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Visa uncertainty’s a bigger threat for Silicon Valley talent: Okta CEO
The Economic Times· 2025-09-29 00:30
Core Insights - The proposed $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants is causing significant concern in Silicon Valley, prompting companies to reassess their workforce strategies [1][8] - Okta, a company heavily reliant on the H-1B program, emphasizes the need for predictability in immigration policy to effectively plan hiring and strategy [2][4][8] Company Overview - Okta, founded in 2009, has an annual revenue of $2.76 billion and offers identity and access management solutions globally [8] - The company employs over 500 people in Bengaluru, India, representing nearly 10% of its workforce, and views India as a key R&D hub and growth market [5][8] Market Dynamics - The growth rate in India is expected to outpace mature markets, driven by increased cloud adoption and a burgeoning startup ecosystem [6][8] - Okta's market value is approximately $15.8 billion, significantly lower than larger competitors like Microsoft, which has a valuation of $2.8 trillion [7][8] AI and Employment - The impact of AI on employment is a major topic, with some companies claiming generative AI can automate up to 80% of coding; however, Okta's CEO argues that AI increases productivity without reducing the need for human talent [7][8] - Okta maintains that identity management is crucial for the successful deployment of AI technologies, as every AI agent requires access to data governed by identity protocols [7][8] Competitive Landscape - Okta's independence from larger cloud providers is highlighted as a competitive advantage, with over 8,000 integrations that demonstrate its neutrality in the identity management space [7][8]