Why America Still Wins the Dreams of Immigrants (feat. Sai Dhanak)
An immigrant entrepreneur reflects on risk, belonging, & ambition, exploring why America remains unmatched for dreamers, how immigration debates miss the point, and why starting a business is key.
In a fast-paced follow-up episode of the Snowpal Podcast, host Krish Palaniappan sits down again with Sai Dhanak, CEO and co-founder of Deduction, for a refreshingly human conversation. Unlike their previous deep dive into product and technology, this discussion focuses on identity, immigration, risk, and what it really means to pursue ambition in America.
What unfolds is an honest reflection on belonging, entrepreneurship, and the quiet trade-offs that shape immigrant lives.
Podcast
Immigration, Risk, and the American Dream — on Apple and Spotify.
A Global Beginning
Sai Dhanak’s story doesn’t start in Silicon Valley. He was born in the UK to parents whose journeys spanned continents—his father, a refugee from Uganda, and his mother, an immigrant who moved from India to Canada before settling in the UK. That layered global upbringing shaped his worldview long before he became a founder.
Eight years ago, Sai moved to the United States on an O-1 visa, renewing it annually before eventually obtaining a green card. Last year, he became a U.S. citizen—an achievement that carried both symbolic and personal weight .
Why America Still Pulls Dreamers In
When asked why so many people from the UK move to the U.S., Sai doesn’t hesitate.
America, he says, isn’t perfect—but it’s unmatched when it comes to ambition.
Other countries may excel in food, culture, or lifestyle, but the U.S. stands apart in its willingness to bet on people. Risk is culturally accepted here, and capital follows that mindset. In contrast, Sai describes the UK as a place where venture capital is scarce and risk-taking is often discouraged. In America, teenagers and college students are getting funded—and building real companies.
That appetite for risk, Sai argues, is what turns ideas into outcomes.
The Invisible Advantage of an Accent
In a moment of disarming honesty, Sai acknowledges something many immigrants quietly notice but rarely say out loud: his British accent has made life in America easier.
The admission isn’t framed as a complaint or a boast—just a recognition that perception shapes opportunity. It’s a subtle reminder that not all immigrant experiences are equal, even when talent and effort are.
India: Humanity, Chaos, and Contrast
Though Sai has never lived long-term in India, he has visited often and reflects deeply on what life there represents.
What draws him in is the density of humanity—life spilling into the streets, constant noise, shared existence. Compared to the quiet isolation that can define American life, India feels socially alive. He speaks fondly of the food, the produce, and the deep sense of being part of a larger human fabric.
At the same time, he’s candid about the challenges. Bureaucracy, corruption, and informal systems make daily life and work more complex. While millions navigate that reality successfully, Sai admits it’s a system he would personally struggle to adapt to.
Immigration vs. Sovereignty
When the conversation turns to immigration—a topic charged with emotion and politics—Sai reframes the debate.
Immigration itself, he argues, is overwhelmingly positive. But many concerns people express aren’t really about immigrants—they’re about sovereignty. Borders symbolize control, stability, and order. When people feel that control slipping, fear fills the gap.
By separating immigration from the concept of sovereignty, Sai offers a more constructive way to understand why the issue feels so divisive—and how it might be discussed more honestly.
Entrepreneurship and Mispriced Risk
The conversation closes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and this is where Sai becomes most philosophical.
Most people, he says, fundamentally misprice risk.
Starting a company feels dangerous, especially when compared to a steady paycheck. But that comparison ignores several realities:
Big companies are no longer stable by default
Regret is a form of risk we rarely measure
Not trying can be riskier than failing
When you factor in long-term fulfillment, career volatility, and personal ambition, Sai believes entrepreneurship may actually be the least risky option for many people.
His message isn’t reckless optimism—it’s careful recalibration.
Still Here, Still Building
If Sai could live anywhere and do anything, his answer is simple: he’d still choose America, and he’d still be starting companies. And one day, after his journey with Deduction ends, he hopes to trade boardrooms for piano keys and become a jazz pianist.
For now, though, he’s exactly where he wants to be—building, risking, and fully participating in the American experiment.