Techie quits Uber job to teach on YouTube, has 2 million subscribers, life he 'always wanted'

Akshay Saini recalled that leaving Uber — a globally recognised tech firm offering financial security and status — was seen by many as a reckless move. (Image credit: Akshay Saini)

A software engineer’s decision to walk away from a high‑paying job at Uber to pursue teaching and content creation on YouTube has left social media users impressed, especially after he revealed that not only is he financially well off, but is also living a slow and peaceful life with his family in his hometown, which he always wanted.

Akshay Saini, a former Uber software engineer, recently shared his journey on X, reflecting on how his choice to quit a stable corporate role five years ago was widely questioned — and how it ultimately led him to build his dream life. Currently, Saini has more than two million subscribers on his YouTube channel where he teaches coding.

‘People thought I had lost my mind’

In his post, Saini recalled that leaving Uber — a globally recognised tech firm offering financial security and status — was seen by many as a reckless move.

“Good salary, big brand, stable life. And I was walking away from it to do YouTube, teaching, content creation. In India,” he wrote.

Friends, colleagues, and seniors advised him against quitting outright, suggesting he teach on weekends while retaining his job. Some even offered unsolicited personal advice, including one senior who told him that being a teacher would limit his marriage prospects and that he should “get married first” while he still had the Uber tag.

“I remember laughing inside, and also feeling shocked,” Saini said, adding that marriage was not even on his mind at the time. “I was just trying to build a career I could respect.”

Taking a break before taking the leap

Saini said he did not immediately jump into entrepreneurship or content creation after resigning. Instead, he took nearly 10 months off with no salary.

“Proper break. No salary. Just thinking,” he wrote, describing the period as one of reflection on what kind of life he wanted in the long term.

It was during this phase that he began working on what would later become NamasteDev, a platform focused on teaching and developer education.

From engineer to everything else

What followed, Saini said, was far more difficult than it appeared from the outside.

“Earlier, I was just a software engineer. Now suddenly I had to be a founder, CEO, marketer, sales guy, product manager, finance guy, and sometimes even customer support,” he wrote.

He acknowledged that startups often look “shiny” from a distance, but are chaotic and uncertain in reality, especially in the early years when there is no clear roadmap.

Despite doubts, fear and criticism, Saini said he continued building the platform on YouTube slowly, learning on the job and absorbing the pressure that came with working independently.

Five years on, a different definition of success

Five years after leaving Uber, Saini says his life looks very different — and deeply fulfilling.

He now lives in his hometown of Dehradun, works with a small remote team, spends time with his family and follows what he described as a “slow life”.

“I genuinely enjoy my work,” he wrote. “This is the life I always wanted. And I’m very proud that I chose it, even when it didn’t make sense to most people.”

Social media users call his decision 'courageous'

Saini’s post struck a chord with many users, particularly around how Indian society often frames career and marriage as a rigid formula.

“In India, ‘safe job + marriage’ is treated like a life formula,” one user wrote. “Breaking that script and still building something impactful deserves massive respect.”

Others described his decision as courageous, with one comment reading: “The right decision often looks irrational until you live it.”

Another user added: “It takes serious guts to walk away from the rat race. Salute for choosing yourself.”

Saini concluded his post with a reflection that resonated widely: “Sometimes the right decision looks stupid at first. You only understand it when you live through it.”