~ Some thoughts on startup visas ~
A few weeks ago a fund asked me what are the three most important aspects of a European startup visa policy.
The intersection of Seedtable + Jobbatical puts me in a decent place to answer this.
Here's me thinking out loud:
(Thread)
A few weeks ago a fund asked me what are the three most important aspects of a European startup visa policy.
The intersection of Seedtable + Jobbatical puts me in a decent place to answer this.
Here's me thinking out loud:
(Thread)
VISAS FOR STARTUP EMPLOYEES
Assuming the goal is to drive the ecosystem forward and facilitate hiring by bringing as many qualified workers as possible, then:
• Fast processing times.
• No diploma required.
• Visa not tied to a specific employer.
Assuming the goal is to drive the ecosystem forward and facilitate hiring by bringing as many qualified workers as possible, then:
• Fast processing times.
• No diploma required.
• Visa not tied to a specific employer.
1/ Fast processing times.
This is the #1 objection I see from companies who are looking into hiring from abroad.
Team leaders at scale-ups or big tech companies don't want to wait 6+ months for an engineer.
And startups don't have that luxury.
This is the #1 objection I see from companies who are looking into hiring from abroad.
Team leaders at scale-ups or big tech companies don't want to wait 6+ months for an engineer.
And startups don't have that luxury.
2/ No diploma required.
Not everyone has a "formal" education, particularly in tech where credentials are less relevant than in other industries.
This disqualifies many fantastic employees.
Not everyone has a "formal" education, particularly in tech where credentials are less relevant than in other industries.
This disqualifies many fantastic employees.
3/ Visa shouldn't be tied to a specific employer.
This generates friction in an already inefficient job market.
If the someone is good enough to work for Alan, then they are good enough to work at other French startups.
This generates friction in an already inefficient job market.
If the someone is good enough to work for Alan, then they are good enough to work at other French startups.
One surprising learning after working in the space for some time is that companies rarely care about the *cost*.
The main problem is the complexity around it, the waiting times and lack of transparency.
Fix that and you are good.
The main problem is the complexity around it, the waiting times and lack of transparency.
Fix that and you are good.
FOR FOUNDERS
Assuming the goal is to accept the maximum number of credible founders, then:
• A proxy for credibility.
• Fast processing times.
• Founder visa can be turned into an employee visa.
Assuming the goal is to accept the maximum number of credible founders, then:
• A proxy for credibility.
• Fast processing times.
• Founder visa can be turned into an employee visa.
1/ A proxy for credibility.
Countries need to differentiate between real founders and people just looking for an "in".
This could be founding from investors, personal runway, or a startup panel who approves companies.
Countries need to differentiate between real founders and people just looking for an "in".
This could be founding from investors, personal runway, or a startup panel who approves companies.
2/ Fast processing times.
But for different reasons than the employee visa – mostly because you'll compete with other countries who do have fast processing times.
But for different reasons than the employee visa – mostly because you'll compete with other countries who do have fast processing times.
3/ Founder visa can be turned into employee visa.
This de-risks founders because as they try to grow their company they build a local network they can then leverage if it fails.
This keeps talent in the ecosystem even after they failed.
This de-risks founders because as they try to grow their company they build a local network they can then leverage if it fails.
This keeps talent in the ecosystem even after they failed.
The key thing is that for employee visas, startups are doing the pulling and gov just needs to stay out of the way.
For founders, there's no one doing the pulling. The visa isn't the product but the barrier to entry. The product (to optimize) is a city's tech ecosystem.
For founders, there's no one doing the pulling. The visa isn't the product but the barrier to entry. The product (to optimize) is a city's tech ecosystem.
