Robert Kim's Path to the UK Global Talent Visa in AI

Case Overview

Client: Robert Kim

Visa type: UK Global Talent Visa (IT)

Goal: To obtain UK Global Talent Visa (IT)

Preparation time: 3 months

Endorsement time: 15 days

Robert Kim is the co-founder and CEO of Laminar, an open-source, end-to-end AI engineering platform specifically designed to support developers working with Large Language Models (LLMs). Laminar focuses on LLM observability by enabling the collection of trace data, online and offline evaluations, dataset management, and labelling queues, all to accelerate data processes and improve LLM application quality and reliability.

Despite being at an early stage, Laminar has attracted significant engagement from the open-source community, with nearly 2,000 GitHub stars. What sets Laminar apart is its innovative use of LLMs themselves to enhance LLM development, through trace data analysis and the generation of evaluation datasets and test cases. This unique approach has earned the company a place in Y Combinator.

Prior to Laminar, Robert gained experience at prominent companies including Palantir and Bloomberg.

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Robert initially faced uncertainty about which endorsement criteria to pursue. Although he attended several interviews, these focused mainly on Laminar as a company rather than on his personal achievements. Furthermore, despite the innovative nature of his work, he had no patents granted or patent applications submitted. Identifying and assembling the correct evidence to demonstrate his expertise according to Tech Nation’s standards was a significant obstacle.

Tech Nomads advised Robert to pursue the innovation criteria and undertook comprehensive external research to validate his eligibility to Tech Nation. We also provided clear guidance on the evidence required to best present his skills and accomplishments, recommending acceptable alternatives to replace evidence that was unavailable.

Robert successfully received endorsement from Tech Nation, enabling him to proceed with his UK Global Talent Visa application.