This is a story of a rare person who was rewarded for his loyalty, while he worked for a startup.
In 2010, Shyam Kumar asked his younger brother, who was working as a driver for a senior banker, to help him get a job. This banker spoke to his good friend Jitendra Gupta, founder of Citrus Pay about it, asking if Shyam could get a job.
Shyam soon got a job that paid him a modest amount of Rs. 8,000.
Shyam had to drop out of school due to his father’s ill health and was struggling to pay the bills until recently when he found this job. He did not know then, but he was also given some ESOPs, which are employee stock ownership plans, which are equity based compensation plans.
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Shyam used to stay in the slums of Mumbai, sharing a dorm with 10 people.
Over time, Citrus Pay for funding, and what’s more is that it was acquired by PayU for about 130 Million USD. Overnight, Shyam’s stock value shot to 50 lakh, and he now lives in a one BHK flat.
Shyam presently stays in a rented one-BHK flat and is planning to buy a new house on the outskirts of Mumbai. He uses a better mobile phone, is planning a Goa trip with his family, and even has health insurance now.
Shyam’s story is one in a million and it just shows how the startup ecosystem in India seems to be on the right track.
Image from MoneyControl.