226: Startups, Scientists, and Visas: Why Immigration Is America’s Innovation Policy with Doug Rand

Home » 226: Startups, Scientists, and Visas: Why Immigration Is America’s Innovation Policy with Doug Rand

Join Sophie in welcoming Doug Rand, a visionary in the realm of innovation and immigration policy, to explore the unique journey that led him from the world of evolutionary biology to the corridors of the White House. Doug shares his fascinating transition from scientific research to entrepreneurship and policy-making, shedding light on the pivotal role of his work under the Obama administration in modernizing employment-based immigration, especially the H-1B program. His story underscores the significance of civil servants and their behind-the-scenes efforts in shaping global talent mobility.

Co-Director of the Talent Mobility Fund, Doug Rand is a startup founder, immigration expert, and policymaker who trained as an evolutionary biologist. He served as Senior Advisor to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services from 2021–2025 and as Assistant Director for Entrepreneurship in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2010–2017. As an entrepreneur, he was the co-founder and president of Boundless, and the co-founder and CEO of Playscripts, Inc

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Doug Rand’s transition from evolutionary biology to a key role in U.S. immigration policy
Modernization of the H-1B program and its impact on global talent mobility
Biden administration’s changes allowing startup founders to qualify for H-1B visas
Extension of employment authorization documents to address backlog issues
Challenges and opportunities for immigrant entrepreneurs in the U.S.
Importance of issuing more green cards to retain top AI talent in the U.S.
Collaborative potential between government and startups to support innovation and immigration policy

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.