u/johnnyripperak

I have around $450 worth of Azure OpenAI credits that I can use for OpenAI models, and I’m looking to trade them for a $200 Claude subscription.

I can provide API access to the Azure OpenAI credits, so you can use the credits for your own development workflow, including Codex or other compatible tools.

Essentially:

• You get: ~$300 worth of Azure OpenAI API credits
• I get: $200 worth of Claude subscription
• No cash involved
• API usage/details can be discussed privately

If anyone is interested in arranging a legitimate trade, please comment or DM me. Happy to provide more details about the Azure setup and usage limits.

Student founder from a Tier-3 city looking for cloud credits and remote incubators

I'm a college student from a Tier-3 city in India, currently building an AI product. I'm bootstrapping everything myself.

I don't want to incorporate the startup yet because of the costs. I'd rather validate the product first, get some users, and only then spend money on registration and compliance.

The main issue I'm facing is cloud/API costs. I've heard that founders can get AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, OpenAI, Anthropic, and other cloud credits through incubators or startup programs.

Unfortunately:

• My college doesn't have an incubator.
• There isn't much of a startup ecosystem where I live.
• I don't have access to founder networks or VC connections.

So I have a few questions:

• Are there any remote/virtual incubators or accelerators that accept student founders regardless of location?
• Are there any programs that provide cloud credits without requiring incorporation?
• Do most of these programs require a credit card, or are there options that don't?
• If you were in a similar situation, how did you keep cloud costs low while validating your MVP?

I'd really appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for career advice from experienced developers, especially those who have worked in startups, freelancing, or hiring.

I graduated with an MCA in 2025. During college, I started as a Flutter developer and later moved into full-stack development.

Right after graduation, I had a full-time offer of around 6 LPA. At the same time, I got a freelance opportunity for a fintech project. It was a difficult decision, but I chose the freelance route because it gave me the chance to lead a large project and gain experience that I felt an entry-level job might not provide.

Over the last 1.5+ years, I've worked on this project full-time. It has grown into a large B2B fintech platform that is already in production, and the B2C version is launching next month.

During this period, I've worked on:

• Flutter mobile and web apps
• Full-stack development
• Backend architecture
• Server management
• CI/CD and deployment pipelines
• Cloud infrastructure and production support
• Leading development decisions and coordinating project delivery

Financially, I probably earned a bit less than what I would have made if I had taken the 6 LPA job and followed a traditional path.

However, the flexibility allowed me to work on my own products. One of my side projects, a devotional/spiritual app, has crossed 100k+ downloads, has 7k+ ratings, and still has good organic traction. I intentionally haven't monetized it aggressively because of its spiritual focus. I only run minimal ads to cover server and operational costs.

Now I'm at a crossroads.

My family and my seniors I know are advising me to get a stable full-time job, build a stronger financial foundation, and continue my projects on the side.

What worries me is that many companies in India don't seem to value freelance experience the same way they value traditional employment. I've spoken to a few recruiters/HRs, and some have even asked for salary slips or said they might consider me a fresher despite 1.5+ years of real-world production experience.

At the same time, the job market isn't great right now, and I've seen a few of my batchmates get laid off recently.

My questions:

1. How would hiring managers view my experience?
2. Would you consider this equivalent to 1.5+ years of industry experience, or would I still be treated as a fresher?
3. If you were in my position, would you:
   • Continue freelancing/startup work full-time?
   • Take a stable job and build projects on the side?
   • Try to convert this experience into a startup/business instead?
4. Have any of you successfully transitioned from freelance/project-based work into product companies?

I'm feeling a bit lost and would really appreciate honest feedback from people who have been through something similar.

Thanks for reading.

Hi Flutter developers,

I'm looking for advice from senior Flutter engineers, freelancers, and anyone involved in hiring.

I completed my MCA in 2025 and started my career primarily as a Flutter developer. Over time, my role expanded into full-stack development because of the projects I was working on.

Right after graduation, I had a full-time offer (~6 LPA), but I chose to work on a fintech project as a freelancer because it gave me the opportunity to take ownership and learn much more than I felt I would in a typical entry-level role.

For the last 1.5+ years, I've been working on this project, which has grown into a large fintech platform. The B2B product is already in production, and the B2C version is launching next month.

Through this project, I've worked on:

• Flutter mobile applications
• Flutter Web
• Full-stack development
• Backend services and APIs
• CI/CD pipelines
• Deployments and infrastructure
• Production support
• Technical decision-making and project leadership

Alongside this, I built a devotional/spiritual Flutter app as a side project. It has crossed 100k+ downloads and has 7k+ ratings on the Play Store. I haven't focused much on monetization because of the nature of the app, but it generates enough revenue through minimal ads to cover infrastructure costs.

Now I'm at a point where I'm unsure about the next step.

My family and some senior developers have suggested that I should join a stable company, gain formal industry experience, and continue building products on the side.

My concern is that when I talk to recruiters, some don't seem to value freelance experience the same way they value traditional employment. A few have even suggested that without salary slips from a company, I may be treated closer to a fresher despite working on real production systems for over 1.5 years.

I'm also hearing mixed opinions about the current Flutter job market, especially in India.

So I'd love to hear from experienced Flutter developers:

1. How is the Flutter job market currently, especially for developers with 1–2 years of experience?
2. How do companies generally view freelance/product-building experience compared to regular employment?
3. If you were hiring, would experience leading and shipping production Flutter apps carry weight even without a traditional job history?
4. Would you continue on the freelance/startup path in my situation, or prioritize getting a full-time role?
5. Is Flutter still a good long-term career bet, or would you recommend focusing more on full-stack/backend skills alongside Flutter?

I'd really appreciate perspectives from senior Flutter developers, engineering managers, and anyone who has made a similar career decision.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for career advice from experienced developers, especially those who have worked in startups, freelancing, or hiring.

I graduated with an MCA in 2025. During college, I started as a Flutter developer and later moved into full-stack development.

Right after graduation, I had a full-time offer of around 6 LPA. At the same time, I got a freelance opportunity for a fintech project. It was a difficult decision, but I chose the freelance route because it gave me the chance to lead a large project and gain experience that I felt an entry-level job might not provide.

Over the last 1.5+ years, I've worked on this project full-time. It has grown into a large B2B fintech platform that is already in production, and the B2C version is launching next month.

During this period, I've worked on:

• Flutter mobile and web apps
• Full-stack development
• Backend architecture
• Server management
• CI/CD and deployment pipelines
• Cloud infrastructure and production support
• Leading development decisions and coordinating project delivery

Financially, I probably earned a bit less than what I would have made if I had taken the 6 LPA job and followed a traditional path.

However, the flexibility allowed me to work on my own products. One of my side projects, a devotional/spiritual app, has crossed 100k+ downloads, has 7k+ ratings, and still has good organic traction. I intentionally haven't monetized it aggressively because of its spiritual focus. I only run minimal ads to cover server and operational costs.

Now I'm at a crossroads.

My family and my seniors I know are advising me to get a stable full-time job, build a stronger financial foundation, and continue my projects on the side.

What worries me is that many companies in India don't seem to value freelance experience the same way they value traditional employment. I've spoken to a few recruiters/HRs, and some have even asked for salary slips or said they might consider me a fresher despite 1.5+ years of real-world production experience.

At the same time, the job market isn't great right now, and I've seen a few of my batchmates get laid off recently.

My questions:

1. How would hiring managers view my experience?
2. Would you consider this equivalent to 1.5+ years of industry experience, or would I still be treated as a fresher?
3. If you were in my position, would you:
   • Continue freelancing/startup work full-time?
   • Take a stable job and build projects on the side?
   • Try to convert this experience into a startup/business instead?
4. Have any of you successfully transitioned from freelance/project-based work into product companies?

I'm feeling a bit lost and would really appreciate honest feedback from people who have been through something similar.

Thanks for reading.

Hi,

Need your help making this week really special.

I’m pretty new to Indore and honestly haven’t explored much yet. My girlfriend’s birthday is coming up this week, and I just found out she’ll be in Indore that day.

We’ve been together for 5 years in an LDR, and this will be the first time we get to celebrate her birthday together in person, so I really want to plan something memorable.

About her:

• Huge foodie 🍜
• Animal lover 🐶
• Loves exploring new places 🌿
• Prefers cute/cozy experiences over super fancy stuff

The last time we met (in January), we went to Lotus Valley and Chappan, so I’d love some fresh ideas this time.

Looking for recommendations for:

• Cute cafes/restaurants
• Pet cafes or animal-friendly places
• Peaceful sunset/nature spots
• Fun couple activities
• Hidden gems in/around Indore
• Anything unique that would make a birthday feel special

Budget is flexible if it’s genuinely worth the experience.

Would really appreciate your suggestions 🙌
Thanks in advance, Indore people ❤️