Olga Osnovina, head of compliance at Migrator, discusses how the buy sales lead US business ecosystem operates and the legal requirements the government imposes on entrepreneurs.
The Geography of Innovation: Where Startups Are Born
When choosing a country for IT business development, the first thing to consider is the ecosystem the country offers. The key question for entrepreneurs should not be "how to enter the country," but "how to integrate into its business environment so that the project becomes part of the market."
The United States remains a magnet for tech entrepreneurs thanks to its venture capital funds, accelerators, and concentration of tech companies. Silicon Valley is the most famous hub in the United States and the world, a symbol of how infrastructure supports entrepreneurs and develops startups. But such comprehensive support is also characteristic of other, lesser-known hubs in the United States.
Silicon Valley has traditionally been strong in artificial intelligence, fintech, and software development. OpenAI is based here, confirming the region's leadership in AI.
Boston has become a hub for biotechnology and robotics, largely due to its proximity to academic centers like Harvard and MIT. In 2024, it ranked fourth in venture capital investment in cybersecurity.
Austin is known as "Silicon Hills." Around 170 companies are developing artificial intelligence here. A major accelerator, Capital Factory, is also based here.
New York is a leader in fintech, ad tech, and media, with startups raising over $2.7 billion through the FinTech Innovation Lab alone.
Although the hubs differ in focus, the tools they use to provide assistance are similar. By dividing their spheres of influence, we can identify several key support mechanisms:
Access to venture capital funds: helps attract investment to the project and scale the team. Investors provide contacts and access to corporate networks.
Accelerators: support projects with mentoring and ecosystem integration. They organize themed meetups for startups and provide an initial boost for market entry. The world's largest accelerators, Y Combinator and 500 Global, are based in Silicon Valley.
Networking: The hubs host regular meetups, thematic seminars, and closed founder gatherings. Joint projects increase market visibility and provide access to corporate clients and partners.
Company registration: hubs help with legal business registration.
Visas for startups and company founders
If you've decided to develop a business in the US, you'll need a visa. There's no specific "startup visa," but entrepreneurs have several options available, each varying in complexity and the length of their potential stay in the US.
O-1A visa for entrepreneurs and start-ups
This is a "talent visa" issued for outstanding achievements in business, science, or technology for one to three years, with the possibility of multiple extensions. If you change employers, you must submit a new petition to USCIS, but the visa itself will remain valid until its expiration.
To obtain an O-1A visa, you need someone to file a petition on your behalf with USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). This could be a company, partner, investor, or agent. For an entrepreneur, this typically means a legal entity that formally sponsors your visa and certifies your accomplishments.
EB-1A visa for founders and startups with international success
With this visa, you receive a green card, meaning permanent residence in the United States. You can submit a petition to USCIS yourself.
The criteria for obtaining it are similar to those for the O-1A, but the level of achievement must be higher. With the EB-1A, USCIS officers expect you to achieve not just high professional achievements, but continuous growth that will bring potential benefits to the United States.