Tech Giant's vision transformed thousands of lives of young women from rural areas

Ongole: For hundreds of poor women from remote villages of Prakasam district, the journey from uncertainty to financial independence began not in Hyderabad or Bengaluru, but in their own hometowns through a rural IT company called Tech Bulls. Behind this transformation stands Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy Nalamalapu, popularly known as Bhaskar, a native of Karavadi village in Prakasam district, who chose to build opportunities in villages when most entrepreneurs were chasing urban growth. Nearly three decades ago, when the software industry in Andhra Pradesh was largely concentrated in Hyderabad, Bhaskar took a bold and unconventional decision. Instead of encouraging rural youth to migrate to cities for jobs, he established Tech Bulls in Ongole itself, creating what is widely regarded as Andhra Pradesh’s first rural IT company. At a time when many girls from farming families were forced to discontinue education or settle into early marriages due to financial limitations, Tech Bulls opened a completely new path. Young women from villages around Ongole, Addanki, Kandukur and Markapur suddenly found themselves working in professional office environments, earning salaries and supporting their families without leaving their communities. Bhaskar believed that employment should not come at the cost of breaking families or disconnecting people from their roots. His model focused on bringing technology-driven jobs directly to rural areas, allowing women to work close to home while maintaining social and cultural support systems. For many families, the change was life-altering. “I come from a small farming family near Addanki. Before joining Tech Bulls, we never imagined someone from our village could work in the software sector,” said K Lakshmi, who has worked with the company for six years. “Today, I support my parents financially, helped my younger brother complete his education and gained confidence to dream bigger. This company changed not only my life but the future of our family.” Another employee, M Sravani from a remote village in Markapuram district, said Tech Bulls gave women respect and independence. “Earlier, girls in our village were expected to stop studies after graduation or get married early. Tech Bulls gave us careers, financial security and dignity while allowing us to stay close to our families,” she said. The company’s impact extended beyond employees to entire households struggling with debt and uncertain agricultural incomes. “I am a farmer and never thought my daughter would work in an IT company,” said Malleswara Rao, father of an employee from a drought-prone village near Kandukur. “Because of her salary, we cleared debts, repaired our house and educated our younger children. Bhaskar garu brought city opportunities to villages like ours.” What began as a rural experiment has now expanded into the TechBulls and SAiS Digital group operating across Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Ghana and India. The organisation today employs more than 1,800 professionals across multiple business verticals with a combined valuation exceeding USD 200 million. Despite the company’s international growth, Bhaskar continues to focus on social empowerment, particularly women’s inclusion in technology and leadership. In Botswana-based UB Digital and other group companies, women occupy key roles in operations, product management and client engagement. Through initiatives like the Botswana AI Practicum Programme and Digital & AI Skills Academy, he is also promoting advanced technology education with emphasis on gender inclusion. Bhaskar recently launched Pi Hub — Prakasam Innovation Hub — to encourage entrepreneurship among rural youth by offering mentorship, technology access and business support to aspiring entrepreneurs from villages and small towns. Deeply influenced by Sanaathana Dharma and Saamaanya Dharma, Bhaskar views business not merely as profit-making but as a social responsibility rooted in compassion, dignity and community welfare. Driven by deep devotion and a sense of responsibility towards heritage, Bhaskar has quietly taken up the restoration of several ageing and historical temples across Prakasam district. For him, temple renovation is not merely charitable work but a sacred duty, and he firmly believes that God has given him the strength and resources to shoulder such responsibilities whenever needed. Despite contributing significantly to the preservation of temples, Bhaskar has never sought publicity or personal recognition. He believes that temples, culture and heritage can survive only through the collective commitment of local communities coupled with divine blessings. His approach reflects humility, faith and an unwavering dedication to preserving spiritual and cultural legacy for future generations.