.
What JustiGuide Offers: Features Worth Exploring
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Dolores AI – Legal Expertise at Scale
The core of JustiGuide is its AI assistant, “Dolores,” trained on over 40,000 U.S. legal cases sourced from the Free Law Project. Instead of charging thousands for legal consultations, Dolores simplifies:- Determining visa eligibility
- Assisting in completing immigration forms
- Offering advice in 12 languages to break communication barriers
The aim? Empower users to handle the simpler aspects of their migration without always turning to expensive lawyers.
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Lawyer Connections Made Easy
For startups hiring globally, finding reputable immigration lawyers is often a daunting task. JustiGuide is currently registering as a law firm so that businesses and individuals alike can directly connect to vetted professionals via their platform. Imagine the time saved by having immigration documents reviewed or cases handled seamlessly without hours of research on legal services. -
Cost-Effective and Efficient
By automating significant parts of the legal process, JustiGuide focuses lawyers’ time on reviewing rather than completing paperwork. This adjustment alone can cut legal costs by up to 65%, making immigration services more accessible across socioeconomic brackets. -
Data Privacy – A Priority
Knowing the importance of trust, the platform uses encrypted, on-premises data storage. Violetta notes this as a critical move in the age of GDPR and other privacy regulations, ensuring users’ sensitive legal data remains secure while retaining transparency. -
Intentional Outreach and Testing
JustiGuide kicked off its journey by leveraging platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn, and Facebook to directly answer immigration questions and test how Dolores performed in real-time. Now, with 47,000+ active users and award-winning recognition such as the "Best Pitch" at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, its proof of concept is clear.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Maximizing JustiGuide as a Founder
Navigating immigration systems as an employer or entrepreneur can be daunting, but JustiGuide positions itself as a tool for strategic simplification. Here’s how you can take full advantage:
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Define Your Specific Needs
- Are you hiring international talent who need H1-B sponsorship?
- Are you personally dealing with a green card or business visa application?
Understanding where your pain points lie will help you fully utilize Dolores' features.
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Leverage Multilingual Features
If hiring in regions like Latin America, Southeast Asia, or other non-English-speaking countries, use Dolores’ multilingual capabilities to avoid misunderstandings that could cost you time and resources. -
Plan Strategically with Legal Aid
Use the automated guidance from Dolores while saving more complex legal issues for the attorneys on JustiGuide’s platform. This dual approach ensures comprehensive legal compliance without overspending. -
Stay Informed on Policy Changes
JustiGuide integrates updated legal insights, alerting users to potential disruptions like stricter visa policies. For Violetta, having access to updated legal intelligence can also form the foundation of long-term risk mitigation strategies.
Most Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make with Immigration Processes
Bonenkamp emphasizes that while tools like JustiGuide can provide immense value, the onus is still on entrepreneurs to avoid common pitfalls:
- Waiting Too Long to Start the Process: Immigration, especially U.S. immigration, requires extensive timelines. Accounting for delays ahead of time is a must.
- Underestimating Regional Regulations: Many entrepreneurs overlook state-level nuances of immigration policies, which can stall a candidate’s legal setup.
- Ignoring Privacy Concerns: Don’t settle for tools or services that fail to clearly inform you how your data is being stored or used, this is non-negotiable, especially for startups managing sensitive information.
- Over-relying on AI Without Collaboration: While Dolores reduces complexity, having appropriate personnel to verify and customize the outputs is a critical step.
The Bigger Picture: AI-Powered Immigration for Business Growth
What makes initiatives like JustiGuide so compelling? In Violetta’s words, “We’re witnessing AI take bureaucratic pain points and turn them into relatable, human-centered solutions.” Much like the gamepreneurship principles embedded in her Fe/male Switch startup, JustiGuide represents AI as a facilitator for inclusivity, diversity, and smoother pathways to opportunity.
According to a Gartner study, AI-driven platforms will contribute to $3.9 trillion in business value globally by the end of 2025. Companies like JustiGuide exemplify how AI can scale beyond chatbots and take on significant practical challenges, a consideration for any entrepreneur striving to build a modern business.
Final Takeaway: Where Function Meets Vision
As Violetta Bonenkamp notes, “Entrepreneurs don’t lack for ideas. What they lack is time, and it’s tools like JustiGuide that give it back by demystifying time-sinks like legal navigation.” With its features focused on both individuals and organizations, JustiGuide is well on its way to becoming a pioneering figure in the legaltech world.
For those looking to expand globally or hire diverse teams, tools like JustiGuide are a must-have, not just for optimizing processes, but also for actively building inclusive, globally-minded companies. Learn more about the innovative solutions offered by JustiGuide’s AI-powered platform. It’s a testament to how purposeful technology can break barriers, taking businesses, and individuals, across borders with confidence.
FAQ
1. What is JustiGuide and what problem does it solve?
JustiGuide is an AI-powered platform designed to simplify and reduce the cost of navigating the U.S. immigration system. It helps immigrants and businesses understand immigration laws, find visa eligibility, and connect with legal professionals. Discover JustiGuide on TechCrunch
2. Who founded JustiGuide and why?
JustiGuide was founded by Bisi Obateru, a Nigerian immigrant who faced challenges navigating the U.S. immigration system himself. His experiences inspired him to build a tool to assist others. Learn about Bisi Obateru on TechCrunch
3. How does JustiGuide's AI assistant “Dolores” work?
Dolores is trained on over 40,000 U.S. legal cases and assists users by determining visa eligibility, filling out immigration forms, and providing multilingual advice in 12 languages. Explore Dolores’ Features
4. Can JustiGuide connect users to immigration attorneys?
Yes, JustiGuide connects users to vetted immigration lawyers for document review or complex cases. The startup plans to register as a law firm to streamline this process. Understand Lawyer Connections with JustiGuide
5. What languages does JustiGuide support for immigration queries?
JustiGuide currently supports 12 languages, enabling users to seek immigration assistance in their native language, breaking down communication barriers. Learn about JustiGuide’s Multilingual Support
6. How does JustiGuide improve the cost-efficiency of immigration processes?
By automating significant parts of legal processes like completing forms, JustiGuide reduces the time lawyers spend on tasks, cutting legal costs by up to 65%. Check Cost-Effective Features of JustiGuide
7. What steps is JustiGuide taking to ensure user data privacy?
JustiGuide prioritizes data privacy by using encrypted, on-premises storage and sharing data only when necessary, such as during lawyer consultations. Read About JustiGuide’s Privacy Measures
8. What recognition has JustiGuide received for its innovation?
JustiGuide won the “Best Pitch” award at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in the Policy + Protection category, reflecting its impact and potential in legaltech. Discover JustiGuide’s Achievement at TechCrunch Disrupt
9. Who can benefit the most from JustiGuide’s services?
Entrepreneurs hiring international talent, individuals seeking visas or green cards, and immigration lawyers can greatly benefit from JustiGuide’s platform and its AI assistant. Check Out JustiGuide’s Target Users
10. What are the future plans for JustiGuide?
JustiGuide aims to expand its reach by partnering with government entities, licensing its technology, and becoming a key tool for transparent immigration processes. Learn About JustiGuide’s Future Ambitions
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.