Purdue Research Foundation and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced an agreement to support increased startup creation through J-1 Visa opportunities for international researchers and/or students based at the Purdue Foundry.
The Purdue Foundry exists to help Purdue University students, faculty and local alumni move ideas to the marketplace more quickly. It is a place to transform innovators into entrepreneurs by providing advice on entity formation, ideation, market analysis and business model development. The Purdue Foundry is focused on helping individuals at Purdue who have business or product ideas and want to turn them into a company. The process and passion for the success of each company is driven by the entrepreneur and while the Foundry provides support, education and additional tools to help each client reach success.
The J-1 Visa, a designated exchange visitor program, is issued by the United States Department of State. Purdue University is the second university in the United States to be granted the authorization to submit applications through this program for visiting researchers stationed at its incubator location, the Purdue Foundry.
U.S. practice director Jonathan Grode will assist Purdue Foundry in the development of best pathways to utilize the newly established J-1 Visa entrepreneurial program.
"It's a progressive strategy for Purdue and the state of Indiana to utilize the relatively new J-1 Visa program," Grode said. "I'm impressed with their forward-thinking practices and believe this initiative will lay the groundwork that others will follow. This program offers far more flexibility and usability than the modified H-1B program for entrepreneurial activity found at other institutions. It is not a cure all, but a great tool to help potential entrepreneurs realize their full potential."
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