Assuming that they don't fall within exceptional visas for those from certain countries (such as Australian, Canadian, Chilean, Mexican, and Singaporean citizens), the typical options are the H-1B (via the annual cap/lottery) and the O-1. Although initially, F-1 students get 1 year of OPT (optional practical training) and 2 additional years of OPT if they are a STEM graduate and the employer is an "e-verify" company. And really any company can act as a sponsor, even a startup. The focus is on the offered job and the individual's background (less on the company) and if they're both strong, then I think that it's worth pursuing an H-1B. An O-1 - which is a much higher standard - requires a much closer analysis.