Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Bengaluru Entrepreneur With US Citizenship Explains Choosing India Over US
A man named Vikram Pai lives in Bengaluru, India, and runs a company called ReferRush.
He is also an American citizen and could work in the United States, but he chose to build his business in India instead.
Pai says money is not the most important thing for him; he wants to make a difference through his work.
He says he does not need much to be happy - just good food, a home, a place for gym and sports, books, and time with friends and family.
Some people who earn money with ReferRush were able to travel abroad for the first time, which means a lot to him.
He thinks he can help build affiliate commerce in India and create livelihoods on a huge scale.
His post on X started a big conversation online.
Some people agreed with him, while others said companies should be honest about pay so employees know what they are signing up for.
Overall, his message made people think about money, happiness, and the choice between work and home.
Vikram Pai, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur and US citizen, said he chose to build his business in India over the US.
Pai, CEO and co-founder of ReferRush, shared his views on X, saying money is not his primary motivation.
He said he doesn't need much to be happy: good food, a home, gym and sports, books, and time with friends and family.
Pai believes building ReferRush in India lets him create more impact than a highly paid executive role in the US.
His post sparked online debate over what his impact-over-money philosophy means for employees with their own financial goals.
- Who
- Vikram Pai, Bengaluru-based entrepreneur, US citizen, and CEO and co-founder of ReferRush, plus social media users debating his post.
- What
- Pai explained why he chose to build his business in India over the US, saying he prioritizes impact over money, which sparked an online debate.
- When
- Recently; the article does not state an exact date.
- Where
- Bengaluru, India, with the post shared on X.
- Why
- He says he does not need much to be happy and believes he can create a bigger impact - livelihoods, businesses, and affiliate commerce infrastructure - in India.
Impact-First Entrepreneurs
Employees With Financial Goals
Money vs. Impact
Impact-First Entrepreneurs
Pai says money is not his primary motivation and thinks less about income and more about the impact he can create.
Employees With Financial Goals
Commenters argue employees have their own financial responsibilities, ambitions and goals, and should be told upfront what they are signing up for if a company downplays pay.
Choosing India Over the US
Impact-First Entrepreneurs
Pai believes building ReferRush in India lets him create livelihoods, businesses and opportunities at an enormous scale, more than a highly paid US executive role.
Employees With Financial Goals
One commenter noted that knowing your financial floor changes the equation, suggesting most people chase income because they have not tested what their floor requires; the ceiling then becomes a choice.
- Name
- Vikram Pai
- Role
- CEO and co-founder of ReferRush
- Based in
- Bengaluru, India
- Citizenship
- US citizen
- Core message
- Money is not his primary motivation; he focuses on impact
- Platform
- X (post that sparked online debate)
- Claimed impact
- Some ReferRush affiliates earned enough to travel abroad for the first time
- Key goal
- Build infrastructure and culture for affiliate commerce in India