[qxf2]

Your numbers on most things are way off. I returned home end of last year and setup shop this year in Bangalore. I have access to Naukri's database of quality assurance engineers and their current salary listed. I also visited campuses to recruit fresh grads. $200/mo won't get you even fresh grads from the top 20 universities in my state. $60 is no longer rent - it's about 5 to 10 times that for a 2000 square foot 3 bedroom apartment that's not in a very posh area. Setting up a partnership, including legal fees cost me around $400. Travel, you are spot on in that cheap options exist. BTW, days of 2 rupee and 4 rupee bus rides are also over. It's about 5 times that in a regular bus.

I'm giving specific numbers here mainly because there may be Indians who want to return home and start here.

[litegeek]

I had Chennai in mind, when I wrote that comment because I know only Chennai and Delhi well (I'm from Delhi).

Banglore is expensive because of the sheer number of IT companies there.

Come to chennai:

I can get you:

a posh OFFICE SPACE (Not a fucking apartment) for $60 in a posh area.

a sole proprietorship for less than $100

a decent grad for $200 - but not from the top Universities, though. Why? Because it's a cliched mindset that the best people come from the best universities. Have you watched Ratatouille?

"Not anyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere."

Please, I urge you to refresh this kind of attitude (Heavier pay = better quality employee, Better University = better grad)

[qxf2]

Chennai is my native place and yes, it's cheaper than Bangalore but by less than 20%. Can you update your profile with your email or email me, I'd like details on the $60 office space.

I am aware that good people come from all universities. For me top university is a useful filter. When hiring, especially as a small company, I need some way to filter down to a smaller candidate pool to interview. So my thinking is: better university = higher probability of finding better grad.