Additional Coverage:
- My wife and I gave up $1 million in Big Tech pay to move from California back to India. I couldn’t find purpose in the US. (newsbreak.com)
Nithin Hassan, a former high-paying Meta employee, relocated from California to his hometown Bengaluru in 2023. After nearly two decades in the US, Hassan returned to address urban greenery issues in India.
Despite enjoying his career and life in the Bay Area, Hassan felt unfulfilled. He longed to contribute to his hometown and be closer to his family. The golden handcuffs of a well-paying job in the US held him back from fulfilling his aspirations.
Hassan’s decision to return to India was not without challenges. He faced bureaucratic hurdles in setting up his startups. Additionally, his wife faced longer commutes than in the US, and concerns for his daughters’ safety and inequality in Indian workplaces weighed on him.
Despite these challenges, Hassan believes he has found his purpose by combining his passions for technology and gardening to create an e-commerce platform that aims to improve urban greenery. He also established a mentorship platform to guide career seekers.
Hassan’s ventures are bootstrapped to avoid pressure from investors to prioritize financial gains over his original purpose. He acknowledges the chaotic nature of the Indian market but views it as an opportunity for new entrants.
Hassan’s decision was driven by a desire to minimize regrets and create a meaningful story for his children. He believes that even if his ventures don’t succeed, he will have gained valuable experience and a renewed sense of fulfillment.