1️⃣ How He Spent 10 Years in US Construction Industry
Anud's journey to the US began with a clear plan. After completing his Civil Engineering degree in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, he worked briefly in India's construction sector but quickly realized outdoor fieldwork wasn't his calling. He prepared simultaneously for IIT entrance exams and the GRE, ultimately choosing the international path.
- Education: Civil Engineering undergrad in Ujjain, MP
- Early Career: Worked in construction in India — didn't like outdoor work
- Plan: Prepared for IIT entrance + GRE simultaneously
- 2013: Moved to US for Master's at University of Florida
- Career: 10 years in US construction industry
- Locations: University of Florida, then Miami
- Always Planned: To return to India — parents would never move to US
"From day one when I was traveling, I knew I wanted to come back. My parents are here, they will never travel back. It was always in the back of my mind."
Unlike many who pursue permanent residency, Anud always knew his time in the US was temporary. His parents' unwillingness to relocate meant India would always be home, making his eventual return not a question of "if" but "when."
2️⃣ What Triggered His Decision to Return to India
The decision to leave a comfortable US career often comes from a defining moment. For Anud, that moment arrived during a 2023 visit to India when his father suffered a minor stroke due to hypertension. The emergency room rush and the realization that his parents were aging crystallized everything.
"That was the worst nightmare — my dad had a minor stroke. I was here, but what if I wasn't? That was the turning point."
The Incident (2023):
- Visiting India in 2023
- Father had minor stroke due to hypertension
- Rushed to emergency room
- Realized: Parents are getting old, not younger
- Thought: "What if I wasn't here?"
Immediate Action:
- ✓ Same month: Put notice down at company
- ✓ Immediate decision — didn't think too much
- ✓ Knew he had to come back
Life in US Before Decision:
- First 5 Years: Exciting, new, challenging — loved it
- After 5 Years: Started feeling robotic, stuck in loop
- Work Culture: Work hard, play hard — but felt like outsider
- Vacations: Saved all vacation time to visit India — waited whole year
3️⃣ How He Started His Construction Tech Company During COVID
The seeds of entrepreneurship were planted during the COVID-19 pandemic when Anud was visiting India. What started as a casual conversation at a friend's wedding evolved into a serious business venture. Here's how he built the foundation for his startup while still working in the US.
How It Started (2020):
- In India during COVID 2020
- Friend got married (had returned from US in 2018)
- During wedding, joked about starting company together
- Started thinking seriously about it
- 2021: Began planning — idea to execution, small baby steps
Financial Preparation:
💰 Building Financial Security
- 2019: Colleague David introduced him to stock market
- First Investment: $500 in AMD (stock blew up in couple months)
- Since 2019: Put most savings into market
- Result: Good corpus by decision time — gave financial security
- Company: Started as passive investor, company started earning by 2022
Building a financial cushion before making the leap is crucial. If you're planning your return, understanding financial planning for moving back to India can help you prepare adequately. Anud's approach of investing in US markets while still employed gave him the security to take entrepreneurial risks.
"I had a good amount of corpus which gave me security — even if I don't have job, even if company fails, I have security to continue living."
4️⃣ Corporate Job vs Entrepreneurship: What's the Real Difference
One of the most common questions from professionals considering entrepreneurship is: what's actually different? Anud's experience in both worlds offers valuable insights. The fundamental shift isn't just about income or hours—it's about how you value and use your time.
"In corporate you're trading your time. As entrepreneur, you learn to make money on somebody else's time."
🏢 Corporate Life
- Time: Bound by schedule, trading time for money
- Vacation: Need notice, plan everything
- Rules: Bound by company policies
- Security: Consistent income source
- Hours: 9-5 schedule
- Good For: People who want security and steady life
🚀 Entrepreneurship
- Freedom: Not obligated to fixed schedule
- Travel: Can go anywhere anytime without notice
- Flexibility: Work when you want
- Challenge: Income fluctuates
- Hours: Sometimes 5am-9pm, sometimes 5pm-9pm
- Good For: People who enjoy challenges
His Experience:
- ✓ Traveled more in 1 year in India than 10 years in US
- ✓ Takes trip every month
- ✓ Just gets in car and drives when wants to go somewhere
- ✓ Freedom he never felt in corporate world
The entrepreneurial lifestyle offers flexibility that corporate jobs can't match. Many returnees find that life after returning to India from US provides unexpected freedoms, especially when you're running your own business rather than joining another company.
5️⃣ Why Choose Ujjain Over Bangalore or Mumbai for Startup
When most people think of starting a tech company in India, they immediately think Bangalore, Mumbai, or Delhi. Anud chose differently. After living in Miami, one of America's largest cities, he was done with urban chaos. His choice of Ujjain, a tier-2 city in Madhya Pradesh, challenges conventional startup wisdom.
"I was living in Miami — one of biggest cities in US. I was done with big cities. The traffic, everything — I can't do big city anymore."
Decision Factors:
- Parents: Lived in Ujjain for many years
- Done with Big Cities: Lived in Miami, didn't want metro chaos
- Traffic: Wanted to avoid big city traffic
- Ujjain: Small town (getting crowded due to Mahakal temple)
- His Area: Very secluded, quiet
Business Advantage:
- ✓ Online business — most team works from home
- ✓ Doesn't matter where he is
- ✓ Just needs laptop and internet
- ✓ Big advantage of 21st century + post-COVID
The remote work revolution has made location-independent businesses viable. Whether you're in a tier-1 or tier-2 city, what matters is execution. For more insights on starting a business in India after returning from US, understanding the regulatory and operational landscape is essential.
6️⃣ How His Construction Tech Outsourcing Business Works
Anud's business model leverages his US experience and India's talent pool. By serving American clients with Indian technical teams, he's built a profitable operation that doesn't require venture capital or metro city infrastructure. Here's the breakdown of how this cross-border business operates.
Business Model:
- Type: Outsourcing company
- Work: All US work — trading manpower from India
- Clients: US clients
- Team: Indian talent (work from home)
Talent in India:
🎯 Hiring in India
"When we put resume on LinkedIn, within an hour we get 200-300 resumes. Huge amount of talent available — skilled labor."
India's skilled workforce is one of its biggest advantages for entrepreneurs. According to the Government of India's Skill India Mission, the country is focused on training and developing skilled professionals across various sectors, making it easier for startups to find qualified talent.
Expanding to Indian Market:
- Started reaching out to large Indian organizations
- Advantage: US background helps — companies more willing to listen
- Current Clients: L&T, Godrej, Tata Projects
- Challenge: Indian clients — getting money out is hassle
- Strategy: Spread across globe — if one market slows, have second market
Having US work experience gives you credibility when approaching Indian clients. This is one of the hidden advantages of returning—you bring international standards and practices that Indian companies value. Learn more about career opportunities in India after US experience and how to leverage your background.
7️⃣ Traveling India: The Freedom Entrepreneurship Brings
One of the most striking contrasts between Anud's corporate and entrepreneurial life is travel freedom. In 10 years in the US, he saved all vacation days just to visit India once a year. Now, he travels more in one year than he did in a decade abroad. This is what true flexibility looks like.
"Within one year I've traveled to 6-8 different places. Every month I'm planning a trip. Last month I was in Mysore for whole month taking yoga class."
Travel Highlights:
- Mysore: Whole month for yoga class
- Himachal Pradesh: 2-3 weeks in Manali
- Every Month: Planning new trip
- Flexibility: Just gets in car and drives
Why Now:
- After college, didn't explore India — moved to US
- In US, didn't travel much
- Now it's time to explore India
- Out of corporate world — has freedom
8️⃣ His Advice: Stop Overthinking and Take Action
The biggest obstacle to returning to India isn't logistics or finances—it's overthinking. Anud's timeline from decision to relocation was just three months. His advice cuts through the analysis paralysis that keeps many professionals stuck abroad for years longer than they want to be.
"Don't think too much. If you get stuck in thinking cycle, you'll never get out or never make the move. We decided in March, by July we were here."
🎯 Key Advice
- Don't Overthink: If stuck in thinking cycle, you'll never move
- Act Fast: March decision → July moved (3 months)
- Life is Better: India getting better — high internet speed, better roads
- Facilities: Getting all facilities like US
- Family Time: Enjoying family, friends, culture you grew up in
- Daughter: Proud to raise 3-year-old in Indian culture with grandparents
- Priceless: Joy in family — can't compare with any amount of money
On Work-Life Balance:
- Still working in European company (best work-life balance)
- Working from home in UK shift (2:30pm - 10:30pm)
- Same manager, same project, same company
- Just payroll and location changed
If you're working remotely for a foreign company while living in India, understanding tax implications is crucial. The Income Tax Department of India provides guidance on residential status and tax obligations for individuals earning foreign income while residing in India.
9️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to move back to India after deciding?
A: "Don't think too much. If you get stuck in thinking cycle, you'll never get out or never make the move. We decided in March, by July we were here." Anud's timeline from decision to relocation was just 3 months. He put in his notice the same month he decided to return, demonstrating that quick action prevents overthinking and delays.
Q: Can you run a tech startup from a tier-2 city in India?
A: Yes, absolutely. "Online business — most team works from home. Doesn't matter where he is. Just needs laptop and internet. Big advantage of 21st century + post-COVID." Anud runs his construction tech startup from Ujjain, a tier-2 city in Madhya Pradesh, serving US clients with a remote Indian team. After living in Miami, he was done with big cities and chose Ujjain where his parents lived, avoiding metro city traffic and chaos while maintaining business operations.
Q: What is the difference between corporate job and entrepreneurship?
A: "In corporate you're trading your time. As entrepreneur, you learn to make money on somebody else's time." Corporate life offers security with consistent income and 9-5 schedule, but you're bound by company policies and need notice for vacations. Entrepreneurship provides freedom to work when you want and travel without notice, though income fluctuates. Anud traveled more in 1 year in India as an entrepreneur than 10 years in US corporate life, taking trips every month and working flexible hours.
Q: How do you build financial security before starting a business?
A: "I had a good amount of corpus which gave me security — even if I don't have job, even if company fails, I have security to continue living." Anud started investing in the stock market in 2019 after a colleague introduced him. His first investment was $500 in AMD stock which grew significantly. He put most of his savings into the market from 2019 onwards, building a good corpus by the time he decided to quit. This financial cushion gave him the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship without fear.
Q: How does construction tech outsourcing business work?
A: The business model is straightforward: "Outsourcing company. All US work — trading manpower from India. US clients. Indian talent (work from home)." Anud leverages his US construction industry experience to serve American clients while utilizing India's skilled talent pool. "When we put resume on LinkedIn, within an hour we get 200-300 resumes. Huge amount of talent available — skilled labor." He's also expanding to Indian market with clients like L&T, Godrej, and Tata Projects, spreading business across globe so if one market slows, there's a backup.
Q: Should I give up my US visa to return to India?
A: "Not even 10% people in this world have courage to give up visa sponsorship and PR to move back. But I never wanted to live there. I can't think about PR when my family needs me." The decision depends on your priorities. Anud always planned to return because his parents would never move to US. After his father's minor stroke in 2023, he realized parents are getting old and made the immediate decision to return, putting in notice the same month. He values family time and raising his 3-year-old daughter in Indian culture with grandparents over visa status.
Q: What are the advantages of having US experience when starting business in India?
A: "US background helps — companies more willing to listen." When Anud started reaching out to large Indian organizations, his US construction industry experience gave him credibility. He successfully landed clients like L&T, Godrej, and Tata Projects. The US background demonstrates international standards and practices that Indian companies value, making it easier to establish trust and win contracts. His 10 years in the US construction industry provided both technical expertise and business relationships that translated into his Indian startup.
🚀 Considering Entrepreneurship in India?
Connect with Anud on Instagram: @grow_with_anud
✍️ Final Thoughts
Anud's story shows that returning to India for entrepreneurship is not just viable but can offer freedom and quality of life that corporate jobs abroad can't match. His quick decision-making (3 months from decision to move) and focus on building financial security before the leap are key lessons. Choosing a tier-2 city like Ujjain over metros demonstrates that you don't need to be in Bangalore or Mumbai to run a successful tech business.
"Not even 10% people in this world have courage to give up visa sponsorship and PR to move back. But I never wanted to live there. I can't think about PR when my family needs me."