No Green Card No Regret Startup Founder Chooses India
Great Andhra
Thirty-eight-year-old Astha Chaturvedi, a startup founder, moved to Bengaluru with her family, including her child and pet, after leaving San Francisco. She now feels it was the right decision
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In an interview with Business Insider, Chaturvedi said the decision to return to India happened suddenly when she visited the country in 2024 to hire a CTO for her startup.
She and her husband had lived in the US for 15 years. They owned a property there and were considered “settled” by many.
However, her visit to Bengaluru changed her thinking. She experienced the city’s startup culture and began wondering whether she should open her office in India.
“We’d spent about 15 years building our lives in the US, but there was still no clear path to permanence. My husband and I were both waiting for green cards, and the backlog felt endless. His place in line dated back to 2015, while mine was from 2020,” she said.
Chaturvedi was earlier on an H-1B visa but later moved to an H-4 visa because she wanted to launch her own company.
Before shifting to India, she was worried about the work culture here. But later, she realised that as the boss, she would have more control over the way her company functioned.
She said the family moved from San Francisco to Bengaluru between February and April this year. They now own a $1 million apartment in Bengaluru.
Speaking about the cost of living, Chaturvedi said India is not cheap if one wants a premium lifestyle.
“It’s tricky to compare the cost of living. India isn’t cheap if you want a premium lifestyle. In fact, quality goods like furniture and electronics can be more expensive than in the US. But healthcare and household help are much cheaper, so I’ve found that it balances out. Bengaluru is a costly city, but that’s because we budget for a top-end lifestyle,” she said.
She also admitted that Bengaluru traffic is a major problem. To deal with it, the family hired a full-time driver.
“Traffic in Bengaluru is a pain, so we’ve chosen to hire a full-time driver to get around. What I don’t miss are chores. Bottom line: We’ve made up for the chaos by investing in support systems,” she said.
Chaturvedi said her daughter has settled into her new school, while their pet is also adjusting to life in India. The family now believes moving back was the right choice.
“Culturally, I don’t feel a gap at all. India feels more vibrant than the US,” she said.