FirstPathway Partners
FirstPathway Partners is a USCIS-designated EB-5 regional center founded in 2008 in Milwaukee that places foreign high-net-worth investors into qualifying U.S. TEA projects, helping them obtain permanent residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, with a 100% I-829 approval track record across nine completed projects and international distribution across more than 40 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What FirstPathway Partners does
FirstPathway Partners is a USCIS-designated EB-5 regional center founded in 2008 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm helps foreign high-net-worth investors obtain U.S. permanent residency by placing their capital into qualifying Targeted Employment Area (TEA) projects under the Department of Homeland Security EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, with the standard minimum investment set at $800,000. The firm's portfolio spans hospitality developments (JW Marriott Anaheim, KAIA exploration resort in Utah, Ameyalli thermal springs resort, TALUS golf resort with Montage and Pendry in California), commercial real estate (BMO Office Tower in Milwaukee, the $12 million Global Water Center), and franchise operations (Teriyaki Madness locations in Wisconsin and Illinois). The company maintains a 100% I-829 approval rate across nine completed projects, with cumulative project funding in excess of $600 million across more than 40 countries of investor origin.
FirstPathway monetizes EB-5 placements through transaction-based administrative and placement fees tied to each successful investor placement. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, FirstPathway Community Development (FPCD), administers the federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program and has received cumulative CDFI Fund allocations of $175.3 million across five awards (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, December 2025), the most recent being the largest single allocation in program history. The firm's go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting individual HNW investors, supported by Regional Centers in Wisconsin and Illinois, international offices in China and South Africa, and Regional Managing Directors covering Asia, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. Marketing operations span Western platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, podcasts), Chinese platforms (WeChat, Weibo), webinars, conferences, and referral/partner channels.
The business is privately held and founder/management-controlled, chaired and led by CEO Bob Kraft (also IIUSA President Emeritus) and President Dan Wycklendt. The senior team includes CFO Scott Miswald, Senior VP Jennifer Sherer, VP of Global Business Development Manuel Ortiz, Director of Legal Affairs Wilka Toppins, and country/regional directors across international markets. The company holds no patents, operates no API or SDK, and its core technology is regulatory and operational rather than algorithmic; competitive advantage stems from USCIS designation, multi-decade reputation, international distribution, and sustained industry association leadership.
FirstPathway Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FirstPathway Partners
- Legal name
- FirstPathway Partners
- Website
- https://firstpathway.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FirstPathway Partners is a USCIS-designated EB-5 regional center founded in 2008 in Milwaukee that places foreign high-net-worth investors into qualifying U.S. TEA projects, helping them obtain permanent residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, with a 100% I-829 approval track record across nine completed projects and international distribution across more than 40 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FirstPathway Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- EB-5 Investment Immigration Services
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immigration Outsourcing & Managed Services (BPO/RPO for Immigration) (THACAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Global Mobility & Cross-Border Tax/Immigration Advisory (THACAKAG)
Keywords
Where FirstPathway Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FirstPathway Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- EB-5 Investment Placement Fees: FirstPathway Partners earns placement fees from EB-5 investment projects by connecting qualifying investors with approved regional center developments. Revenue is generated through successful placement of investor capital into qualifying commercial enterprises.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard EB-5 qualifying investment of $800,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
FirstPathway Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FirstPathway Partners operates as a USCIS-designated EB-5 Regional Center that sponsors Targeted Employment Area (TEA) commercial developments and places foreign investors' qualifying capital — currently a minimum of $800,000 — into those projects in exchange for administration of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program pathway to U.S. permanent residency. The firm bundles immigration application processing (I-526E, I-829, adjustment of status) with access to a portfolio of real estate developments spanning luxury hospitality (Ameyalli, KAIA, TALUS, JW Marriott Anaheim), commercial office (BMO Tower), water technology (Global Water Center), and restaurant franchise projects, and operates a community development subsidiary (FPCD) administering New Markets Tax Credit allocations.
Product overview
FirstPathway Partners is an EB-5 Regional Center operator providing immigration investment services through the Department of Homeland Security EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The company offers a portfolio of TEA (Targeted Employment Area) designated projects including Ameyalli (thermal springs resort in Utah), KAIA (luxury exploration resort in Utah), TALUS (golf resort with Montage/Pendry hotels in California), JW Marriott Anaheim, Global Water Center, BMO Office Tower, and Teriyaki Madness franchises. The service portfolio spans real estate developments in hospitality, commercial, and industrial sectors. They also provide comprehensive immigration application processing support including I-526E and I-829 petition management. With an $800,000 minimum investment, investors and their dependents can obtain U.S. permanent residency through job-creating enterprises. The company maintains a 100% I-829 approval track record across 9 completed projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ameyalli: World's first thermal springs residential resort retreat in Midway, Utah - 28-acre property with 28 natural mineral hot springs, EB-5 investment project
- KAIA
- TALUS
Products and services
- EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Services Comprehensive EB-5 visa investment immigration services guiding foreign investors through the Department of Homeland Security EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with an $800,000 minimum investment into qualifying TEA projects, providing a pathway to U.S. permanent residency for the investor and dependents.
- Immigration Application Processing End-to-end immigration petition support covering I-526E petition filing, I-829 removal of conditions, and adjustment of status assistance for EB-5 investors and their dependents, with a reported 100% I-829 approval track record across 9 completed projects.
- Ameyalli EB-5 Project EB-5 qualifying TEA investment project: a 28-acre thermal springs residential resort retreat in Midway, Utah, featuring 28 natural mineral hot springs, wellness facilities, and luxury accommodations designed as a sanctuary for health and well-being.
- KAIA by Outdoor Citizen EB-5 Project EB-5 qualifying rural TEA investment project: a 40-unit ultra-luxury exploration resort in the clay canyons of Kanab, Utah, featuring wellness programs, adventure excursions, revitalization spa, and pools for luxury travelers.
- TALUS EB-5 Project EB-5 qualifying TEA investment project: an ultra-luxury golf resort development at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains in La Quinta, California, featuring branded Montage and Pendry Hotels and Residences, restaurants, spas, and the SilverRock Resort golf course.
- JW Marriott Anaheim EB-5 Project EB-5 qualifying investment project: a 466-room, 11-story luxury hotel in Anaheim, California near Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center, featuring a rooftop bar, fitness center, and extensive meeting space.
- Global Water Center EB-5 Project EB-5 qualifying investment project: a $12 million, 7-story, 88,025 square foot commercial building in Milwaukee housing 25 organizations, academic programs, corporations, and startups focused on water technology and research.
- BMO Office Tower EB-5 Project EB-5 qualifying investment project: a 25-story glass office tower in Milwaukee at 790 N. Water Street, completed in 2019, housing multiple tenants including Michael Best, Heartland Advisors, and BMO Harris.
- Teriyaki Madness Franchise EB-5 Projects EB-5 qualifying investment projects: multiple fast-casual restaurant franchise locations in Wisconsin and Illinois developed through EB-5 investment, including locations in Pewaukee, Wauwatosa, and Rolling Meadows.
Companies that use FirstPathway Partners
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
FirstPathway Partners technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
FirstPathway Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Relocation AfricaminorPartnership with Relocation Africa to serve investor needs in African markets, announced December 17, 2020. Supports FirstPathway's international investor acquisition strategy in South Africa and broader African region.
- IIUSA (Invest in the USA)coreLong-standing membership and active participation in IIUSA, the industry association for EB-5 regional centers. FirstPathway Partners has been a member for over 15 years and received the Long-Standing 15-Year Member Award in 2023.
- T2 DevelopmentcoreStrategic partnership on the KAIA development project. T2 Development partnered with FirstPathway Partners and Outdoor Citizen for the KAIA project, which is an EB-5 qualifying commercial development.
- Outdoor CitizencoreStrategic partnership on the KAIA development project. Outdoor Citizen collaborated with FirstPathway Partners and T2 Development on this EB-5 qualifying development.
- Watts Construction Inc.coreConstruction partner for the KAIA EB-5 development project. Watts Construction Inc. provides construction services for the qualifying commercial enterprise.
- Iron Rock GroupcoreEngineering partner for the KAIA EB-5 development project. Iron Rock Group provides engineering services for the qualifying commercial enterprise.
- Proxy FinancialminorPodcast and webinar collaboration partner. Proxy Financial works with FirstPathway Partners on educational content through joint podcast and webinar initiatives.
- Ben Franklin Honor SocietyminorBen Franklin Honor Society recognition through feature in the Book of Wisdom. Represents industry recognition and association with prestigious honor society.
- Range DevelopmentsminorAttended groundbreaking ceremony for Grenada project. Range Developments is an EB-5 developer with projects in the Caribbean region.
- Irgens Partners LLCcoreDeveloper partner for the BMO Tower project. Irgens Partners LLC developed the BMO Tower, a commercial real estate project that utilized EB-5 financing through FirstPathway Partners' regional center.
- FirstPathway Community Development (FPCD)coreFirstPathway Community Development (FPCD) is the controlling entity of FirstPathway Partners. FPCD is the parent organization that controls the regional center operations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FirstPathway Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CanAm Enterprises: One of the largest and longest-tenured USCIS-designated EB-5 regional center operators, raising capital from HNW foreign investors into U.S. real estate projects and offering immigration processing services — directly comparable to FirstPathway Partners' core model.
- EB5 Capital: Direct EB-5 regional center competitor that pools foreign investor capital into job-creating U.S. real estate developments across multiple regions, with the same USCIS designation, project sponsorship, and immigration application support as FirstPathway.
- U.S. Immigration Fund (USIF): EB-5 regional center operator raising HNW immigrant capital into U.S. hospitality, real estate, and infrastructure projects with comparable placement-fee model and immigration petition support, directly competing for the same foreign investor pool.
- American Life Inc. EB-5 consulting and regional center firm providing investor sourcing, project placement, and immigration application assistance — mirroring FirstPathway's full-stack EB-5 service offering and target customer base.
- Civitas Capital Group (formerly CMB Regional Centers): Major EB-5 regional center sponsor historically dominant in the China-born investor market, operating a portfolio of U.S. real estate projects funded via EB-5 capital raises comparable in structure to FirstPathway's project portfolio.
- Behring EB-5 / Brilliant 54: USCIS-designated regional center operating EB-5 investment programs for HNW foreign investors, focusing on real estate development projects — a directly comparable regional center competitor.
- Golden Gate Global: EB-5 regional center sponsor and fund manager targeting Asian (particularly Korean and Chinese) HNW investors for U.S. real estate developments — overlapping with FirstPathway's international investor acquisition strategy.
- Path America (now Regional Centers of America): EB-5 regional center operator placing foreign investor capital into U.S. real estate and infrastructure projects, with comparable placement-fee revenue model and immigration-adjacent services.
Emerging players
- NES Financial: EB-5 fund administration and investor management software platform serving regional centers — adjacent to FirstPathway's investor servicing function rather than a direct competitor for capital placement.
Others
- Invest in the USA (IIUSA): The EB-5 industry trade association, of which FirstPathway is a 15+ year member and where CEO Bob Kraft served as President — represents the broader peer ecosystem of regional centers rather than a competitive operator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FirstPathway Partners social profiles
Digital presenceFirstPathway Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FirstPathway Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
FirstPathway Partners subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
FirstPathway Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FirstPathway Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FirstPathway Partners
What does FirstPathway Partners do?
FirstPathway Partners operates as a USCIS-designated EB-5 Regional Center that sponsors Targeted Employment Area (TEA) commercial developments and places foreign investors' qualifying capital — currently a minimum of $800,000 — into those projects in exchange for administration of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program pathway to U.S. permanent residency. The firm bundles immigration application processing (I-526E, I-829, adjustment of status) with access to a portfolio of real estate developments spanning luxury hospitality (Ameyalli, KAIA, TALUS, JW Marriott Anaheim), commercial office (BMO Tower), water technology (Global Water Center), and restaurant franchise projects, and operates a community development subsidiary (FPCD) administering New Markets Tax Credit allocations.
Is FirstPathway Partners a public or private company?
FirstPathway Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FirstPathway Partners founded?
FirstPathway Partners was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FirstPathway Partners based?
FirstPathway Partners is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does FirstPathway Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: EB-5 Investment Placement Fees.
Who are FirstPathway Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CanAm Enterprises, EB5 Capital, U.S. Immigration Fund (USIF), American Life Inc., Civitas Capital Group (formerly CMB Regional Centers), Behring EB-5 / Brilliant 54, Golden Gate Global and Path America (now Regional Centers of America). NES Financial is listed as an emerging player. Invest in the USA (IIUSA) is listed as an others.
Does FirstPathway Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for FirstPathway Partners.
What industry is FirstPathway Partners in?
FirstPathway Partners's product category is EB-5 Investment Immigration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THACAKAM, Immigration Outsourcing & Managed Services (BPO/RPO for Immigration), with a secondary code of THACAKAG, Global Mobility & Cross-Border Tax/Immigration Advisory. Its NAICS code is 561510 and its SIC code is 6799.