4 ms·
For the most part though, I suspect that for most non-US-citizen entrepreneurs, the question "Should I move to Silicon Valley?" is a bit like the questions "Sho
by hugh 19y ago
For the most part though, I suspect that for most non-US-citizen entrepreneurs, the question "Should I move to Silicon Valley?" is a bit like the questions "Should I grow a pair of wings on my back?" or "Should I enlist the Loch Ness Monster as a cofounder?" It might be nice to do it, but given the difficulty of getting a visa as an entrepreneur, it's not really an option.
- pg 19y agoWe've had a bunch who've done it. Heysan, Buxfer, and Auctomatic were all founded entirely by non-US citizens, along with several others that haven't launched yet. If you raise a certain level of investment, you can stay in the US. I don't know the details; it varies depending on where you're from and where you raise the money.
- davidw 19y agoI bet those bits of information would be extremely useful bits of information to post in a YC FAQ.
- shiro 19y agoI don't know what those YCers done, but I think raising enough capital to get E-2 investor visa would be the surest way now. It used to be possible to go through H1B before, but it became too tight. The actual amount of money you need to raise depends on each case; I've heard a rumor about something like $100K minimum, though it may also depend on the immigration lawyer to handle it. Absolute requirement is to show that you have a prospect to be big and hire lots of US citizens eventually.