Daily Crunch: Trump pardons Anthony Levandowski

On his way out the door, President Donald Trump pardons a former Googler, Jack Ma reappears and Wattpad gets acquired. This is your Daily Crunch for January 20, 2021. The big story: Trump pardons Anthony Levandowski Although Donald Trump is no longer president of the United States as I write this, he still held the role on Tuesday evening, when he included former Googler Anthony Levandowski (who had been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing trade secrets) in his final set of 73 pardons....
Tags: Amazon, South Korea, White House, Tech, Joe Biden, Mit, Policy, United States, Alibaba, Peter Thiel, Silicon Valley, Biden, Donald Trump, Jack Ma, Fintech, Naver

Dear Sophie: What are Biden’s immigration changes?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: What’s the new minimum salary required for H-1B visa applicant...
Tags: Startups, Column, Labor, California, Washington, US, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Biden, Trump, Sophie, Alcorn, Green Card

Daily Crunch: Airbnb cancels all DC bookings during inauguration week

Airbnb takes a big step to avoid violence at the inauguration, Intel gets a new CEO and Affirm goes public. This is your Daily Crunch for January 13, 2021. The big story: Airbnb cancels all DC bookings during inauguration week Airbnb said today that “in response to various local, state and federal officials asking people not to travel to Washington, D.C.” it will be canceling all reservations in the area for next week, which is the week of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. This will appl...
Tags: Washington, Tech, Joe Biden, Intel, Policy, FLO, Airbnb, Ftc, Pat Gelsinger, Gelsinger, Bob Swan, Rapyd, Dear Sophie, Airbnb Apple, Universities Startups

Dear Sophie: What’s the new minimum salary required for H-1B visa applicants?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Banging my head against the wall understanding the US immigrat...
Tags: Startups, Column, Labor, California, US, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Biden, Trump, Sophie, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security DHS, Alcorn

Extra Crunch roundup: 2 VC surveys, Tesla’s melt up, The Roblox Gambit, more

This has been quite a week. Instead of walking backward through the last few days of chaos and uncertainty, here are three good things that happened: Google employee Sara Robinson combined her interest in machine learning and baking to create AI-generated hybrid treats. A breakthrough could make water desalination 30%-40% more effective. Bianca Smith will become the first Black woman to coach a professional baseball team. Despite many distractions in our first full week of the new year, we pub...
Tags: Google, Security, Startups, TC, Gaming, Enterprise, Congress, Israel, Disney, US, Tech, Tesla, Bloomberg, Artificial Intelligence, Netflix, Automotive

Dear Sophie: Tips for getting a National Interest green card by myself?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: What’s ahead for US immigration in 2021? Dear Sophie: Ho...
Tags: Startups, Column, Labor, California, US, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Bay Area, Sophie, Alcorn, Niw, Green Card, Immigration Law

What startups can learn from this dumpster fire year

Want this newsletter in your inbox every Saturday morning? Sign up here. Remember when it was news that venture capitalists were open for business? Or when Zoom investing was only done by that one guy in Ann Arbor (ha, I kid!)? These past few months have felt busier than ever, with no holiday slowdown in sight when it comes to startup growth, hot IPOs and new financings. Even with a distracting bull market, I wanted to reflect and see how the youngest startups are faring. Alex Wilhem and I dove ...
Tags: Apple, TC, US, Tech, Air Force, Biden, Sam, Alex, Eniac Ventures, Ann Arbor, PitchBook, Bryce Durbin, DCVC, Jenny Lefcourt, Startups Weekly, Space Force

Dear Sophie: What’s ahead for US immigration in 2021?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How did immigration change for startup founders in 2020? ...
Tags: Startups, Column, Labor, California, US, Tech, Diversity, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Biden, Trump, Sophie, APA, Redwood City, Alcorn, Green Card

How Zoox turned a failed Series C into the future

I often begin calls with founders by asking why they’re willing to bet their livelihoods on an idea that will most likely fail. It’s a small hack that lets me see how vulnerable a founder is, and how much conviction they have behind their ideas. Sometimes, if they answer, it’s the lede of my story. And sometimes, if they don’t answer, it’s the reason I don’t write the story. As blunt as the question sounds, it can spark the best answers — especially when the founder is working on an idea that is...
Tags: Apple, Amazon, TC, Asia, Singapore, India, Tech, Czech Republic, Alibaba, Silicon Valley, Starbucks, EC, Alex, Palantir, Coinbase, Alex Wilhelm

Dear Sophie: Hacks for the March 2021 H-1B lottery?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Can an H-1B co-founder own a Delaware C Corp? Dear Sophi...
Tags: Column, Labor, California, Tech, Diversity, Policy, United States, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Biden, H-1b Visa, Sophie, USCIS, Cato Institute, Jeffrey White, Foster City

Dear Sophie: What I’m thankful for

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Can an H-1B co-founder own a Delaware C Corp? Dear Sophi...
Tags: Column, Thanksgiving, Labor, California, Tech, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Biden, H-1b Visa, Trump, Sophie, Alcorn, Niw, Green Card, U S Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS

Dear Sophie: What does Biden’s win mean for tech immigration?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How will this election nail-biter affect immigration? De...
Tags: Startups, TC, Column, Labor, California, Government, Tech, Diversity, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Biden, Albany, Kamala Harris, Trump, Sophie, HARRIS

Dear Sophie: How will this election nail-biter affect immigration?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Would a Trump win abolish the H-1B visa lottery? Dear So...
Tags: Congress, California, Tech, Dhs, United States, Silicon Valley, State Department, Biden, Trump, Sophie, Castro Street, Alcorn, Richard Graf, Sophie Alcorn, Dear Sophie, Alcorn Immigration Law

Dear Sophie: What visa options exist for a grad co-founding a startup?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: I came on a B-1 visa, then COVID-19 happened. How can I stay? ...
Tags: Startups, TC, Column, Labor, California, Tech, Diversity, Policy, United States, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Berkeley, Sophie, Alcorn, Green Card, U S Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS

Dear Sophie: I came on a B-1 visa, then COVID-19 happened. How can I stay?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How can employers hire & comply with all this new H-1B crazine...
Tags: Startups, TC, Column, California, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, San Jose, Lawyers, Bolivia, H-1b Visa, Trump, Corporate Law, Sophie, Alcorn

Dear Sophie: Is it easier and faster to get an O-1A than an EB-1A?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Will October 2020 Visa Bulletin changes expedite my immigratio...
Tags: Startups, Column, California, Government, China, India, Immigration, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Oakland, H-1b Visa, Trump, Sophie

Dear Sophie: Now that a judge has paused Trump’s H-1B visa ban, how can I qualify my employees?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Will October 2020 Visa Bulletin changes expedite my immigratio...
Tags: TC, Column, Congress, California, Government, China, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Homeland Security, State Department, Lawyers, Department Of Homeland Security, White, Trump

Dear Sophie: Possible to still get through I-751 and citizenship after divorce?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How can I get my 2-year foreign residency requirement for my J...
Tags: Startups, TC, Column, California, Government, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Sophie, USCIS, Alcorn, Green Card, U S Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS, Immigration Law, Verified Experts

Daily Crunch: Facebook unveils the Oculus Quest 2

Facebook makes its next steps in VR, Apple releases iOS 14 and the PlayStation 5 gets a launch date. This is your Daily Crunch for September 16, 2020. The big story: Facebook unveils the Oculus Quest 2 Facebook announced the smaller, more affordable follow-up to the Oculus Quest VR headset launching on October 13 at a starting price of $299. At the same time, Lucas Matney has already tried out the device and sounded very impressed in his review: This is the most convincing argument Oculu...
Tags: Apple, Facebook, Kerry Washington, Hardware, Drew Houston, China, Tech, Sony, Oculus, Virtual Reality, Houston, Cupertino, KKR, Lucas Matney, Amazon Music, South Korea China

Dear Sophie: How can I get my 2-year foreign residency requirement for my J-1 waived?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Can we sponsor an H-1B university researcher for an EB-1B gree...
Tags: Startups, TC, Column, California, Government, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Italy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Visa, Sophie, Alcorn, Green Card, Immigration Law

Dear Sophie: What is a J-1 visa and how can we use it?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Can we sponsor an H-1B university researcher for an EB-1B gree...
Tags: Startups, TC, Column, California, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Delhi, Hiring, Alcorn, Green Card, Immigration Law, Sophie Alcorn, Dear Sophie

Dear Sophie: Can we sponsor an H-1B university researcher for an EB-1B green card?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Latest immigration and H-1B updates Dear Sophie: How can...
Tags: Startups, Column, California, Government, China, India, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Green Cards, Trump, Sophie, Pleasanton, Alcorn

Dear Sophie: Latest immigration and H-1B updates

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How can I transfer my H-1B to my startup? Dear Sophie: H...
Tags: Column, California, Government, San Francisco, Tech, Diversity, Policy, Silicon Valley, State Department, Lawyers, Hiring, H-1b Visa, Sophie, USCIS, Alcorn, DACA

Startups Weekly: Will future unicorns go public sooner?

The public markets are staying receptive to tech IPOs, and tech unicorns are trying to recover from pandemic damage, polish up their financials, and head back towards the starting gates. This week, it’s Airbnb and Palantir, finally. Both have been startup icons of the past decade, and literally helped define the term “unicorn.” Now, both are illustrating the challenges that can come from sticking to private funding for years when going public was feasible. First up, the travel rental company fil...
Tags: Apple, Startups, TC, Facebook, Microsoft, Stanford, China, San Francisco, Tech, Airbnb, Ryan Lawler, Max Levchin, Alex, Intuit, Oracle, Palantir

Dear Sophie: How can I transfer my H-1B to my startup?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Can I bypass H-1B and sponsor a grad for a green card? A...
Tags: Security, Startups, TC, Column, California, Tech, Diversity, Dhs, Policy, Silicon Valley, Lawyers, Hiring, H-1b Visa, Sophie, Emeryville, Alcorn

Dear Sophie: How can we sponsor H-1B transfers and extensions?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: Can I bypass H-1B and sponsor a grad for a green card? A...
Tags: Work, Startups, TC, Column, California, Government, Tech, Dhs, Policy, Silicon Valley, Newark, Lawyers, H-1b Visa, Sophie, Alcorn, Department of Labor

A few words for DHS agents who have no intention of becoming immigration whistleblowers

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How can I speed up getting a green card? Dear Sophie: Ho...
Tags: Column, California, Opinion, Government, America, Tech, Dhs, Policy, United States, Silicon Valley, Whistleblower, Sophie, U S Department of Homeland Security, Alcorn, Green Card, Chad Wolf

Dear Sophie: How can I speed up getting a green card?

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: How should I prepare for a green card interview? Dear So...
Tags: Work, Startups, Column, California, Government, Germany, India, Policy, Silicon Valley, Daly City, Lawyers, Hiring, Sophie, Alcorn, Green Card, Immigration Law

Dear Sophie: What are my F-1 and other immigration options after graduation?

Here’s another edition of “Dear Sophie,” the advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies. “Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration attorney. “Whether you’re in people ops, a founder or seeking a job in Silicon Valley, I would love to answer your questions in my next column.” “Dear Sophie” columns are ...
Tags: TC, Immigration, Employment, Tech, Silicon Valley, Employment law, Berkeley, Alcorn, Employment Rights, Sophie Alcorn, Dear Sophie

A pledge to unite international students and tech

Sophie Alcorn Contributor Share on Twitter Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Immigration Law in Silicon Valley and 2019 Global Law Experts Awards’ “Law Firm of the Year in California for Entrepreneur Immigration Services.” She connects people with the businesses and opportunities that expand their lives. More posts by this contributor Dear Sophie: What does the new online classes rule mean for F-1 students? ...
Tags: Column, California, Immigration, Linkedin, Tech, David, United States, San Andreas, Silicon Valley, Pacific, Johns Hopkins, Bay Area, Peet, Castro Street, Alcorn, Harvard MIT