10 On The Weekend is a weekly (-ish) feature in IMI, the concept of which is simple: Each time, we ask the same ten questions of a different IMI Pro, letting readers get to know the interviewee on a more personal and informal level than they might during the ordinary course of business.
Our guest this week is Vipan Sharma, Founder at Gateway2World
How do you spend your weekends?
I balance weekends between family time and golf, which helps me unwind and network.
I also travel to explore residency destinations we recommend to clients and stay updated on global mobility trends and immigration policy changes to better serve our HNWI families
What are your top three business goals this year?
My three main goals are:
1. Expand Gateway2World’s European residency portfolio.
2. Scale our EB-5 practice for Indian families.
3. Build Gateway2World’s through leadership in investment migration.
What’s your biggest business concern right now?
Ensuring every client receives the right program match, not just the popular one. With so many residency options available, families are often tempted toward trending programs without understanding if it truly fits their timeline, budget, and goals.
My biggest concern is preventing mismatched applications that waste time and money.
Which book is on your nightstand right now?
Honestly, I don’t read many books; I stay informed through industry reports, immigration policy bulletins, and real-time updates from government sources.
The investment migration field changes too quickly for books to remain current. I spend my reading time on regulatory updates, case law changes, and expert analysis from migration professionals worldwide
How and when did you first get into the investment migration industry?
I founded Aircruise Travels in 1996, initially specializing in luxury inbound tours for international clients.
Throughout decades of working with high-net-worth travelers, I saw the growing need for global mobility solutions; families asking about residency options, children’s education abroad, and tax planning strategies.
As investment migration programs evolved globally, I recognized Indian families needed specialized expertise navigating Portugal Golden Visas, EB-5, Dubai residency, and understanding India-specific challenges like forex regulations and source of funds documentation.
That insight led to Gateway2World, dedicated entirely to helping Indian HNWI families secure strategic residency and citizenship worldwide.
For the last four years, we’ve been focused exclusively on residency and citizenship advisory, helping families achieve global mobility and secure their future across multiple jurisdictions
What was your proudest moment as a service provider?
Honestly, it’s not one moment; it’s every time a family we’ve helped calls from their new home in Dubai, Portugal, or Greece to share how they’ve settled in.
When parents tell us their children are thriving in European universities as residents, or when a family thanks us for helping them achieve the global mobility they dreamed of, that’s when we feel truly proud.
We’re not just processing applications; we’re helping families materialize their dreams of living across borders, and that never gets old.
Which investment migration market development has surprised you the most in the last year?
How quickly Indian HNWI families have shifted from reactive visa solutions to proactive residency planning. Five years ago, families came to us in crisis. Now, parents with 15-year-old children are planning EB-5 strategically.
The market maturity has been remarkable.
If you could go ten years back in time, what business decision would you change?
I wish I had started residency and citizenship advisory a decade earlier. The families we’ve helped in the last four years could have benefited from strategic planning much sooner.
Starting earlier would have allowed us to guide more families through the golden era of investment migration, when programs were more accessible and less constrained.
What investment migration industry personality do you most admire?
Armand Arton, founder of Arton Capital. His global approach to residency and citizenship solutions and focus on client education through platforms like the Global Passport Index have set benchmarks for how the industry should serve HNWI families.
If all goes according to plan, what will you be doing five years from now?
Growing Gateway2World into a multi-city practice while maintaining our boutique, client-first approach. I want to reach more Indian families who need strategic residency guidance, build a team of specialists in each program area, and establish Gateway2World as the trusted name in investment migration.
Ultimately, I see myself helping families not just secure visas, but genuinely transform their global opportunities.
