Immigration reform that will benefit entrepreneurs and tech companies is one aspect of a broader overhaul on which Democrats and Republicans agree, said Bobby Franklin, president and CEO of the National Venture Capital Association.
"Certainly the provisions we care about enjoy bipartisan support, so if you have bipartisan support on Capitol Hill and support from the White House, that's really an opportunity," he told CNBC's "Squawk Alley" on Friday.
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In particular, small companies need Congress to raise the caps on two types of visas for high-skilled workers, he said. Those are O-1A visas for individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics and E-2 visas for those who invest a substantial amount of money in a U.S. business.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama said he would make it easier for high-skilled immigrants, graduates and entrepreneurs to remain in the country as part of a larger batch of initiatives he plans to push through by exercising executive authority.
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The association, however, believes congressional action is the best way to achieve meaningful reform. Franklin said he's optimistic Congress will address the provisions that will help start-up workers, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
"Maybe that can be something that helps bring along the other, more controversial issues to something that can move," he said.
—CNBC's Ben Thompson contributed reporting.