kcnflal Amit (SUPERVISOR)

As someone who works in a startup environment, I can confidently say this new policy is devastating for small businesses. Startups thrive on talent. Sometimes that talent comes from across the globe, because skills in areas like AI, data science, or blockchain aren’t always available locally. By imposing a $100,000 fee, the U.S. is essentially blocking startups from accessing global talent, leaving them to struggle against giants who can easily pay the fee. This will create an even greater monopoly for tech giants. Another side effect: many small companies may choose to set up offices abroad instead of in the U.S. Why not open a branch in Toronto, London, or Bangalore, where immigration policies are friendlier and costs are lower? Over time, this could lead to innovation hubs shifting away from Silicon Valley. So yes, this fee strongly tilts the program in favor of big corporations, and in the long run, it may even hurt the U.S. tech ecosystem itself.