How did those founders get Visa to come here and build their firm? Did they all start with 1 million dollar?
"50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
31–40 of 56 posts
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#32Not especially surprising, nor damning of american-borns. Those with the motivation, skills, and education to move abroad (to anywhere!) and start a business are going to, on average, outperform the population which was born there. Not because they are naturally better, but because they were self-selected by being there in the first place. Just like I'd be willing to bet that americans living abroad are overrepresent…
> Not especially surprising, nor damning of american-borns I disagree. I wouldn't be sanguine about it. Previous major waves of technical innovation were lead by well established Americans. Something has changed. A plausible hypothesis (not that I'm convinced) is that high immigration has driven down wages in technical professions. So native born Americans are less inclined to bother. I think it's important to point…
I dont think its got anything to do with wages. Especially for founders of technology/science-based companies.
Rather I think Americans dont take tough courses in college - ie science/technology courses. How many computer science (for eg:) MS courses even have Americans enrolled in them?
Americans take it easy in college. Heck, if I'd been born here I'd have done the same. :)
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
you can be founder on h1b/tourist visa, but you can't work for this company and be paid unless company you (co)founded will hire you.
So you could make arrangements to be a cofounder and then have your founding company sponsor your visa?
This is really really difficult. I know of only 2 people who have ever managed to do this.
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Not especially surprising, nor damning of american-borns I disagree. I wouldn't be sanguine about it. Previous major waves of technical innovation were lead by well established Americans. Something has changed. A plausible hypothesis (not that I'm convinced) is that high immigration has driven down wages in technical professions. So native born Americans are less inclined to bother. I think it's important to point…
I dont think its got anything to do with wages. Especially for founders of technology/science-based companies. Rather I think Americans dont take tough courses in college - ie science/technology courses. How many computer science (for eg:) MS courses even have Americans enrolled in them? Americans take it easy in college. Heck, if I'd been born here I'd have done the same. :)
> Americans dont take tough courses in college - ie science/technology courses
... because an army of H1Bs and green cards have driven down wages and thus the incentive to pursue science & tech careers? Seems at least plausible.
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#35I'd imagine immigrants aren't so laden with debt, so they have more freedom. Many countries don't charge their native students for higher education, those that do, are often subsidised and repayments are linked to their earnings. So if you earn a small salary, you pay nothing.
Right, debt is the burden that keeps all americans from becoming job creators. I am scared to think of what would happen if I don't repay my student loans.
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#36I'd imagine immigrants aren't so laden with debt, so they have more freedom. Many countries don't charge their native students for higher education, those that do, are often subsidised and repayments are linked to their earnings. So if you earn a small salary, you pay nothing.
I don't imagine this being that large of problem this is with majors like computer science. By going to a public school and interning during the summer (maybe even part time during the year), you can easily come out debt free (if not positive).
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#37Maybe it's time to rerun this poll: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=688053
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#38What gives these foreigners the right to come over here and make American jobs? That leaves fewer jobs for native-born Americans to make!
Yeah, that's funny and all...but I'm rather embarrassed for HN's analytical skills right now.
Fifty percent of firm founders are foreign-born you say? OK. What percentage of valley residents are foreign-born? Or, hey...what percentage of foreign-born residents outside the valley start businesses. Without answers to these questions, the 50% stat is just a sound-bite.
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#39Not especially surprising, nor damning of american-borns. Those with the motivation, skills, and education to move abroad (to anywhere!) and start a business are going to, on average, outperform the population which was born there. Not because they are naturally better, but because they were self-selected by being there in the first place. Just like I'd be willing to bet that americans living abroad are overrepresent…
> Not especially surprising, nor damning of american-borns I disagree. I wouldn't be sanguine about it. Previous major waves of technical innovation were lead by well established Americans. Something has changed. A plausible hypothesis (not that I'm convinced) is that high immigration has driven down wages in technical professions. So native born Americans are less inclined to bother. I think it's important to point…
From 1921 to 1965 immigration was practically nothing.
Uhm, what? Perhaps in raw numbers, but the world wars drove vast numbers of european intellectuals to the US.
Re: "50% of firm founders [in Silicon Valley] are foreign born"
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
So you could make arrangements to be a cofounder and then have your founding company sponsor your visa?
This is really really difficult. I know of only 2 people who have ever managed to do this.
Where there is a will there is a way.
You need a good lawyer, an investor willing to commit $200,000 (you might be able to get away with less) to the business so your cofounder can file for the visa for you, and the willingness to put your future in the hands of the cofounder, since they'll have ownership of the company on paper until you get your green card (You need a separate business agreement governing the business setup after you become a citizen)
Also do yourself a favor and get a Master's degree so you can file in the EB2 category (speeds up your green card process).