I am a graduating student from IIT Delhi who have built stuff and worked in a startup and now looking for an opportunity at Valley. My experience (http://gist.github.com/sravfeyn/13534c67812183235a2c)<p>I am interested if any of you who is running a start-up in Valley (or US) had experience hiring or rejecting any Indian and can share the experience?<p>I am asking this because, out of ten companies I applied in Valley around 6 were ready to talk to me. Five companies abandoned me after knowing that I need a visa (now I am trying to apply at those that offer Visa Sponsorship)<p>Until now I have talked to only one start-up in Valley. He (the founder) liked my profile, but I blew up on Skype call. He listened to my project descriptions and asked couple of questions to which I responded. But he kindly advised me at the end that it's very difficult for 'relaxed SF folks' to infer my strong Indian accent. I had spoken very actively without letting him talk much, mostly because I was nervous.<p>So, is it actually the case in US? How had your experience with Indian startup folks been?<p>And can you offer any advise for folks like me, new grads looking start-up opportunity in SF/US.
If I may ask, why are you particular about Getting to US?
What do you think you'll get in US, which you won't get in India?<p>Here are a few points I have.
1. Understand the business of Startups: Startups are usually ideas to 'fill up a gap'. With Logic, you are more likely to find gaps in a less matured market.<p>2. Why Emerging markets, are better than Matured markets: It is hard to believe that 1.2 billion people will not contribute to be one of the best economies of the world. It's hard to believe that there wont be enough business opportunities in India. (Same goes for China, which is already on top, and other emerging markets like Africa etc.)<p>3. Who will be winners of future? I would imagine people who are slogging to get the emerging markets better will be at best position in future.<p>3. If you think there is some kind of lack of opportunity in India. Well create one. If you think there are ways you think things should happen, well you should work to work those things out.<p>On VISA Issue: With Startup VISA coming, it might make a few things easier, but only time will tell the right story.
All the best for your hunt, but here are some bare facts you must consider:<p>1) A startup hiring a fresher from a foreign country to work on their multi-million dollar vision is going to be a rarity. Imagine, why would someone hire a fresh talent from foreign land while they can very well find one in their local area. What specialty do you have to offer in particular?<p>2) Instamovie, SSH hacking, Impressive github projects list isn't really going to be a criteria for any startup to hire you. For most companies these points in your portfolio only mean that you are worth a talk. Also early stage startups need talent to come in and start contributing from day 1. They really don't want to hire and invest in nurturing someone. Thus, until unless one of your projects have similarity with what startup is trying to do, they are just some points in your CV.<p>3) Over the years, I have seen a number of my colleagues who also wanted to work in the valley (for very same reasons as you stated) wasting their energies behind finding a gateway to the valley. It's totally not worth the (dedicated) effort because, even if a startup that is sponsoring Visa hires you, getting through the Visa process can take significant time. Process of H1B Visa starts in April and within 1 month all Visa slots get exhausted. If you are lucky to get your visa processed within this cycle, you will have to wait atleast until October for Visa process to complete. If you are unlucky and your Visa application is not entertained this April, all you can do is wait until next April. Till then you can only work for the company from India (or visit on a B1 visa). B1 visa and working remotely, both again seems like a rarity for a startup.<p>So until everything falls in place by itself, your best bet for a ticket to valley would be:<p>a) Go for MS/Phd and follow the path as someone explained<p>b) Join a company in India, gain significant experience for an year or so, then try your luck again. With real world corporate experience behind, you will stand a better chance of getting hired by a startup abroad.<p>Just my 2 cents. All the best again.
Visa issues in the US can be very hard for companies to deal with. Established companies normally have good protocols and departments for overseas hires. However, startups barely have departments, let alone a dedicated department for overseas hires.<p>Normally, the best path for an Indian to get to the US is to study a degree in the US, gain some work experience in that year you are allowed H1-B work after your degree and then hope that the company you worked for wants to retain you (they usually do..). Plenty of people I know have followed this path.<p>May I ask though why you are restricting your search to the US ? There are many startup hubs around the world and interesting companies in Europe (Berlin, Amsterdam, etc.) or even South America (Santiago, Chile).<p>Also, there's a vibrant startup community in India as well. So what's wrong with India ?
In all honesty, most companies aren't willing to work through the Visa process, they are either too small and have never done it before or know how difficult it can be.<p>Larger companies tend to be less averse, but even then it comes down to the candidate, hiring you has to be worth the expense and trouble they would have to go to to find a suitable local equivalent.<p><a href="https://gist.github.com/sravfeyn/13534c67812183235a2c" rel="nofollow">https://gist.github.com/sravfeyn/13534c67812183235a2c</a><p>Clickable, since he screwed up :c