Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The U.S. tech and startup community was stunned by an executive order (geekwire.com/2025/startup-leaders-warn-new-100k-h-1b-visa-fee-will-hurt-u-s-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/) last week imposing a $100,000 fee for employers seeking new H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, a program heavily used by the technology industry.
This move brings a longstanding debate back to the forefront: are skilled immigrants taking American jobs, or are they a vital engine for innovation and economic growth?
Our guest this week has a strong point of view on this topic. Shirish Nadkarni (linkedin.com/in/shirishn/) is a serial entrepreneur and Microsoft veteran who founded companies acquired by BlackBerry and Rosetta Stone. An immigrant himself, he just released a timely new book, The Indian American Tech Success Story (amazon.com/Indian-American-Tech-Success-Story-ebook/dp/B0FRHW5SSW/) , which makes the case that immigrant founders, particularly from India, are one of America's greatest economic assets — creating far more jobs than they could ever be accused of taking.
Related Links and Stories
• Startup leaders warn new $100K H-1B visa fee will hurt U.S. entrepreneurship and innovation (geekwire.com/2025/startup-leaders-warn-new-100k-h-1b-visa-fee-will-hurt-u-s-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/)
• New TiE Seattle president on how the $100K H-1B fee could snuff out entrepreneurial flame (geekwire.com/2025/new-tie-seattle-president-on-how-the-100k-h-1b-fee-could-snuff-out-entrepreneurial-flame/)
• Will new U.S. visa fee boost Canada’s tech sector? B.C. sees an opening against Seattle and Silicon Valley (geekwire.com/2025/will-new-u-s-visa-fee-boost-canadas-tech-sector-b-c-sees-an-opening-against-seattle-and-silicon-valley/) (news.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/)
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.
See omnystudio.com/listener (omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
The U.S. tech and startup community was stunned by an executive order (geekwire.com/2025/startup-leaders-warn-new-100k-h-1b-visa-fee-will-hurt-u-s-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/) last week imposing a $100,000 fee for employers seeking new H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, a program heavily used by the technology industry.
This move brings a longstanding debate back to the forefront: are skilled immigrants taking American jobs, or are they a vital engine for innovation and economic growth?
Our guest this week has a strong point of view on this topic. Shirish Nadkarni (linkedin.com/in/shirishn/) is a serial entrepreneur and Microsoft veteran who founded companies acquired by BlackBerry and Rosetta Stone. An immigrant himself, he just released a timely new book, The Indian American Tech Success Story (amazon.com/Indian-American-Tech-Success-Story-ebook/dp/B0FRHW5SSW/) , which makes the case that immigrant founders, particularly from India, are one of America's greatest economic assets — creating far more jobs than they could ever be accused of taking.
Related Links and Stories
• Startup leaders warn new $100K H-1B visa fee will hurt U.S. entrepreneurship and innovation (geekwire.com/2025/startup-leaders-warn-new-100k-h-1b-visa-fee-will-hurt-u-s-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/)
• New TiE Seattle president on how the $100K H-1B fee could snuff out entrepreneurial flame (geekwire.com/2025/new-tie-seattle-president-on-how-the-100k-h-1b-fee-could-snuff-out-entrepreneurial-flame/)
• Will new U.S. visa fee boost Canada’s tech sector? B.C. sees an opening against Seattle and Silicon Valley (geekwire.com/2025/will-new-u-s-visa-fee-boost-canadas-tech-sector-b-c-sees-an-opening-against-seattle-and-silicon-valley/) (news.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/)
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.
See omnystudio.com/listener (omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
