Highlights
- Former H-1B visa holder quit a tech job in the US to return to India in 2010
- Co-founded a legal tech startup that now serves the US market
- Says more professionals are choosing India over H-1B visas
From H-1B to homecoming
A software engineer who once held an H-1B visa in the United States shared how leaving a stable job abroad became the turning point of his life.
Prashanth Shenoy, who worked in the US after completing his studies on an F1 visa, said on X (formerly Twitter) that his decision to move back home in 2010 was the best one he ever made. “I once had an H-1B. I had a great software engineering job in the US, built great products, and loved my work,” he wrote.
Two weeks after quitting, Shenoy sold his car, ended his lease, and returned to his hometown of Mangaluru. At the time, few understood his decision, but he said it paved the way for something far more fulfilling.
Building global tech from India
In 2014, Shenoy met his co-founder, Josh Blandi, and launched UniCourt, a legal tech company that has since become a key source for court data and litigation analytics in the US.
“Eleven years later, we are going strong,” Shenoy said, noting that their company now plays a crucial role in the American legal tech landscape, all while being built and run from India.
Inspiring a reverse trend
Reflecting on his journey, Shenoy said more Indian professionals are giving up their H-1B visas to return home and build globally relevant businesses. “You can now build the American dream from India,” he said, calling it an “American-Indian dream.”
His post received widespread appreciation online, with users calling it “inspiring” and “timely.” Some praised his courage, while others asked about job opportunities at his company, signalling how his story resonated with those rethinking the path to success.
