More Startups. More Jobs. Startup Visa

US immigration policies are forcing foreign-born startup founders with venture capital and employees out of the country, effectively sending thousands of high paying knowledge jobs overseas for no reason. The foreign-born founders would much rather be here contributing jobs, taxes, and innovation to the United States of America. The situation now is hurting our competitive edge in the global economy.

The Startup Visa Act will allow entrepreneurs to keep their companies and their jobs here in the United States.

The legislation is already out there, we just need to push it across the finish line in the House and Senate.

StartupVisa.com was created by Eric Ries, Dave McClure, Shervin Pishevar, Brad Feld, Paul Kedrosky, Manu Kumar, & Fred Wilson to raise awareness and change policy re: the EB-5 visa, which enables investors from other countries to get a visa in exchange for starting a business in the US with $1M in capital (or $500K for economically targeted areas) & the creation of at least 10 US jobs.

We aim to represent the interests of entrepreneurs everywhere— in Silicon Valley, in the US, and around the world. We have been inspired by posts on the Startup Founder Visa Movement by Paul Graham and Brad Feld, among others. We want to make it easier for entrepreneurs to come to the US, start new businesses, and most importantly create more jobs.

Our current plan is a proposal to modify the EB-5 visa, in order to enable non-US entrepreneurs with funding from a US investor to get a visa to start a company. On Dec 10^th, 2009, legislation was proposed by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) in the House called the Employment Benefit Act of 2009. On Feb 24^th, 2010, this proposal has been joined by The Startup Visa Act of 2010 in the Senate, sponsored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) & Richard Lugar (R-IN), and is also supported by over 100 US Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors. We hope to have one or both of these bills formally presented to Congress sometime later this year.

Under the proposed legislation, instead of the visa going to an investor, a startup company founder or entrepreneur who receives a minimum equity investment of $250,000 could qualify as an EB-5 visa recipient. At least $100,000 would have to come from a sponsoring US investing entity.

Overall we hope to make it easier for more entrepreneurs to start businesses in the US and create jobs.

tech crunch
A Bill That Works

Vivek Wadhwa
the new york times
Start-Ups, Not Bailouts

Thomas Friedman
the wall street journal
New Pitch for Start-Up Visas

Senate Bill Would Make for Smoother U.S. Entry for Foreign Entrepreneurs
A Visa for Job Creators

Spurning immigrant entrepreneurs makes no economic sense.
Investors Try to Open Door to Foreign Entrepreneurs

Group Lobbies for Visa for Noncitizens Sponsored by Venture Capitalists, Though Fragile Economy Remains an Obstacle
inc
The Immigrant Advantage

Immigrants have always provided the U.S. with its entrepreneurial advantage. It's time that the country again commit itself to tap the best and brightest--wherever they may be.
portfolio
Land of Opportunity

Creating jobs is key to the economic recovery. And entrepreneurs are leading the charge—so much so that the government may offer work visas to lure immigrant innovators to the U.S.
bloomberg businessweek
VCs Push StartUp Visa Act

A group of investors is in Washington to push for passage of a bill that they say would make it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to stay—and create jobs—in the U.S.
Visas for Foreign Entrepreneurs

The proposed StartUp Visa Act would open the door to foreign entrepreneurs who create jobs
entrepreneur
The Startup Visa: a Boost for Small Business?

Proposed legislation could make it easier for entrepreneurs from other countries to start their businesses in the U.S.
information week
Startup Visa Act Proposed To Create US Jobs

High-tech firms would likely benefit from the legislation, which would give permanent legal status to immigrants who attract $1 million in revenue or investments.

Share your personal story here

and join the movement for a Startup Visa

The Startup Visa Act will allow entrepreneurs to keep their companies and their jobs here in the United States.

A Bill That Works

Vivek Wadhwa

Start-Ups, Not Bailouts

Thomas Friedman

New Pitch for Start-Up Visas

Senate Bill Would Make for Smoother U.S. Entry for Foreign Entrepreneurs

A Visa for Job Creators

Spurning immigrant entrepreneurs makes no economic sense.

Investors Try to Open Door to Foreign Entrepreneurs

Group Lobbies for Visa for Noncitizens Sponsored by Venture Capitalists, Though Fragile Economy Remains an Obstacle

The Immigrant Advantage

Immigrants have always provided the U.S. with its entrepreneurial advantage. It's time that the country again commit itself to tap the best and brightest--wherever they may be.

Land of Opportunity

Creating jobs is key to the economic recovery. And entrepreneurs are leading the charge—so much so that the government may offer work visas to lure immigrant innovators to the U.S.

VCs Push StartUp Visa Act

A group of investors is in Washington to push for passage of a bill that they say would make it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to stay—and create jobs—in the U.S.

Visas for Foreign Entrepreneurs

The proposed StartUp Visa Act would open the door to foreign entrepreneurs who create jobs

The Startup Visa: a Boost for Small Business?

Proposed legislation could make it easier for entrepreneurs from other countries to start their businesses in the U.S.

Startup Visa Act Proposed To Create US Jobs

High-tech firms would likely benefit from the legislation, which would give permanent legal status to immigrants who attract $1 million in revenue or investments.