The US Department of Commerce wants Empowered Startups to bring foreign direct investment to American research institutions and is fast-tracking international talent to the US university ecosystem.
People with influence over the world’s largest economy know a superior product when they see one. So when the US Ambassador to Canada, David L Cohen, invited Empowered Startups to be a part of Canada’s Trade Delegation at this year’s SelectUSA Investment Summit, it was a clear signal that the Canadian multinational has created a program of immense value.
Welcome to America
Empowered’s EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program is delivering a high caliber of international talent to the American university ecosystem, and the US Department of Commerce is intent on substantially growing the program at both the federal and state levels. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is already expediting applications made through the EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program, which qualifies for Premium Processing (unlike the volatile EB-5 Visa Program). No application filed by Empowered has ever taken longer than one month for an approval with Premium Processing.
Empowered’s Co-founder, Paul Girodo, and President, Chris Lennon, made the trip to Washington, DC in late June and were welcomed by several government officials who shared a common interest in supporting and growing the EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program in their respective jurisdictions.
Power Brokers Present
Lennon and Girodo were invited to a discussion led by US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, who spoke at length about the importance of foreign direct investment, which is a key component of what Empowered’s EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program facilitates to the USA.
With the US being ranked the world’s top destination for foreign direct investment for the past 12 years, Blinken assured the audience that the United States is determined to maintain its status in that regard.
“My message today is simple, there is no better place in the world to invest than the United States and no better time to do it than right now,” he stated.
Blinken’s message was echoed by other prominent US government officials like Diane Farrell, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, a key part of the trade delegation that brought Empowered Startups to Washington.
Empowered in Demand
Empowered’s contingent maintained a hectic schedule at the international event, accepting requests from numerous influential leaders who were eager to meet and discuss how the EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program could bring more foreign direct investment to their regions. Governors and Department of Commerce representatives from Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and Montana were among those who enthusiastically endorsed the adoption of the program at leading universities in their respective states.
Joe Lombardo, the Governor of Nevada, personally invited Lennon and Girodo to a meeting where he expressed his desire to see Empowered’s EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program expand to more top research institutions throughout The Silver State. Empowered’s program has already placed a project at the University of Nevada, Reno, and Lombardo is keen to see the program proliferate at multiple universities across the state.
Network of Support
Many of the government officials took the opportunity to organize networking receptions in the evenings that followed several days of informative meetings and panel discussions. Lennon and Girodo engaged in productive conversations and made important connections at these events, including one hosted by Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman. No matter which government or state representatives approached Empowered Startups at the various functions, the overriding sentiment was consistent.
“The message we received from legislators was loud and clear: top-tier American research institutions want more of the kind of world-class talent we’re delivering through our EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program,” Lennon explained. “Beyond the fact the projects our entrepreneurs spearhead are in the national interest of the United States and show high potential for commercialization, they are also providing critical opportunities for researchers as well as PhD and master’s students. The experience, knowledge exchange, and industry contacts these students receive benefit the individuals themselves, their academic institutions, and their communities at large.”
Learn more details about the EB-2 NIW Startup R&D Program
