Watch: Moved Back to India After 30 Years: What I Actually FOUND After Living for 11 Years in India

3:12 Have it I invested in a company called taxi for sure that got acquired hired by Olaf for a tidy sum of money in 2015 that's when started thinking what should we do what should I do the money I made so I thought we will do something I wanted to always do something in India so sort of do something in India as well as give back to the country that has given me so much and that is why I decided you know what we'll do something and the idea of drive you came about and before you know it it's now 11 years working in drive view and drive view has become pretty well known across India the number one you know driver aggregator market in the country and we are launching other services now for you know shopper services and driving school and so on.

4:08 So so that's where the my journey is as of today. >> Got it. So I mean as you mentioned like

4:15 I mean you had a successful career built businesses in America. So but I think I I sense that you know India could give you a purpose. I mean that's what you felt. so when did that thought occur to you like you know while living in US? So I mean US was was pretty good. There is no question about that I have to go back to India. We have settled down. We have a home. three kids who went to college here and graduated and everything was fine they were all settling down after they all settled down in college after they graduated that's when I turned to my wife I said I want to do something in India and parents are in India too so I'm spending so much time in India and my wife encouraged me she says yeah if you that's what you wanted to go do something I would say around 2010 2012 is when I started seeing something could be done in India because India India was also changing is getting exciting actually in India any of the major metros take Bangalore, Hyderabad,

5:17 Mumbai, Chennai or Delhi there is a lot of tech startups are happening and you know you know going on so I thought let me delve into this and that's how I got my feet wet a little bit with taxi for sure because I wasn't an employee but as an investor and being an adviser to the team I s you know this is something that that I can Got it. And that I think in two till 2010 like how many years you were there in US by that time? Yeah. >> 30 years. >> So it's something that's there in the back of the mind. But I think it's just that the phase of the life the kids are in college. So know okay this is the time to do that and then you have >> something. Exactly. Okay.

6:02 >> Exactly. >> Got it. I this is another one right. A lot [clears throat] of people think about it like they want to do something they want to move back to India but what made you like I think you push from thinking to doing so you know you have to like I tell people you have to be at the right time at the right place okay there is no magic okay you I as long as you have something there is something you want to do explore and don't give up keep trying right lot of people I know I have a I have a huge network of friends in Silicon Valley. Many have said oh I wish I could do something like you are doing I don't know what to do right the question is what should I do when I go back if you are a tech if you're a doctor that's easy right? you know I can go back to India as a you know maybe I can go work in a hospital or have my own practice and so on. If you're an

7:04 Engineer, software engineer, you know, you don't want to go work for the same company. If you have worked in a company in the US, you don't want to go back and work for the same company. But I know and you could I mean there's no by the way you you have a fantastic job opportunity for working for a big company or MNC's in India. that is absolutely amazing in my opinion and and and and most of them are my customers that drive you you know because I know them quite well in India they use our service the thing is if you are going back and you know the way to do this is maybe go maybe a for me it was a immediate step I went and did a startup I never earned one rupee in India when I grew up the first time I did earned money was through drive view.

7:53 Can you imagine that? Right. So my not everybody could be that lucky or could have the right time at the right place. What I tell people is go back take you know if you can let's say you work at Google or Facebook or somewhere there are a lot of opportunity Broadcom Intel there's so many places in India maybe there's an opportunity for you to there start there and then as you you know you have to build a network right you know like I'm a big believer in saying you know there's an African saying which says you know you can't bring up the whole village brings up a child Right? To do a startup, you require more than yourself. Okay? As a robust startup, you need the help of your tech team, the marketing team, the you know finance team and investors and network of customers and it takes time. It takes time. But I would tell people if they are have a desire to go back, there are plenty of

8:55 Things to do in India. Like I was like I was telling you earlier I mean things are pretty much solved in America it's resolved right in India there are so many things I can look around I can oh why can't we do this you know there is an opportunity if you truly look at it there are opportunities as you know if you want to do it >> got it when you made that decision in

9:18 2014 was there anything that's holding you off like was there any apprehension or anything that you're concerned about making this big move in life like after settling in US for so long. >> Yes. see I was at the crucible of Silicon Valley where tech is you know valued and it's one of the you know you have lived in Silicon Valley you know they worship technology latest and greatest they know entrepreneurship they value that. So my worry was to be honest with you I thought when I go to India I will miss that a lot. Okay I thought I would miss that a lot. But to my pleasant surprise in Bangalore when we started the company I saw equally exciting things going on and we moved we started a company in Korangla >> which is a hot bit of startups in you know actually in India maybe there are a couple of places where there as in Korangla every street had two or three

10:19 Startups okay every street had two or three startups young people starting companies I'm talking about 24 2015, right? >> Yes. Yeah. >> And I then, you know, in fact, it's so funny. It felt the same way to me. Silicon what I spelled Silicon Valley back in 1999 >> when you go to a restaurant, talk to somebody, then I'll I'll be there'll be people on the other table who will be doing something similar to what you're doing your competitor or you know maybe a potential customer. And I started seeing that in Bangalore, right? I would go out to eat lunch or something. I was like, "Oh my god." I would meet people I I would and and the another interesting thing that I found was there is so much people coming back and forth. Sometimes I'm walking on the streets in Bangalore.

11:09 >> Suddenly I have I know a friend from Silicon Valley from Fremont. I meet him on the street on the know in Cormangal. I'm like what are you doing here? What are you doing here kind of thing right? So there is a connection between India and valley I mean high-tech corridors and valley which is exciting that made me my apprehension went away at that point I said you know what I'm not going to miss that okay I'm not going to miss that I'm I'm a I'm a techie at heart okay and to me you know oh my god coming from Silicon Valley will I miss anything on the tech side tech side There are certain things I'll miss. Of course, I know that. But it was compensated by the amazing enthusiasm people have to do something you know and they continue to do that.

12:04 >> Yeah, I know. I think as you said like

12:06 Most of the people have the intent but they don't know what to do. As you said, there are so many other opportunities like you know that's available but is there something that's still holding them like you think like people couldn't make that decision or like act on it from a thinking to what's going on what's holding them how do you yeah >> right I mean first of all I mean most of the are married and have kids so then there is a family obligations right sometimes the wife is working at a company now or or a husband is working at a company. So I mean it can be either one, right? And now they have to coordinate okay what do I do with my job? Do I get a similar job and make me do in India or that's one thing. Second thing is kids are in in school. how will they cope up with the different school system or if they are in co in my case the kids were all in college there's not an issue they were you know they were all out so this is a good time for me to do something I know I

13:09 Know friends who have moved back with the kids and it was not easy they sent them they went to you know you know send them to private schools and they did all sort of stuff but anywhere you do there's always challenges got >> right You just have to take the plunge and there is opportunity. There's so much opportunity there. Thank god we live in a country like India where education experience is valued a lot. There is a truly there is a lot of value you know we are some of the eastern culture right we tend to you know you know you know value education you know and so what happens is that if you know something and if you have something that you can contribute you will find a way got it so in your situation because the kids are in college and that's the right timing so even though you had the intent you couldn't move because of other as as we were talking about some other dynamics

14:10 So did you permanently move or like you know because a lot of families also have this struggle. Hey kids are in college or kids are you know living in US I want to spend time. So how did you think through it and what was your plan because you want to build something but you also have other family going on >> obligations. I mean I mean we moved to

14:30 India we locked up the house when we first started drive you moved to India for a few years >> as a family >> and with the family. >> Yeah with the family. >> Yeah with with the family and dogs. We had two little dogs. We brought them to India you know. So and >> just to confirm so the three kids are in college. So it was you and your wife that moved back with the dogs >> right? Move back. So by then by the time I moved my kids were out of college and they were already working. >> Okay. >> both of the two of them are working in California and the third one actually was already in India doing some you know he was doing internship at tax for >> so he was right there. So it was very so he for us in fact he became my co-founder. we started the company together, my father and son >> and so we we locked up the house and I said you know and then every few months we would come home and just to make sure everything is okay in the US

15:31 And and that's what we did. Okay. there are I mean we could have sold the house and moved permanently but you know my wife's family has she has connections in the US so we decided you know what let's just stay right here let's figure out what to do okay and though we currently we have a home in Bangalore and we have a home here in the US right and u I you know I kind of go back and forth we are a big dog lover as I mentioned to you so actually I have actually taken two dogs from the India, street dogs and brought them to us now and we have three dogs at home. >> So, so, so you know, so we kind of u you know, life changes. You know, you have to be flexible. But, by the way, I don't expect everybody to have that kind of flexibility. I understand that.

16:24 >> Yeah. >> Like I said, you have to be at the right time at the right place. And I had the opportunity to do this and and again my wife was completely supportive of this and she said you go do it. If this is what you want to do in life, go do it. It's okay. And by the way, it's not that easy going back and forth. >> Yes. >> But but given that I'm so passionate about what I'm doing in India, I'm fine with it. >> Got it. >> So >> So in 2014, what was the thought process? Again, the idea was not to completely move back. I mean you didn't sell your house, you locked out and then you went. Was the idea to try this startup like drive you for a few years see how it would pan out and then decide. Okay. >> Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. That's exactly we had a home in India anyway.

17:13 So we decided you know let's try and you know honestly taxi for sure from the time we seed investment to the sale to to Ola was less than 5 years. Got it. >> So I thought drag you will be probably a five year or less if you're successful five year or less for if you're not successful it'll be earlier right so we decided then a lot of things happened in life right I mean we got covid hit in 2020 we were actually very pro we were getting to a profitability and suddenly covid hit everything went back to you know zero >> so we had to rebuild the company again >> got it so now let's talk about this decision I know you mentioned your

17:55 Wife was very supportive but when was the first time you mentioned about this idea of moving back to India and what was her reaction first reaction? Well, [laughter] that was in 2015. I know I told her I said, you know, looks like I'm going to, you know, this startup is, you know, taking off. So, and I mean she was working at a company in the valley and I told her what do you want to do? And she said, I quit. I'll come I'll come with you to India. Let's go. It's kind of fun a fun life. And I said, okay, we have dogs. We'll figure out a way to take the dogs with us. So the that's what I'm saying. She was very supportive. That helps a lot. >> I mean I got lucky. I got lucky. I mean she was willing to quit her job and then just say okay let's go. I'll I'll go with you. I mean she could have figured out something in India but you know I said you know why why bother? You have already worked so long enough so you know just come. So that's what happened. there was no resistance if

18:56 You asking me. I mean I have seen friends you know sometimes between you know between the husband and wife one person wants to go the other person want to stay you know it's kind of stretching it's very hard that happens a lot when kids are younger >> because you have to think about that right you know when the kids are younger what school are they going to go how are they going to take the trans you know transition that stuff that I didn't have to worry >> got it and then before this permanent move like Are you spending time between India and US like for the parents because you said like you had this startup and then the startup is taking off. So I just want to understand the timeline a little bit so that the audience follows through that. >> So so okay in 2011 I did a started a startup in Bay Area. It was one of my last startups in Bay Area called Polaris Design. it was a about 2 3 years was working. So then so that company was doing okay but not growing you know

19:57 It was very difficult. So what because it was my own company and my parents were back in India. So it was easy for me to go I just took a month off. I would I I had decided that every 3 to four months I'll go to India spend a month with my parents. so that way they also look forward to it. Oh, he's going to come back in 90 days, right? >> As opposed to a lot of times it's very hard for the parents to see you after for years they don't see you. >> So I started doing that. In fact in that process is when I found taxi for sure. >> In one of the one of the times I was there in a monsoon I was there raining and some of my schoolmates said hey we are having an event here and you want to come and join at this Bangalore club. I said sure I'll come. So I had nothing to do you know my with my parents because I usually spend a month there come back home for two three months go back again for a month because it's my own company I could do whatever I want right

20:58 >> if I work for an employer that'd be difficult okay to do >> and then you know when I that's how I met the founders of taxi for sure and the rest is history so I I used to do that okay every 3 months four months >> so >> got it and then when you moved to India like I know your wife was very supportive but she was born in US and all that stuff. So what was her first reaction living in India like you know the things that >> you know we used to always go to India for vacation right with the kids we are so for her she she was not it was not strange how what India is >> okay >> okay she's used to this okay and she was used to it but living in India is a little bit challenging because now you have to figure out what to eat you know it's a daily stuff right the good thing was we have our own home. So that was that you know I had all furnished everything and I had everything. So when

21:59 She came in the transition was very easy in that way. food items are different obviously but you know what when you go in any metro in India you get the same food as in America. You get the pizzas you get any dishes you want the chicken dish you want or you know you know we can you know I know a thigh food you want or anything you want. So in that way it was a much easier transition for her. >> And also it's her her attitude right. she always she always has a growing up she always had a like you know she loved India a lot even though she's American she always had you know something about India. She always wanted to learn Hinduism.

22:45 The you know although she's a Catholic I mean Catholic and Protestant mix. but but for her because she had that interest in the Hindu faith and so it and my parents were there right and of course you know and my parents and of course they were all there so it was kind of it was it was kind of easy for her that way >> got it now let's talk through the

23:11 Journey right in 2014 2015 you moved to India want to test it out set up this how does the life evolved like you know from the initial years like once you saw this growing like you continued to stay or spend time between two countries how did you make the decisions if you can walk through that >> right right so we moved I moved into I mean permanently sort of 2015 right until then I was got you know and my wife came and we were there and she had some medical issues in 2018 we moved back she moved back I was still there so I was doing that you know the I would spend two months there and come here with her to work a couple of weeks or two three weeks. I used to do that and my mom was still there in India with me.

23:56 My father had passed away by then and in 2020 you know my mom was there with me and the COVID hit right and and everything you know the I was busy the first few years building the company. >> Yeah. Obviously you know I don't have I know I don't live about less than six week six kilometers from the office. I didn't have a bad traffic problem. Bangalore is notorious for traffic traffic. For me it was fine you know I always you know it wasn't that bad from our home. It was like you know took me about 15 20 25 minutes. not a problem for me to go you know going back and forth and my wife was there and we were you know we started doing let's see what happens and like I said then the COVID hit and then at that time my sister was very you know she said you know bring mom to us because if mom

24:56 Gets COVID you know none of us can travel to help her because there were no flights you know it was very difficult and and my sister is a doctor and I said okay fine we'll do that so I did that so I brought my mom with me to US and of course as as as expected for about a year we couldn't travel flights were not there flights were there but it was very difficult to travel very scary to travel and so my mom came with us to US in 2020 so then at that time I was here starting 2020 I spent about a year and a not traveling anywhere. Yeah. >> Trying to build a company from remotely you know and know you know with the company was you know we were you know you know every time it starts picking started picking up and another one hits right you know there's so many waves of this covid hitting and then but we survived and then again I moved back to India so you know get back to India and

25:57 Then since then I've been doing this. Since then I think you're spending two months in India, one month I've been kind of back and forth. U back and forth, right? Back and forth. Got it. >> And you know every other time my wife will come with me. The thing is it's very hard to bring the dogs back to India back and forth. It's we are constrained by our kids. We call our kids. They are three dogs. you know there is a lot of customs issues and animal you know quarantine issues. So, it's very difficult for me to bring the dogs back and forth. I mean, I wish it I wish the borders were not that difficult, but that's the way it is. If it was only for my if we didn't have the dogs, my wife would be just back with me and we would be lock the house again for a while in the US and then go back to you know do what I'm trying to do for a while and see where it goes >> because we both I mean we both I mean we both love India equally as much as as the US is. There are pluses and minuses

26:57 Everywhere. >> Got it. So in this last almost close to 11 12 years in India right and then also

27:05 Like spending time between US and India how do you like if there is a way to describe your experience how do you describe that [clears throat] one thing is you have to accept things are different okay when you if you are if you are lived in the US for 20 years, 30 years, you have set, you know, you you expect certain things to happen. The electricity will never fail. Water is always clean, right? You know, the basic infrastructure is always pretty good. When you go to India, what I seen some people move to India, they get frustrated. Okay, they why why can't it work this way? You know, it worked for me like that. If your expectation is life will be exactly same as in the US or the any western [clears throat] Europe or something you'll be it'll be difficult. Okay. What what you have to do is you have to there are some certain acceptance. The roads are not that

28:06 Clean. >> We know that right? I mean we got you know we got street dogs and cows. That's India. Okay. I mean I is it good or I mean you know that but but you have to work around it but the good thing is tech I mean I don't want to scare people moving back to India. The good thing is there is enough technology there in India. You can get un we have a solar power on the rooftop. So we have uninterrupted power right you know I I don't even know when the power fails you know the power does fail once in a while as you know something you know in India it is the infrastructure is still poor for the water we have not only we have our own bore well water in addition to the cavary so we never see and we have tanks you know there is a workar around to everything okay you can make it but if you feel like oh this is not the way it was in America or in Germany me then you'll be you know you'll feel like oh come on you know I want to go

29:06 Back and I know people who have come back I know a lot of people have come you know frustrated and have come back they said oh you know what I I know I I want to go back to America that's okay I mean that's also okay but if you have this mindset saying you expect certain changes I mean there are some amazing benefits in India too that you can't get it here you get 10-minute delivery in India I mean I can order anything from Swiggy or Zumato and I can get the food in 10 minutes. I mean you can't get that in America. You know that >> you know anything you want in India is amazing. I mean you know there public transportation is it's okay depending party but things are getting better. I mean if you have to have what I'm trying to say to people is if you really want to go back and and be happy about making the move there has to be a certain level of acceptance.

29:59 >> Yeah. And you know and it can be loud you know you know when there is some Diwali or something people make sort of noise firecrackers you know there's you know that you don't hear here I mean obviously everything is beautiful and quiet here you know but that's that's how I would tell people you know I mean there are there are beauty to hear I'm not saying America is bad or you know but I'm just saying it's different. >> Yes. If you if you go with that expectation saying that it is going to be what it is, you'll be fine. You know in fact funny my wife and I you know in the car when you go people you know there's no lane discipline in India people you know run the red light you know knock on word I've been very careful I never been in an accident because I take it easy there are people who get frustrated oh why can't they follow the lane there's no lane discipline in India you know you can feel frustrated there is no issue you know there nothing wrong in it but

30:59 It's the only either you figure out a way to solve a problem that's a problem to solve right I mean garbage is a problem to solve stray dogs is a problem to solve you know you know you know laying discipline is a problem to solve so there are a lot of opportunity for especially America you know Indians who have settled in the other other countries there are things they can do I mean look at it from a positive oh I can do something about this and that's the that's the opportunity Yeah. >> Cool. so in these last 10 12 years like you know shuttling between these like how how did you manage like you know spending time with kids? I know

31:42 Your younger one was with you in India. I'm just wondering because this is also another one that kind of I mean you mentioned a little bit about your kids the three dogs but the other grown-ups like how did you spend time so how did you navigate that? Yeah. Yeah, I mean we I we try to make sure we spend time with them. either we come home during their holidays or they come to visit us during the holidays or you know when I come here I'll make it a point to at least meet with my kids at least once and you know even if I don't have much time or they don't have in fact mostly they don't have much time they are busy with their own life okay let's have go have dinner you know I want to you know so I do that I again in each one is different right in my case the kids are grown and they have their own life and you you you and then sometimes they have come to India to visit us you know sometimes for a few days they come and visit it is

32:43 You have to make it a point now to spend time with them you know you know I know friends who have sent their kids they moved to India and send their to boarding schools you know you know there are a lot of great boarding schools in in India right especially especially near you know Dadun and you know a lot of good schools are there people are and also they send their kids over there and then make sure that during the Diwali festival or during the holidays they make sure they come home or they go there visit them so that's something you can you have to do right I mean just to build that you know bond there is you know and you know with the tele communication you got you are seeing them you know video conference call is everywhere there. I mean it's nothing like when I came to America. I mean I didn't see my parents for years. I used to write letters right and the and the letters used to go home after one or 10 days and the phone calls were so expensive was $3 a minute drunk call to

33:45 India and I mean with my you know student I mean as a teaching assistant my income I mean I couldn't afford it more than 5 minutes with my parents. My dad would tell my mom, "Hang up, hang up. He he'll waste money on us." You know, he [laughter] say, my mom would talk to me, you know, she would tell me, "What are you eating? What did you cook?" You know, all these things. And my dad would say, "Just hang up because it'll cost him so much money." But now there is nothing. I could be cooking, he'll be watching, you know, with, you know, with, you know, technology has changed. The globe has really shrunk. Honestly living in Hyderabad or or Silicon Valley it's it's the same by the way I I just came here 10 days ago to us I'm coming back there in 15 days you know 15 20 days I'll be back. So I mean it is so easy but it's so easy now you know it is not no big deal right so I think

34:49 That's an opportunity >> you can be anywhere and you know you know people work from home right you can work from home or you can work sitting in Bangalore or you can you know it doesn't matter right so similar I would say the same thing with the you know with kids I mean you know we used to do that with the parents before on video call talk to them. Now you know you could do the other way. >> The other way around >> the other way around. Yeah. >> Let's talk a little bit on the financial planning. You know in your case you have

35:18 Moved permanently for few years and then kind of spending time between India and US for different reasons. maybe if you're open maybe you can talk about the tax residency status because it changes depending on how long you spend in India and how long in US. let's talk that and then we can dive into topics. >> Right. Right. Sure. you know since I have an income in India and I have some income in the US. so what happens is I pay income tax in India for the you know whatever income in India I generate I pay income tax. Now whatever income I paid in in India I can write off against the because in the US you are taxed on the global income. so US is different compared to other countries. you know India doesn't charge global income.

36:12 India only you pay income tax on the income you earn in India. So then what happens when I come to file a tax in the US then I I take the US income and for the India income I the income tax I have paid certain percent I can write off against it not everything some person know for example in India I pay let's say 33% tax rate 35% but in the US I may be only at 25% tax rate with you know and then I I can only right off up to that level you know so that you can do that's what I do I I file income tax in the India and I file income tax in the US >> yeah I think one small just note for the audience but once you become a resident ordinary resident in India India also taxes on the global income maybe in your case because you stand between India and US different I just want to make sure that people are not miss >> that's right that's right that's right I mean I have an OCI but you know this is the way we have been working on I

37:13 Agree with you yeah I know what you're Yeah, cool. in terms of the financial planning, in terms of the assets like the 401ks or IRS, the stock portfolio, like how did you think through it when you are doing this transition like spending time between countries? if you can share anything on that, >> right? I mean, if you look at most people assets are either they have 401ks or they are have some IAS or and the biggest one of the big assets is house. Okay, nothing you can do on the house. house will be a house. If you have a house, if the value of the house goes up, your asset value goes up. If it goes down, it goes down. So as far as the 401k and everything I just left it by itself you know obviously third party is managing it fidelity or somebody is managing my portfolio there and I you know and and that's what I did and when in India again because I have an income in India and I have a home in India and

38:13 Everything I started build my own portfolio there also you know you know with you know in Indian stock market is pretty good. it's doing well actually. But the problem is in the dollar terms it's not doing okay because because you know rupee gets rupee weakens quite a bit has weakened quite a bit in the last 10 years at least by 30 40%. >> So yeah so that is something people have to worry about. >> What I typically do is I leave the finances separately in each country. >> Yeah. If you try to transfer money back and forth, it won't work out. It's not good. I mean, let let it grow by itself. And India is also a thriving economy, it it it will definitely the way everything is pointing, India will be the number in the top three economies in the world in the next few years. It'll continue to grow. So, it's okay, you know, it's okay to, you know, even though there is a if you you can't look at everything from a dollar perspective.

39:16 >> Okay. you know there is a you know you have to look at okay dollar is dollar rupee is rupee you know leave it at that >> yeah now let's talk a little bit on the opportunities which we kind of slightly touched u before so we talked about

39:33 People hesitant you know no what not what to do like you know after moving back how has India evolved in the last 10 years I mean you said like the you painted a picture of how Bangalore was in 2014 2015 now we are talking in 2026 how the startup has evolved and also like someone who is moving back to India what are your what's your advice especially on the career side or on the professional side right so there's a huge dislocation going on in the market in the tech sector you know 2015 what when I moved to India 2014 2015 you know the market is different than today today lot of it is AIdriven you know I and every I mean there's a lot of AI startups in India trying to figure out of what can be done in fact I think India has probably the second highest AI usage if you look at open AI or anthropic India is number two so because there's a lot of usage of AI

40:33 Tools in India AI market itself is I mean I know this I'm I'm talking from a tech perspective there are people who may not be tech >> from a AI market itself is still evolving in the US it is still in the early stage they have not made they're not profitable there's huge investment going on I mean the amount of investments going on in the US is unbelievable actually the way the investment going on on AI there are also investments going on in India on AI side so there's a lot of opportunity in the AI I can I mean there is a lot of opportunity medical field for example AI applicable to medical field you know India is a very good medical destination right there a lot of medical tourism happens in India actually people come from all over the world for certain you know surgery the medical field is actually getting I mean the changes happening in India is just crazy amazing I mean the

41:34 The level of sophistication is is is as good as the western country I can see okay in India so opportunities are there in my opinion there's a lot of opportunity in the confluence of AI technology and fields like medical field I mean you know there's you know legal field there's a simple transcription stuff going on in legal field and u you know so there is a lot of opportunity in India for for people who are willing to because AI is transforming everything in the as you know in every field right we are still in the early stages of AI lot of transformation will continue to happen you know there is a lot I don't want to go technology wise but u there is a lot of opportunity when you have things are changing is when there's opportunity >> you know you know you know that's what I see in India there's I mean fantastic I

42:36 Mean I can take even a small example right I'll just give an example potholes Potholes are very common in India, right? I can use AI technology and GPS technology and figure out a way pinpoint and get things done. And by the way, the governments are also lot of state governments in India are also very interested [clears throat] in working with tech. Okay, I've seen them working with tech. I mean in your place you know Andhra Pradesh AP Andhra Pradesh or Talanga they're all I mean these ministers are amazing they are very well educated people I mean if you look at in Indian you know you know this is not the old India we used to have some you know the politicians are well educated nowadays they are engineers and doctors and smart people so if you have a good idea either to help the society or for your own like let's say some medical or something you will definitely

43:38 Get traction in India. >> In my my personal opinion I don't I don't see it not happening. >> Yeah. I mean it's great to have someone who has built so many companies. So I I want to ask this question. There are people in US who are thinking about moving to India you know to do a startup or they couldn't do it in US for a visa regulations or anything. What would be your specific advice for them who are thinking about doing a startups? >> First of all, the people who are in the US, they already have a network, right, of people they know. Make sure you don't lose that network. You learn a lot from your network because then you have a connection back in home. When you move to India, you are going to build your own network there too. Okay? because you have to build a network like I said you know to start a company as a you know you know the larger the company the larger the network right and my my advice to people is have an open mind

44:39 Talk and and please talk to people and solve a problem that my always tell the people is that if you can solve a problem that you are facing then you are intimately know all the nuances of the problem you're solving and more than likely you'll have a a a better outcome for your company and yourself. >> Got it? So I would say I would say obviously listen listen listen to people lots of ideas are there people have ideas but look at look at the way you bring your unique ability you learned abroad and I mean trust me the lot of things you have learned abroad can be put back into use in India and and you know that's only the by the way I I predict there's already lot of people are returning to India not only because of visa issues but also people like me who

45:40 Want to do something give back to the country >> I see a lot okay and this will only go even more just like what happened in China in China I mean lot of you know Chinese overseas Chinese moved back to China back in 2010 2012 to go back and because they saw things were happening you know highspeed trains infrastructure I mean and by the way that's what's happening in India now we are building highspeed networks of trains I mean we are building amazing airports infrastructure is you know getting better I mean I mean there there are things that are happening in India which is unbelievable I mean we have electrified the railroad system I think as of last month it was like 99.6% 6% electrified you know we have electrified the railroad system utilization of solar and wind India is

46:42 One of the top few countries right I mean there's so much opportunity if you have an open mind >> got it and why do you think people are

46:52 Moving back to India to give it back to the country I mean why the trend is increasing or why what change now >> I There are multiple reasons. My feeling is they feel they feel India is no longer there is a lot of possibilities in India. Number two like we talked about the world has shrunk. It's flat right now. If AI technologies happening 2022 November in chat GPT in in Silicon Valley in December it's in Bangalore right there. Right. The time difference is not no longer there. It's overnight. I mean, and you're using the same social media, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.

47:38 So, you are you are still have the network. So, you feel comfortable. Location is no longer an issue anymore. Okay. because you can you and then you have a creature comfort, basic comfort of life. You know, homes are just as good as in America. >> I mean, there are pluses and minus. the the levels have come to the point where it's no long you don't miss it anymore and that's another reason why people will say you know what I'll go back to my country I'll do something there or it could be because the parents are getting old I know I know a lot of friends some of them have moved back because their parents were they are old and they want to come back and take care of you know their parents aging parents some other reason could be like I talked about you know I want to go give back to my country or that some of the reason would be hey I want to be part of the growth in India I want to be there and do something there could be the visa issues

48:39 >> I mean visa issues are getting harder all across the world for Indians and it's okay it's okay honestly I think guys I think this is all part of the you know a story that has been written where people will move back and make India okay make India Great. Okay. >> Again, so >> cool. I wanted to check with you about your younger son, right? He's the one who was born in US, studied there, but he worked along with you building this company, working in startup in India. How was his experience? Because for you at least you have grown up in India, you have some exposure. So how did it go for him? That's a very good point because he grew up in Silicon Valley and so he has been here and when he went to India he was only what 23 24 right when he moved to India the like like I mentioned to you about the world has shrunk I don't think he

49:41 Had an issue because at at that time you know his friends on LinkedIn or Facebook or Instagram whether in in California or in Bangalore they're all there right? They're talking to each other and even in India because of that he had a whole bunch of friends who he could he could relate to >> right that made it easier for him to live in India okay I mean and then he got used to the I mean there are there's always differences okay but but you know the younger crowd if you look at in India in the major metros it's no different than somebody living in New or San Francisco or Los Angeles it's the same you know you know so it's really the same so that actually makes it easier for the kids to move back to India from a schooling I think there will be difference we know that you know they are in a school system here that may be different curriculum versus school system there will be different

50:41 Because you know India is more a British style system where you know there is a lot of wrote you know you have to memorize things are changing Yeah. >> But American system is different. >> So that's what happens with the younger kids I think. >> Yeah. What's the future holding for you? I know you spending time between India and US as as things evolve like what

51:04 What what do you think like you know is the future for you? >> I don't think about future. I just do I I take one day at a time. you know as long as I'm having fun doing what I'm doing that is what it matters you know you know I don't have I mean I've accomplished as much as I can in my life and I'm okay and and given that I'm not in a hurry for drive is you know is a very profitable company successful you know there are things going on in drive view like I mentioned we have other other things I know we have you know we have about 180 employees, full-time employees across India and we have over 100,000 driver partners who are on the platform. So I know that if I think about it, I know we are giving them a livelihood for these people. They make you know 20,000 30,000 40,000 rupees a month, right? And it's very

52:06 Important for us to continue to do that. you know and I want to see that those people know in fact we will see other opportunity for our driver partners so you know so my goal is continue to do what I'm doing I have found something you know like you know like I had mentioned to you about eeky guy this is my eeky guy right you know the reason for being in life if you figure out a reason for being that's a Japanese word yiki guy for people who may not know and the reason for being is for me is this is my reason for being what would I do otherwise right I mean I found something that I enjoy every day every moment of my life of my life you know so I'm happy with it as long as my family is behind me obviously family is important >> the family has to be with you and if they are there I'm I'm okay >> I like I said to people I'm a lucky man I found something I wanted to do.

53:09 >> Yeah. Cool. so for people who are considering moving to India, what would be your advice? you know for someone who has done this spend time. Yeah. What how what would you say plan? Okay. Your move. you can't have everything that you think you want to have. have a realistic you know idea of what can happen there and and and go with an open mind. >> Yeah. Very very solid advice. Be realistic because they might have a a different expectation of the India they left 20 years ago. Yes.

53:54 >> Or like you know they are expecting a a different infrastructure based on their experience like as we explained before. Yeah. Be realistic. >> Right. Right. [clears throat] be realistic and and go with the flow. things will happen if you again it's all comes from the you know am I positive attitude >> attitude is important right if you have a positive attitude you can find a good in everything if you don't have it you can find the bad in everything and be miserable >> cool >> so my advice is have a have a positive attitude and take one day at a time >> things will happen >> please >> yes no congrat Congratulations on your success with the drive view and you know thank you >> and really really appreciate for people like you who want to give back to the country where you see so much positivity like how you help the other people. So really appreciate you taking the time sharing your story helping others who are in this thought process to make it a little bit clear

54:56 And make an informed decision wherever they are. So really appreciate you taking the time. >> Yeah thank you Avin for giving me the opportunity. If there is something that I have been able to give some impart my experience it would be that means that we have spent a good time on you know doing this this conversation between you and me. >> Yes for sure. Yeah. Thanks.