Indian Entrepreneurs Lead in US Technology Start-ups

Indian-Americans are the top entrepreneurs among immigrant groups in the United States, in setting up the largest number of engineering and technology companies, over the past decade. Indian Americans account for 26 per cent of tech firms founded by immigrants as a whole. A study led by Vivek Wadhwa, executive in residence at Duke University reports that during the period 1995-2005, Indian immigrants founded more engineering and technology firms across the US than their counterparts from the UK, China, Taiwan and Japan put together. Wadhwa said the country should make the most of its ability to "get the best and brightest from around the world."

Foreign-born entrepreneurs were behind one in four U.S.technology start-ups over the past decade. Immigrant entrepreneurs' companies employed 450,000 workers and generated $52 billion in sales in 2005, according to the survey.

Indians have outpaced the Chinese in founding engineering and technology companies in Silicon Valley accounting for 15.5 per cent of the start-ups in the Californian hub during this decade. Immigrants from China and Taiwan accounted for 12.8 per cent of the start-ups. In the preceding years, Chinese had an upper hand.

The study states: "This research shows that immigrants have become a significant driving force in the creation of new businesses and intellectual property in the US-- and that their contributions have increased over the past decade. The key to maintaining US competitiveness in a global economy is to understand America's strengths and to effectively leverage these. Skilled immigrants are one of America's greatest advantages."

The biggest concentration of Indian entrepreneurs is in California, Texas and New Jersey. The share of Indian start-ups is as high as 47 per cent in New Jersey, followed by Texas (25 per cent), California (20 per cent), Florida (18 per cent), New York (14 per cent) and Massachusetts (10 per cent). Almost 80 per cent of immigrant-founded companies in the US were within just two industry fields: software (33 per cent) and innovation/manufacturing-related services (46 per cent).

LINK:

"America's New Immigrant Entrepreneurs" is available online

Comments

[Rajiv Ohri]

Innovative & creative imaginaion is not just limited to highly skilled professionals, as they go ahead with opportunities whereas a laymen keeps exploring the hurdles as outcome of these innovations, creating tough competetive environment.

[aditya]

Indians are always best with their creativity hardwork and innovation