How do you think the new H1B Visa fee will affect diversity in the U.S. workforce, especially for smaller startups that rely on global talent?

Honestly, I don’t think the fee hike will drastically reduce diversity. Yes, it’s tough for startups, but many will still find creative ways to attract talent—remote work, equity compensation, or partnerships with overseas offices. The real diversity killer isn’t cost—it’s policy unpredictability. That uncertainty is what drives talent away. Fees matter, but stability matters more.

The fee hike sends a subtle but damaging message: that the U.S. is becoming less welcoming to international talent. Over time, that perception alone could discourage diverse applicants. America’s competitive edge has always been built on immigration. If smaller companies can’t compete for talent because of financial barriers, we risk concentrating diversity only in large corporations, which reduces the overall breadth of innovation across the economy.

The fee hike will hit smaller startups the hardest. Big tech companies won’t blink—they can easily absorb the cost. But early-stage startups, which often rely on one or two key international hires, may be priced out. That means fewer diverse voices in small, innovative companies. Over time, diversity in the broader tech ecosystem may shrink, because only large corporations can afford to bring in foreign talent. This undermines one of America’s biggest strengths: the mix of cultures and perspectives that fuel creativity.

I think the impact will be uneven. Yes, startups will struggle more, but they also tend to be more open to remote work models. Instead of hiring someone on an H1B, they might hire that same person remotely in India or Brazil. So diversity won’t vanish—it’ll just shift. Instead of foreign workers living in the U.S., they’ll be contributing remotely from their home countries. It’s still diverse, but the domestic workforce may become less so.