Silicon Valley a ‘meritocratic’ hub for outsiders despite H-1B challenges: Perplexity CEO Srinivas

Silicon Valley remains a unique place for outsiders despite the challenges of immigrating to the US under the latest dispensation, Perplexity cofounder and chief executive Aravind Srinivas told ET during an interview.

“This place has always been for outsiders. Almost all the successful companies here came from someone thinking differently, questioning the status quo, and then executing relentlessly’’, he said. “It is one of the few places in the world that is truly meritocratic’’.

The Trump administration recently slapped a $100,000 fee on the H-1B visa. The executive order to this effect claimed the route has been used to displace American workers, depress wages, and even endanger national security.


India has been the largest beneficiary of this non-immigrant visa. While Indian IT services companies and their global counterparts have reduced their dependence on this route, Big Tech players and AI majors have doubled down on it.

IT industry body Nasscom had pointed out that the new H-1B visa rules could have ripple effects on America’s innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy. Indian IT companies operating in the US could restructure their staffing to mitigate damages and even benefit, according to the Institute for Progress, a Washington-based think tank.

However, there are still challenges for immigrants coming to the US, Srinivas said. “The biggest thing for someone who comes from outside is who you can really trust. You need people with credibility who can vouch for you, invest in you, and mentor you even if they might compete with you later’’, he added.

Srinivas reminisced about his mentor, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, saying that while their companies may compete, he will be fine with working together. “Yes, Microsoft has Copilot and we may compete, but he (Nadella) looks at the big picture. If Perplexity succeeds and we can do business together, that is fine. He is a phenomenal CEO and coach. I think he could have been a great founder too. He is more of a refounder at Microsoft, which is incredibly hard’’.

Also Read: Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas: Indians can build global companies, not just manage them