1. HOW DOES IN2NYC ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Startups Build the Economy. The American economy is
powered by the development of new businesses. On
average, new firms add 3 million positions annually, while
more established firms lose 1 million. Startups also tend
to grow faster and innovate more quickly.
H-1B Visas Are Hard to Get. Entrepreneurs face a
number of obstacles to obtaining an H-1B visa:
• Self-employed entrepreneurs cannot apply for H-1B
visas because these petitions must be sponsored by
an employer.
• Even when sponsored, there are only 65,000
“capped” H-1B visas available in any given year.
Demand exceeds supply by 4 to 1, making the odds of
getting a visa daunting.
• Worse yet, all of the capped visas are awarded just
once a year, during a single week in April. This forces
many entrepreneurs to wait upwards of 11 months
before they can apply or re-apply.
Thousands of applicants from the NYC Metro area – the
region with the largest applicant pool in the United
States - are denied visas each year. Economic growth in
our region, and in our country, is limited as a result.
H-1B Visas Can Provide Time for New Business Growth.
The best immigration option for international
entrepreneurs is typically an H-1B visa, which lasts 3
years and can be renewed.
New York City misses opportunities to attract and retain international
entrepreneurs and businesses due to existing immigration regulations.
The International Innovators Initiative:
• Provides international entrepreneurs with the support
to form an independent board of directors, which
establishes an employer-employee relationship enabling
the company to petition the United States Customs and
Immigration Service for an H-1B visa for the
entrepreneur.
• Partners the entrepreneur with a CUNY college.
Through these partnerships, entrepreneurs gain access
to business support services and technical facilities, while
colleges acquire international talent to support
entrepreneurial and educational programs for their
students.
This combination of board formation and college
collaboration allows the entrepreneurs to apply for cap-
exempt H-1B visas without participating in the annual
lottery.
IN2NYC provides access to uncapped H-1B visas by uniting business and academia.
Immigrants Start Businesses. Immigrants start businesses at
twice the rate of native-born Americans. Immigrants
account for 13% of the US population, but have founded
over 25% of new ventures. Helping prospective
immigrants grow their businesses in the United States
makes economic sense.
New Business Growth Takes Time. Startups can take years
to go from concept to market. Even those with great
concepts need time to find and secure a strong customer
base in a new country. International innovators need a
way to legally remain in the US during this period of time.
Creating A Pathway For International
Entrepreneurs To Grow Their Ventures In
New York City

2. BENEFITS TO YOUR BUSINESS
v Support for the City of New
York by assisting the
diversification and
strengthening of its economy
and position as a leader in
global commerce
v Engagement with innovative talent
v Exposure to dynamic new startups that are
potential investment opportunities
v Substantive employee
engagement opportunities
which will allow your
personnel to use their full
range of skills
v Support for international business and the
growth of global commerce
• Entrepreneurs who have started
a business and need work
authorization to continue
growing their ventures in the
United States
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
IN2.NYC
• International students graduating
from U.S.universities or Optional
Practical Training Programs who have
started businesses
WHICH CUNY COLLEGES ARE INVOLVED?
The City College of New York / Zahn
Innovation Center
Staten Island College / CSI
Technology Incubator
LaGuardia Community College / NYDesigns
Queens College / Tech Incubation Center
Medgar Evers College / Entrepreneurship
and Experiential Learning Lab
7 colleges in the CUNY System are partnering with International Innovators.
Applications are accepted in the Spring.
Baruch College / Field Center for
Entrepreneurship
Lehman College / Bronx Business Bridge
v Potential connections to new partnerships,
customers, and suppliers
v Exposure to new innovations and technologies
v Enrichment of the New York startup
ecosystem