I just read some insightful comments from Brad Feld, picking up on an idea that was originally championed by Paul Graham back in April – The Founders Visa. Under this conceptual program, entrepreneurs who were in the process of developing start-ups would be granted special visas, enabling them to remain in the country.

Given the United States’ rich history of immigration and the current hotbed issues surrounding it, this is a small concession that could have profound implications for the future of our nation and economy. Logistics aside – how to define a start-up and what to do if a fledging company fails etc. – this would be an extremely effective means of injecting innovation at the foundations of our country.

As Paul Graham notes in his original treatise, “Letting just 10,000 startup founders into the country each year could have a visible effect on the economy. If we assume 4 people per startup, which is probably an overestimate, that’s 2500 new companies. Each year. They wouldn’t all grow as big as Google, but out of 2500 some would come close.”

Given that these individuals would be building new businesses, they wouldn’t be taking jobs away from Americans, and in all likelihood would be creating more opportunities and industries. Programs that encourage and incentivize the entrepreneurial spirit within our borders are exactly the kind of forward-thinking pathways to progress that we should be pushing for.

[image via nromagna]