We're not building this
from a whiteboard.

We're living every problem this platform solves — right now, in real time.

Bharath Mandava and Swathi Bandla — Co-founders of ReturningNRIs
Bharath Mandava & Swathi Bandla
Co-founders · ReturningNRIs
16 yrs in USAMoving Apr 20262 kids
In the US since
2008 — 16 years
Moving back
April 2026
Family
Bharath, Swathi + 2 kids
Girl 9 · Boy 5
Background
Developer → Data Analyst → Product Owner
Our story

In 2008, we moved to the US for work. One opportunity led to another, two kids arrived, and 16 years passed faster than we expected.

In 2023, we decided to move back permanently. We thought it would take a few months to plan. It took over a year — and we nearly made several expensive mistakes along the way.

The RNOR tax window was almost missed. Our older daughter's school transition was harder than expected. We had 12 browser tabs open at any given time, conflicting advice from 4 different consultants, and no single place that put it all together.

So we built what we wished had existed. Not as advisors — as NRIs going through the exact same process.

Why we built this
⏱️
Spent 9 months researchingwhat should take a weekend — tax, cities, schools, banking, scattered across 12 tabs and 4 consultants
⚠️
Nearly missed the RNOR windowNo single resource explained how to preserve it while winding down US income
🏫
School decision almost stopped usTwo US-raised kids, no idea how CBSE vs IB would work for their grade levels in India
Tested it for realLived in India Jun 2024–2025 with the whole family before committing. Now back in USA, wrapping up, moving for good.
“We're not advisors. We're NRIs who went through this mess and decided to clean it up — for ourselves, and for everyone who comes after.”
— Bharath & Swathi, Co-founders
Our mission

Make returning to India a decision, not a decade-long project.

Every NRI family considering a move back deserves access to clear, accurate, personalised information — not generic blog posts and conflicting advice.

🎯
Built by NRIs
Not consultants, not advisors. We are the exact customer we are building for. Every tool we ship, we use ourselves.
📊
Data over opinions
Real school fees. Real rent ranges. Real tax windows. Everything quantified and personalised to your specific situation.
🤝
Community-driven
The best intelligence comes from NRIs who have already done this. We aggregate that knowledge and make it accessible.
🆓
Free to use
All tools — readiness check, RNOR calculator, city match, school finder — are free. We believe this information should be accessible.

Same boat? Let's figure this out together.

Start with the readiness check — get your personalised score, top risks, and a clear recommendation in 2 minutes.

Take the readiness check →Start my journey →
Have a suggestion or feedback?

We read every message. If you have a specific situation, a tool idea, or just want to say hi — reach out directly. This is a founder-built product and your input shapes what gets built next.

✉ hello@returningnris.com