A Forbes report on billionaire immigrants who started their journey in the U.S. on an H-1B visa highlights a few notable Indian entrepreneurs. Among them, Raj Sardana, the founder and CEO of Innova Solutions, stands out for building a $2 billion fortune from scratch.
 

Early Life and Struggles in India

Born in Delhi in 1960 to Punjabi parents, Raj Sardana grew up in a modest household. His family, displaced during the 1947 partition, lived in government housing for 20 years, facing financial struggles and limited amenities.Despite these hardships, his parents prioritized education, which later became the foundation of his success.
 

Moving to the US and the H-1B Visa Opportunity

In 1981, Sardana moved to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech. With only $100 in his pocket, he took a job at the university cafeteria to support himself."I started my life from scratch here," Sardana recalled in an interview.After completing his studies, he obtained an H-1 visa—the early version of today’s H-1B visa—and secured a job at Howmet Aerospace, marking the beginning of his professional career in the U.S.
 

Corporate Career and Turning Point

By 1987, Sardana had advanced to a key role at Teledyne CAE, working on Tomahawk missile engines. However, when the Cold War ended in 1990, the company halted missile production, and he lost his job.

At the time, Sardana had:
✔ A newly purchased home with a mortgage
✔ A six-month-old daughter
✔ His parents living with him
✔ No stable income

Rather than returning to corporate America, Sardana took a bold leap into entrepreneurship.

Founding Innova Solutions and Building a $2 Billion Empire

With $25,000 in savings, he launched his own IT services business. Over the next decade, this small startup grew into Innova Solutions, a global IT and business solutions firm.

✔ Today, Innova Solutions employs over 50,000 people worldwide
✔ The company operates across multiple industries, including AI, cloud computing, and IT consulting
✔ Raj Sardana’s net worth has soared to $2 billion

An Inspiring Immigrant Success Story

Raj Sardana’s journey—from a Delhi-based immigrant with just $100 to a billionaire entrepreneur in the U.S.—is a testament to the impact of hard work, resilience, and the opportunities provided by the H-1B visa program.His story continues to inspire Indian entrepreneurs worldwide, proving that vision and perseverance can turn adversity into extraordinary success.