How two founders are digitizing immigration in APAC

This article is a part of Startup Spotlight, a series that features young, up-and-coming startups.

Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. / Photo credit: TEA / 123RF

Aaron Yip, the son of immigrants who moved to the US without degrees or English skills, saw how confusing visa systems held people back. After traveling to over 30 countries, he met Priscilla Yeung, who faced her own visa struggles despite her professional success.

Together, they founded Issa Compass to rebuild the immigration process into a simple, digital experience.

😟 Problem

Applying for long-term visas in the Asia-Pacific region is often confusing and inconsistent. Applicants face conflicting online information and opaque agencies that add surprise fees. This leads to preventable rejections from simple mistakes.

These errors cost remote workers, expats, and employers significant time and money. For many, it can jeopardize their ability to live and work in the country, disrupting their stability and career opportunities.

💡 Solution

Issa Compass is a digital platform that makes the visa process transparent and predictable. It uses data from thousands of successful applications to guide users.

• It instantly shows users which visas they qualify for.
• The app provides a clear checklist with ordered steps and deadlines.
• It automatically checks documents for errors or missing information.
• It prepares and files all government forms correctly.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

📊 Market size

Demographic shifts and the rise of remote work are pushing governments to attract mobile talent. The market for visa and compliance support in Thailand alone is an estimated US$3-4 billion opportunity.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, this market expands to a potential US$40 billion. Globally, the opportunity could reach US$600 billion, serving 300 million immigrants and tens of millions of remote workers.

🤝 Team

• Priscilla Yeung: Co-founder, CEO. Princeton graduate who worked at BCG across five countries and advised CEOs at companies like Foodpanda.
• Aaron Yip: Co-founder, CTO. Sold his first computer vision startup at 23 and served as head of software at a Y Combinator research lab.

🚀 Traction

• Reached US$1 million in annualized revenue within five months of launch.
• Receives over 10,000 inbound client inquiries per month.
• Maintains a 99% approval rate for its pre-qualified visa cases.
• Supported teams from global brands including Google, Meta, and Wonderfruit.
• Holds a 4.8/5 rating on Google.

🏆 Competition

💰 Financials