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The US Startup Visa: A boon for dismayed, frustrated British entrepreneurs

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Re: The US Startup Visa: A boon for dismayed, frustrated British entrepreneurs

#31
post #4

>> "This is a critical reason why most tech startups in the UK go absolutely nowhere. You can’t legislate against it. It’s built straight into the culture." [Citation needed] This piece is fairly short on evidence+numbers, and overloaded with sweeping generalizations. >> " If you’re starting a new tech business, the only place — the ONLY place — you should be is Silicon Valley." If you need to schmooze VC/need to wor…

> > "And FWIW, flying out for a couple of days every 3 months is hardly a big deal. If the US had universal healthcare I think it'd be more appealing." Immigration will get very suspicious of you if you're spending almost all of your time in the States. The business visitor visas are supposed to be for you to conduct meetings and sales pitches, etc - not for you to actually do your day-to-day work. Ultimately they'll…

I flew back and forth from UK->US between 2004 and 2008. Probably 40 or so times. Never had an issue with immigration :/

I think they're fairly fine with it as long as you look confident and know what they want to hear.

Re: The US Startup Visa: A boon for dismayed, frustrated British entrepreneurs

#32
post #4

>> "This is a critical reason why most tech startups in the UK go absolutely nowhere. You can’t legislate against it. It’s built straight into the culture." [Citation needed] This piece is fairly short on evidence+numbers, and overloaded with sweeping generalizations. >> " If you’re starting a new tech business, the only place — the ONLY place — you should be is Silicon Valley." If you need to schmooze VC/need to wor…

Yes, the piece is definitely short on evidence and high on anecdotes, but you know there's a grain of truth to it. In the UK if I told a random person I was starting a company, I'd be met with a blank stare or maybe I'd be told "wow, you're brave" or just "you're crazy". Actually I don't think it's much different in most of the US. But in the Bay Area, there's barely anyone I can talk to (in the 'scene' or not) who w…

I disagree. People start companies here all the time. No one thinks 'wow+brave' / 'crazy'. After all, it costs £20 to set up a Ltd company and get trading.

We're probably slightly more grounded and have a slightly lower stomach for high risk stuff, but I don't see that as necessarily a bad thing at all.

I guess one of the questions is 'can you succeed if you don't buy into the "scene" schmooze contacts culture etc'. I think you can, depending on your business model of course, but there are some fairly big success stories out there.

Also really, these days you can get a ton of contacts online. You don't have to be in any particular place.

Re: The US Startup Visa: A boon for dismayed, frustrated British entrepreneurs

#33
post #7

Can the founder on this visa eventually apply for a green card, and bring their family here? Or is it employment-only visa?

If I understand correctly you can get a visa if you invest $100,000 usd and employ 5 american residents. Isn't that a good fit for the start up founders?
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