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.

Nithin Hassan; BI/Chelsea Jia Feng

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nithin Hassan, who moved from California to Bengaluru, India, in 2023 to launch his startup. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified his employment history.