Successful Entrepreneur: 13 Years Building Sids Farm in India After 11 Years in US

Key Takeaways

• Bold decision: Left Intel with green card and house to return to India without a concrete plan
• Family catalyst: Birth of son Sidar triggered the decision to be closer to parents
• Patience required: Building a business in India takes time - be prepared for the long haul
• Massive opportunity: India's next 25 years offer tremendous growth potential
• Traditional business success: Sids Farm now serves 50,000 families with quality milk

The Background: PhD, Intel, and the American Dream

Kishore went to the US in 2000 for his PhD program and spent over 11 years building his career. He achieved what many consider the American dream:

Despite having everything seemingly in place, Kishore felt something was missing:

"Work was great, life was set, but still there is that little itch. Why not try something back in India? I always loved being there."

The Restless Spirit: Always Exploring

Even while working at Intel, Kishore was constantly exploring new possibilities:

• Took a week-long wind turbine installation course off the coast of Seattle
• Did a solar panel installation course in Arizona desert
• Considered getting a real estate license
• Explored food processing at Michigan State
• Visited farms in California

"I was trying out a bunch of things. I even thought about getting a real estate license. I was trying to experiment, do a bunch of things, wanted to experience more for sure."

The Turning Point: Family and the Itch to Return

The birth of their son Sidar in 2010 changed everything:

"When you are parents, life takes a different turn. We definitely felt like having grandparents closer to them would be super nice, having that support of the family would be great."

Key factors that drove the decision:

• ✓ Desire to be closer to both sets of parents in Hyderabad
• ✓ Want for family support in raising children
• ✓ The persistent feeling that "home is home"
• ✓ Entrepreneurial itch to build something of his own

The Leap: No Plan, Just Conviction

The decision came suddenly and without a detailed plan:

"The previous month I drove to a Lexus showroom, I wanted to buy a Lexus. The next day we decided that we'll move back to India. My boss said this was just crazy - you don't have a plan. I was crazy, I didn't have a plan honestly."

Despite the lack of planning, Kishore took the leap:

• Sold their house in the US
• Moved back as a family
• Took a three-month break before the move to explore options

The Exploration Phase: Finding the Right Path

Before and after moving, Kishore explored multiple business ideas:

"I didn't know what would work, so I was trying a whole bunch of things."

The Reality Check: Business is Hard

Kishore learned a crucial lesson about the difference between employment and entrepreneurship:

"When you work, it's given - the money comes to you, you have a certain amount of knowledge. But earning that as a business is so much more difficult. Getting traction in something is not easy and it takes time. You have to be patient."

The transition from a secure corporate job to entrepreneurship requires patience, persistence, and the acceptance that success takes time.

Sids Farm: The Success Story

After exploring various options, Kishore found his calling in the dairy business. Sids Farm was born with a clear mission:

India's Opportunity: The Next 25 Years

Kishore is bullish on India's future:

"There are a lot of opportunities in India. I will say the next 25 years, I think there's a lot of growth that is going to happen in India. It's a great time, I would definitely say. But India - you have to be patient."

The Mindset Shift Required

"I'm not saying problems are not there. I think it is us that has to solve those. I firmly believe us just staying here and being part of the system - we solve those problems even if you don't realize it."

US vs India: The Honest Comparison

Kishore offers a balanced perspective:

"US is definitely nice, peaceful, set life. It's so set and straight. India is like this today still - but how do you deal with bureaucracy, unpredictable bureaucracy when settling back in India?"

Lessons for Aspiring NRI Entrepreneurs

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