One idea: Create two companies, a US company and a company in your local country. You local country affiliate can pay your salary and the US company can pay the

One idea: Create two companies, a US company and a company in your local country. You local country affiliate can pay your salary and the US company can pay the foreign company like a vendor. After a year or so, you will be eligible to get a company L-1 transfer visa. Or if you don't plan on paying yourself through the company in the first year or so, try to get a visa at another company (perhaps you are consulting for a small number of hours per week?). You wont be an employee of your startup, but you will be the owner.