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Startup Visas Around the World

21 points by obunu 7y ago

distantaidenn 7y ago
OP: Perhaps make this list editable via Github pages? I'd like to add one: Location: Fukuoka, Japan Name: Startup Visa Type: Special startup visa for foreigners residing in Fukuoka who wish to start a business. Duration: 1 year (Can be transitioned to Business Visa) Website: https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/keizai/r-support/business/startupviza_2_2.html https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/keizai/r-support/business/sta...
- gumby 7y ago
  Seems like a good candidate for a Wikipedia rather than Github.
- obunu 7y ago
  Thank you, added! Quite unique for a typically closed off country like Japan to offer this.
martinesko36 7y ago
Anything like this in US? Or any plans for a startup visa?
- james_impliu 7y ago
  Sadly, no. The only thing was this: https://www.inc.com/zoe-henry/us-startup-visa-delayed-falling-by-the-wayside.html https://www.inc.com/zoe-henry/us-startup-visa-delayed-fallin....
throwaway4786 7y ago
I have a European startup visa. If you at all can, stay in the US. Your startup valuation will be reduced by 80-90% compared to what you may expect in the US. And don't think European grant money will magically make up the difference. It's a pain to apply for, a pain to administrate and claim, and you'll be competing with a cottage industry of professional grant proposal writers. The one case it may make sense is if you have a very obvious and boring business model, and your business somehow saves the planet while delivering clean drinking water to Africa. This will make you investable and ensure you check the boxes the grant proposal reviewers are looking for. Also the startup ecosystem is no where near evolved. There's no SAFE notes, employee stock options are totally broken, acquires are unheard of, etc etc. To end my story, I lost interest in my startup because we couldn't raise money at a decent valuation, and my 2020 was going to be spent chasing small checks from various EU funding schemes.
- bulutsuzku 7y ago
  Does this apply to all EU countries offering visas? Any recommended country to start? Could you share any tips for applying? I would love to relocate to EU (non-US here) with a visa, but I have no idea where to start.
- obunu 7y ago
  Thanks for sharing this! So, you're now stopping to work on your startup? You won't move it to another jurisdiction?

21 points by obunu 7y ago

OP: Perhaps make this list editable via Github pages? I'd like to add one: Location: Fukuoka, Japan Name: Startup Visa Type: Special startup visa for foreigners residing in Fukuoka who wish to start a business. Duration: 1 year (Can be transitioned to Business Visa) Website: https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/keizai/r-support/business/startupviza_2_2.html https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/keizai/r-support/business/sta...

gumby 7y ago
Seems like a good candidate for a Wikipedia rather than Github.
obunu 7y ago
Thank you, added! Quite unique for a typically closed off country like Japan to offer this.

martinesko36 7y ago

Anything like this in US? Or any plans for a startup visa?

james_impliu 7y ago
Sadly, no. The only thing was this: https://www.inc.com/zoe-henry/us-startup-visa-delayed-falling-by-the-wayside.html https://www.inc.com/zoe-henry/us-startup-visa-delayed-fallin....

throwaway4786 7y ago

I have a European startup visa. If you at all can, stay in the US. Your startup valuation will be reduced by 80-90% compared to what you may expect in the US. And don't think European grant money will magically make up the difference. It's a pain to apply for, a pain to administrate and claim, and you'll be competing with a cottage industry of professional grant proposal writers. The one case it may make sense is if you have a very obvious and boring business model, and your business somehow saves the planet while delivering clean drinking water to Africa. This will make you investable and ensure you check the boxes the grant proposal reviewers are looking for. Also the startup ecosystem is no where near evolved. There's no SAFE notes, employee stock options are totally broken, acquires are unheard of, etc etc. To end my story, I lost interest in my startup because we couldn't raise money at a decent valuation, and my 2020 was going to be spent chasing small checks from various EU funding schemes.

bulutsuzku 7y ago
Does this apply to all EU countries offering visas? Any recommended country to start? Could you share any tips for applying? I would love to relocate to EU (non-US here) with a visa, but I have no idea where to start.
obunu 7y ago
Thanks for sharing this! So, you're now stopping to work on your startup? You won't move it to another jurisdiction?