<p>They are also key members of management or product development teams in almost 75 percent of the country's leading cutting-edge companies, according to a report released by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).<br /><br />India was followed by Israel, Canada, Iran and New Zealand as the top countries of origin for an immigrant founder. Other founders and co-founders were born in Italy, South Africa, Greece, Norway, Germany, Britain, Singapore, Switzerland and France.<br />"Immigrants are increasingly important in driving growth and innovation in America, as evidenced by the role played by foreign-born founders and key personnel in the nation's breakthrough companies," said Stuart Anderson, the NFAP executive director and report's author.<br /><br />The report, "Immigrant Founders and Key Personnel in America's 50 Top Venture-Funded Companies", found that 46 percent, or 23 out of 50, of the country's top venture-funded companies had at least one immigrant founder.<br /><br />A 2006 study conducted with the National Venture Capital Association identified an immigrant founder in 1 in 4, or 25 percent, of publicly traded venture-backed companies created between 1990 and 2005.<br /><br />The study found 37 of the top 50 companies, or 74 percent, had at least one immigrant helping the company grow and innovate by filling a key management or product development position.<br /><br />Chief technology officer, CEO and vice president of engineering are the most common positions held by immigrants in the top 50 venture-backed companies.<br /><br />If there is one overarching theme among these top 50 venture-backed companies it is how combining foreign-born and native-born talent creates a win-win situation that create jobs and important innovations in America, the report said.<br /><br />However, a second study released by NFAP, "America's Tradition of Rewarding Talent", suggests, "US immigration policy does not look kindly on foreign nationals who seek to create businesses in America".<br /><br />Noting that American history is fuelled by the story of entrepreneurs, the study concludes that the current policy "of rewarding cash but not talent is a rejection of America's heritage as a nation of immigrants and a nation of entrepreneurs".</p>
<p>They are also key members of management or product development teams in almost 75 percent of the country's leading cutting-edge companies, according to a report released by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).<br /><br />India was followed by Israel, Canada, Iran and New Zealand as the top countries of origin for an immigrant founder. Other founders and co-founders were born in Italy, South Africa, Greece, Norway, Germany, Britain, Singapore, Switzerland and France.<br />"Immigrants are increasingly important in driving growth and innovation in America, as evidenced by the role played by foreign-born founders and key personnel in the nation's breakthrough companies," said Stuart Anderson, the NFAP executive director and report's author.<br /><br />The report, "Immigrant Founders and Key Personnel in America's 50 Top Venture-Funded Companies", found that 46 percent, or 23 out of 50, of the country's top venture-funded companies had at least one immigrant founder.<br /><br />A 2006 study conducted with the National Venture Capital Association identified an immigrant founder in 1 in 4, or 25 percent, of publicly traded venture-backed companies created between 1990 and 2005.<br /><br />The study found 37 of the top 50 companies, or 74 percent, had at least one immigrant helping the company grow and innovate by filling a key management or product development position.<br /><br />Chief technology officer, CEO and vice president of engineering are the most common positions held by immigrants in the top 50 venture-backed companies.<br /><br />If there is one overarching theme among these top 50 venture-backed companies it is how combining foreign-born and native-born talent creates a win-win situation that create jobs and important innovations in America, the report said.<br /><br />However, a second study released by NFAP, "America's Tradition of Rewarding Talent", suggests, "US immigration policy does not look kindly on foreign nationals who seek to create businesses in America".<br /><br />Noting that American history is fuelled by the story of entrepreneurs, the study concludes that the current policy "of rewarding cash but not talent is a rejection of America's heritage as a nation of immigrants and a nation of entrepreneurs".</p>