He Quit Oracle to Sell Bananas? Now He Earns 5x More

From Oracle to Uber: A Leap of Faith

Soham Chakraborty had it all: an engineering degree, a stable job at Oracle in Bengaluru, and a promising IT career. But three years in, he knew he didn't belong. "Like a lot of typical engineers, I got sucked into IT," he told Moneycontrol. "I realised that I don't quite fit in. I don't quite like what I do and I'm not very good at it either."

His resignation letter sat on his computer for months before he finally quit in 2016. He had calculated his savings could last two years, including student loans. He told his father, "I'll do anything. I'll sell bananas on the street if I have to, but I won't do this because this has to have more meaning in life." His father encouraged him to take the risk.

Driving Uber Leads to an Unexpected Career

Chakraborty returned to Kolkata and drove an Uber for nearly a year. That experience opened his eyes to parts of the city he'd never seen. Meanwhile, his parents ran an Airbnb in an older part of Kolkata. Guests often wanted to explore beyond the usual tourist spots. One guest asked Chakraborty to show them around, and that one-off walk turned into a paid experience.

Demand grew through word-of-mouth and reviews. That's how Calcutta Capsule, his tourism business, was born. He also runs Airbnb properties with his parents.

Financial Independence and Growth

The transition wasn't immediate. It took about two years to become financially independent without dipping into savings. But the gamble paid off. "What I used to earn when I was working in IT, I am making almost four to five times of it annually," Chakraborty says.

He now handles everything from tours to videos, websites, and marketing. His tech background helps him run the business efficiently. "I like how my background in tech is fuelling my creative dreams now," he says.

Lessons from a Career Switch

His mother took years to accept his choice, but customer feedback and media coverage eventually convinced her. Chakraborty has hosted over 4,000 guests, including more than 2,000 foreign tourists. His advice? Don't quit just for passion. "Taking risks is important. But understanding what can actually pay back is important too."

Image: Soham Chakraborty leading a tour in Kolkata (Photo: Calcutta Capsule)