IITian still regrets leaving Bengaluru 8 years ago: 'We didn't just leave a city, but ...
While many online discussions focus on the reasons why people abandon Bengaluru—whether it's unbearable traffic, inadequate infrastructure, or the city's escalating cost of living—one entrepreneur decided to highlight something deeper. Instead of dwelling on what made him leave, he reflected on the intangible sacrifices that came with walking away. Eight years after parting ways with the
startup capital of India
, this founder shared his realization about what the distance from Bengaluru truly cost him: the irreplaceable proximity to innovation, vibrant exchanges of ideas, and a front-row seat to India's growing entrepreneurial wave.
Taking to X, startup founder
Shubham Bansal
wrote how, years ago, driven by frustration over Bengaluru's poor roads and exhausting commute, he and his wife made the decision to relocate from the city to their hometown. On the surface, the move was practical—trading chaos for calm and stress for stability. However, what seemed like a smart escape from urban disorder gradually revealed hidden emotional and professional consequences.
With their departure, they didn't just change geographies. They distanced themselves from their close-knit network of college friends and drifted away from the startup ecosystem's energetic buzz. The constant exchange of groundbreaking ideas, the spontaneous meetups that often sparked new ventures, and the contagious spirit of ambition—all of it was lost. In the process, they also missed out on once-in-a-lifetime professional openings that could have altered the course of their careers.
One of the more profound effects of leaving Bengaluru was how delayed their exposure to emerging technologies became. In the past, they were among the first to dive into new tools, platforms, or innovations. Now, without immediate access to early adopters and trendsetters, they found themselves trailing behind, hearing about revolutionary changes like AI only after they had already disrupted industries. Their identity shifted from pioneers to followers—showing up late to the revolution rather than shaping it from the start.
— BakarBansal (@BakarBansal)
Though life in their hometown was undeniably peaceful and comfortable, something vital always felt missing. It wasn't material—it was an emotional and intellectual longing to stay in touch with the rapidly evolving world of technology and entrepreneurship. A persistent sense of missing out, driven by an innate curiosity and hunger to learn, constantly lingered beneath the surface.
To cope with this gap, Bansal took conscious steps to rebuild his connection to the startup universe. He became an active member of online communities that focused on personal and professional growth, started sharing insights on social platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, and engaged with people from varied industries to keep learning. He also made it a point to return to Bengaluru every six to eight months. These short but meaningful visits helped him stay attuned to the dynamic landscape of startups, ideas, and innovation that continued to flourish in the city.
Shubham Bansal, an
IIT Bombay
graduate, may have physically stepped away from Bengaluru, but he continues to find ways to keep his spirit tethered to the city that remains at the heart of India's tech evolution.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
After 12/6, demand for Air India's 787s crashes
Representative Image NEW DELHI: Planning an almost last-minute trip to Europe, Delhi-based financial consultant Priya Singh was in for a surprise when she checked return for fares for Delhi-Amsterdam (June 30) and Amsterdam-Delhi (July 6) on a leading online travel agency (OTA). Air India 's non-stop option on both sectors was costing Rs 66,323 - which was much less than Rs 87,153 on KLM, the only airline operating direct flight on this sector - and comparable to the one-stop options of carriers like Etihad, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa. "I wondered why this was happening and then found the plausible reason: AI equipment listed was Boeing 787. I will opt for one of the one-stops," she said. Multiple travel agents confirmed Air India is seeing lower demand for its B787s after the AI 171 crash because of which many flights operated on the Maharaja's Dreamliners are cheaper than non-stops of competing airlines on those routes. Ironically, many of these competing airlines on AI Dreamliner routes - Europe, UK, Far East and Australia - also use the B787 which passengers are ditching the Maharaja for, as of now. Non-stop flights are more expensive than one-stop ones. Some international routes have both non-stop and one-stop options, like Delhi to Paris/London/New York. The non-stop fares are benchmarked with each other and one-stop by one-stops. OTA searches show Delhi-London return fares (June 30 departure and July 6 arrival) are between Rs 54,000 and Rs 74,000 on AI; Rs 85,000-90,000 (check-in bag fares) on British Airways and over Rs 95,000 on Virgin Atlantic. Delhi-Paris return for these dates are about Rs 58,000 on AI and Rs 76,400 on Air France. Fares on flights operated by AI's other wide bodies, like the North America non-stops that are served by A350 and B777s, have bucked this trend. "There is concern among travellers (over flying AI B787s) and some have changed airlines as well. Safety is the prime concern for passengers and they are weighing the option of taking other airlines," said Anil Kalsi, Travel Agents federation of India VP, adding, "Demand for travel overall has dropped. Future leisure bookings are on hold due to airspace restrictions that has led to uncertainty and delays across all airlines on routes to and from the west. " Several other travel agents and OTAs confirmed this trend. A detailed multi-nation and multi-agency probe is on into the crash of the Dreamliner operating as AI 171 and what caused the same will be known only after the report is released. Till then everything is conjecture. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
OpenAI is phasing out Scale AI work following startup's Meta deal
OpenAI is phasing out the work it does with data-labeling startup Scale AI, cutting ties with the company days after Meta Platforms Inc. invested billions of dollars in it and hired its founder. Scale accounted for a small fraction of OpenAI's overall data needs, according to an OpenAI spokesperson who confirmed the firm's decision to phase out work with the company. The ChatGPT maker was already in the process of winding down its reliance on Scale before Meta, an OpenAI competitor, took a 49% stake in the firm, the spokesperson said, adding that OpenAI had been seeking other providers for more specialized data needed to support increasingly advanced artificial intelligence models. OpenAI's plans inject new uncertainty into Scale's business in the wake of Meta's unusual deal. Meta is investing $14.3 billion in Scale and has poached the startup's chief executive officer, Alexandr Wang, for a new so-called 'superintelligence' unit, focused on building a more powerful, and hypothetical, form of AI software. Other Scale employees are expected to follow Wang to Meta to work on AI.A Scale AI spokesperson declined to comment. Founded in 2016, Scale signed up prominent customers, including Alphabet Inc.'s Google, Meta and OpenAI, providing them with the data needed to build AI models. However, Meta's deal with Scale raised concerns that the social-media company may gain new visibility into its rivals' AI development efforts. Google plans to cut ties with Scale, Reuters reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Right after the Meta deal was announced, OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar had signaled that the company intended to keep working with Scale. 'We don't want to ice the ecosystem because acquisitions are going to happen,' Friar said at the VivaTech conference in Paris last week. Over the past six to 12 months, however, OpenAI had determined that Scale was not the best fit for it because the AI developer needed more data expertise than Scale could provide, the OpenAI spokesperson said. OpenAI has shifted to building more advanced AI models that can mimic the process of human reasoning, as well as agent-like models that can carry out tasks with limited input from users. Forbes previously reported OpenAI had been winding down its Scale work for initially focused on working with an army of contractors to do the grunt work of labeling text and images for earlier AI systems. Scale has gradually enlisted better-paid contractors with doctorates, nursing and other advanced degrees to help develop more sophisticated those efforts, OpenAI has increasingly relied on other data providers, including newer entrants like Mercor, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Mercor was previously known for using AI for recruiting tech employees, but now focuses on finding experts to help AI companies develop more advanced models.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Modi calls for human-centric AI approach, cooperation on critical minerals
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for close cooperation on minerals in the age of AI, saying that no country should use them for its own interests. He also said that the intensive energy demands of AI can only be met through renewable sources. 'Ensuring affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is a top priority for India. To achieve this, we are focusing on solar energy and small modular reactors. We are also developing smart grids, energy storage systems, and green energy corridors to connect renewable energy production with demand centers,' he said. He said: 'We must adopt a human-centric approach. Everyone recognises the potential of AI. However, the real challenge is… ensuring that AI tools enhance human dignity and empowerment.' 'First, we must work towards governance at an international level that addresses concerns related to AI while promoting innovation. Second, in the age of AI, close cooperation in the areas of critical minerals and technology is extremely important. We must focus on securing and strengthening the resilience of their supply chains. We must also ensure that no country uses them solely for its own interests or as a weapon,' he said.
