[md1515]

Multi-decade time frame required to complete grad study? If you have a master's degree already then you only need two more years for a Ph.D (in most cases - or at least both of my parents did and I highly doubt they were both abnormally fast).

Are you solely working on the start-up? I would suggest going about your business without the need to incorporate right away. A lot of people waste a lot of time and money incorporating when they have no idea if the product can be built, is desired in the market place, or validated.

My suggestion would be to come to the U.S for your Ph.D (if visa requirements allow you to do so). You will have two years to work on your studies and then also validate your startup idea in the U.S, which may be more friendly in terms of validation and (if you moved to startup hubs) could be useful in terms of incorporating and scaling.

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck!

[ginger_beer]

The 'multi-decade' bit was just meant to be tongue-in-cheek. I was just implying that it took sooo much longer to complete the PhD in the US, as opposed to Commonwealth countries (UK, and to some extent, Australia, New Zealand). Giving up 7 years of my life is just too much to ask.

Also, when I mention about visa requirement, I mean the restriction on freely moving into a country and expecting to be able to work right away. Studying anywhere in the world is not much of a problem for me, visa-wise.

[mzbridget]

No, he's correct - it can be years longer than the UK for a PhD. avg is 7 years here (5 w/a MA) compared to 3 in the UK. But I agree that he should just go for both and try to make them intersect as much as possible. The data from my business is the backbone of my thesis research.