How Business School Helped Me Launch A Startup Powering International Student Careers

After graduating from an MBA at Westcliff University in California in 2022, Geert Bijl planned to stay in the US to work. But his experience of recruiting revealed that many employers didn’t understand international hiring. 

He found there was confusion around Optional Practical Training (OPT), a key program allowing students on an F-1 visa to work for up to 12 months in a job related to their field of study. This discovery led him to create Northbridge—a platform connecting international students with employers.

Geert founded Northbridge in December 2024 and later graduated from Duquense University Palumbo Donahue School of Business with a Master’s in Supply Chain Management in May 2025.

Here, Geert shares how the combination of prior experience and the skills developed during his Master’s have helped him launch his business.

Tell us about your business?

Northbridge was built to solve one of the biggest challenges international students face in the US: finding the right job or internship during college and after graduation. 

We have a job board which is updated every single day, helping students focus directly on real opportunities that match their situation, and providing employers access to a motivated group of talented international students.

We host webinars with immigration experts, partner DSOs (designated school officials) at universities, and come to campus to give presentations on work authorization and job search strategies. Students at our partner universities get a community of support, education, and guidance to help them transition from student life to the US workforce.

What inspired you to start Northbridge?

The idea came directly from my own experience. When I graduated, I wanted to stay in the US and work on OPT, but I quickly realized that many employers don’t understand international hiring. 

From our research, my co-founder (Mats Douma) and I found employers were open to hiring international students if they understood the process, and universities were struggling to connect their students with employers. 

Seeing this gap gave us the inspiration to start Northbridge and build a platform that solves this problem.

Tell us about your business today?

We currently have a team of nine people—all international students or recent graduates. On the platform, we have over 3,500 users and 12 university partnerships. Our goal is to keep growing that number by connecting with more universities and expanding the support we can offer.

What part did your b-school experience play in developing your business idea? 

I worked closely with the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which gave me the tools and guidance to turn my idea into an actual business.

It wasn’t just about learning in class. I had access to resources, mentors, and a big network that helped me take real steps. That combination of support and hands-on learning made a huge difference.

In what ways do you draw upon the skillset you developed at business school? 

I learned to be more critical when looking at problems. I also understood the importance of networking: how to connect with people, ask the right questions, and build relationships that can open doors later. 

Working on group projects taught me how to collaborate with different personalities, balance opinions, and still move toward one goal.

Another important skill I developed was learning how to present ideas in a way that is simple to understand—whether I’m pitching Northbridge to a university, explaining how OPT works, or sharing our mission with students. These skills may sound basic, but they’re the foundation I lean on every day as a founder.

Tell us about your typical working day? 

My mornings are usually packed with answering emails and LinkedIn messages. In the afternoons, I have meetings with universities and employers, and I also try to meet with students to hear their thoughts and feedback.

How has your b-school networking helped with your business development? 

I was able to connect with employers in the Pittsburgh area who were open to learning more about international student hiring. Those early conversations gave me feedback on what employers wanted to see in a platform like ours.

I also had mentors who guided me on strategy and growth. Some professors introduced me to people in their own networks, which opened doors I wouldn’t have reached on my own.

What have been some of the biggest obstacles you’ve encountered along the way, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest obstacles was bringing the idea to life. My co-founder and I are not technical people, but we were able to find a strong technical lead, and now we have five software engineers working on the platform. 

Another challenge was convincing employers to consider hiring international students. Many assumed it would be complicated, but by showing them how simple it really is, we now have a large number of jobs posted directly on Northbridge.

Pitching our platform to universities was also difficult in the beginning. It took time and persistence to build trust and show the value of what we do. Now we also receive emails and messages from representatives who want to connect. 

How have the recent H-1B visa changes affected Northbridge?

The H-1B changes have definitely created some confusion among employers and students. It’s still not fully clear how everything will look once the new rules are in place, and we’ve also heard there could be more updates coming. For now, these changes don’t affect students on CPT, OPT, or STEM-OPT, but many employers don’t realize that. Some think all international hiring comes with big costs, which isn’t true.

Our main focus right now is education. We’re working hard to show employers that hiring international students on OPT or STEM-OPT is completely free for up to three years and does not require sponsorship. We’re doing this through updated visa guides, webinars with immigration experts, and direct outreach and marketing. It’s a task for us, but also for universities and students, to help employers understand that they can still hire international students easily and without extra costs.

Where would you like your business to be in five years’ time?

In five years, we want Northbridge to be the number one resource for international students in the US for finding jobs and internships. Our goal is to partner with as many universities as possible so that every international student knows about us and has access to our support.

What has been one surprising thing that you’ve learned from starting your venture?

One surprising thing I’ve learned is how many people are willing to help if you just ask. In the beginning, I was sometimes scared to reach out because I didn’t know how people would react, but you just have to do it. Almost every time, something positive comes out of it.

Another big lesson has been about not giving up and appreciating progress. I set the bar very high for myself, so I often focus on what still needs to be done instead of what we’ve already achieved. But when I take a step back, I see that we’ve built an amazing working platform with a lot of students and employers using it.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own business?

Just start—you’ll never have everything figured out from the beginning, and that’s okay. We changed our business model and platform ideas multiple times while building Northbridge, and we are still adjusting strategies as we grow. The important thing is to take action, learn from feedback, and keep moving forward. You figure things out along the way.

Interested in how MBA graduates are making the jump to entrepreneurship? Explore our full My Business Story series.