Meet man, an ex-ISRO scientist, who has built a successful cab business worth Rs…

Ramabhadran Sundaram, Director of Alumni Impact at Teach for India, shared an inspiring story of an Uber cab driver who was a former ISRO scientist. Sundaram was talking to the Uber driver, who narrated his story, which moved and inspired him to share it on his LinkedIn account. According to the post, the driver, Uthaya Kumar, had built a successful Rs 2 crore cab service business. Kumar hails from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and completed his MPhil and PhD in statistics there. He later joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and worked on special projects.

The Cab Driver With An MPhil and PhD Degree

Kumar had a responsibility at ISRO involved in keeping liquid fuel densities in check. The task was performed to avoid potential disasters during rocket launches.

After holding his job for seven years, Kumar came to realise that his real passion was rooted in entrepreneurship. Consequently, he took a bold step in 2017 to switch his career path significantly.

Leaving ISRO Job And Building A Successful Business

With his friend’s support, Kumar launched ST Cabs. The company was named after his parents – Sukumaran and Thulasi. He started the business with a few cars and soon it has grown into a fleet of 37 vehicles, generating an annual revenue of Rs 2 crore. During his entrepreneurial journey, he faced several challenges.

In the beginning, Kumar put his main focus on IT/ITES companies. He saw a niche in staff transportation and quickly grew his venture as he began offering triple daily rounds for pick-ups and drop-offs, making Rs 2500 from each ride.

Sustainability And Giving Back

Despite his business triumphs, Kumar places a high importance on sustained development. With a monthly personal expense budget of Rs 1.5 lakh, he saves the remainder with two key goals in mind. The first is to provide housing for his migrant drivers, and the second is to fund the education of four youngsters back in his hometown. These thoughtful efforts epitomize Kumar’s strong devotion to philanthropy – a value that has become a cornerstone of his business success.