Santosh

36 | Married | Founder/CEO

Having gone through a divorce in 2021 after a long marriage — and remarrying in 2025 — I’ve lived through deep personal transitions that many struggle to navigate. I hope to use these experiences to support others on similar paths.

I was officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder and faced several manic and depressive episodes over the past 5–6 years. From 2021 to 2024, I relied on a combination of medication and self-help. In early 2025, I achieved remission and am now off medication. I’m open to sharing my journey in the hope that it can offer insight or encouragement to others.

Professionally, I’ve worked in large corporates and later transitioned into entrepreneurship — a move that met with strong resistance from family and friends. Despite the challenges, I followed my conviction and am now a start-up founder, running a B2B/B2G business in the sustainability space.

I moved to the Netherlands in 2010 for higher education and began my career there in 2012. I spent 11 years in the Netherlands before returning to India in 2021 for a range of personal and professional reasons.

Since then, I’ve been navigating the complex process of re-integrating into Indian society and work culture. The adjustment has been draining at times, and I continue to seek ways to make the experience less taxing and more sustainable.

Over the years, I’ve developed a strong stance against excessive growth, capitalism, globalization, and the current state of world affairs. I often find myself grappling with the inner conflict of striving for a de-growth, sustainable world while living in a society that is deeply addicted to growth.

What keeps me going is a deep belief in entrepreneurship, mental health, de-growth, family, and support systems — these are the pillars that continue to shape both my personal and professional life.