Boundless Immigration Expands Globally While Restructuring at Home
In a significant move that reshapes its business landscape, Seattle-based Boundless Immigration has simultaneously expanded its global footprint while reducing its domestic workforce. The immigration services startup announced on October 1st its acquisition of Berlin-based Localyze, a company specializing in European immigration services, just days after implementing layoffs that brought its employee count to approximately 500. This strategic pivot represents both growing pains and ambitious expansion for the seven-year-old company, which has raised over $50 million from investors since its founding in 2017. CEO Xiao Wang addressed employees through a company-wide Slack message, emphasizing that the layoffs were not performance-related but rather a necessary financial recalibration as the company works toward profitability by 2027.
The financial picture Wang painted for remaining employees reveals a company experiencing significant growth coupled with unsustainable cost increases. While Boundless expects impressive 40% growth this year, with projected sales of $31 million for 2025, its expenses have ballooned by 80% compared to 2024 levels. This imbalance necessitated the difficult decision to reduce staff across both U.S. and Philippines operations. “I want to be clear: this decision is not a reflection of the performance, talent, or dedication of our departing colleagues,” Wang wrote in his memo to staff. “They have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of immigrants and their contributions will be part of Boundless DNA for years to come.” The company has committed to providing resources and support to help affected employees transition to new opportunities.
The acquisition of Localyze represents a significant geographic expansion for Boundless, which until now has primarily focused on helping individuals and businesses navigate the complex U.S. immigration system. By integrating Localyze’s technology and expertise, Boundless will now extend its services to multiple European countries, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Berlin-based company, founded in 2018, brings approximately 40 employees to Boundless and has itself raised more than $47 million in funding according to PitchBook data. This strategic acquisition allows Boundless to transform from a U.S.-focused immigration service to a truly global platform supporting immigration journeys across multiple continents and regulatory environments.
This latest acquisition continues Boundless’s strategy of growth through strategic purchases, marking its third such move since founding. The timing is particularly noteworthy against the backdrop of evolving immigration policies and challenges worldwide. Boundless has built its reputation on making the complicated U.S. immigration process more accessible and navigable for various immigrant categories including employees, students, and family members. Now, by incorporating Localyze’s European expertise, the company positions itself as a comprehensive global solution for immigration assistance, potentially insulating itself from policy fluctuations in any single country or region.
The restructuring reflects broader trends in the tech industry where companies are simultaneously pursuing growth while implementing cost-cutting measures to achieve profitability. Boundless’s spokesperson Rachel Pepple emphasized the company’s current focus: “Right now, we’re focused on ensuring a compassionate and respectful transition for all our employees, while maintaining the highest levels of service for our customers.” This dual commitment to both departing employees and continuing client service highlights the delicate balance Boundless is attempting to strike during this transition period. The projected timeline to profitability in 2027 suggests the company is taking a long-term view of its business model, recognizing that sustainable growth requires financial discipline alongside market expansion.
As Boundless navigates this significant period of transformation, the immigration technology sector itself continues to evolve rapidly. The company’s expansion into European markets through Localyze comes at a time when global mobility is increasingly important for businesses and individuals alike, despite varying regulatory environments across countries. By creating a more comprehensive international platform, Boundless appears to be betting that the future of immigration services lies in technological solutions that can adapt to multiple regulatory frameworks while providing consistent user experiences. The coming months will reveal whether this strategic realignment successfully positions Boundless for sustainable growth and eventual profitability, and whether its expanded geographic footprint will provide the resilience needed in an increasingly complex global immigration landscape.
