No job is too big or too small. Each role offers a chance to learn something new, and this story proves these words true. Entrepreneur Ramabhadran Sundaram recently booked a cab and was surprised to find that the driver, Uthaya Kumar, holds a PhD in Statistics.
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Uthaya Kumar, a talented individual from a small town, left his dream job at ISRO to start a taxi company focused on drivers. Last year, his startup made Rs 2 Crore in revenue.
Yes, you read that right!
This is the remarkable story of Uthaya Kumar, a man who defied expectations and created his own path. “He inspired me with leadership lessons,” wrote Sundaram on LinkedIn as he shared the inspiring story of the former ISRO scientist and prodigy Uthaya Kumar.
ISRO scientist and prodigy Uthaya Kumar
According to Sundaram’s LinkedIn post, Uthaya Kumar used to work for ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation. He comes from the beautiful coastal town of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. After years of hard study, he landed his dream job at ISRO, where his expertise in statistics played a vital role. His precise calculations ensured the correct density of liquid fuels, a crucial factor in launching satellites into space.
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Talk about high-pressure work!
Later, he worked as an assistant professor at an engineering college. Despite the prestige and challenges of ISRO, Uthaya felt drawn to entrepreneurship. He wanted to make a difference in a new way. So, in 2017, with the support of his friends, Uthaya took a leap of faith and launched S T Cabs. The name is a tribute to his parents, Sukumaran and Thulasi.
Bringing in over ₹2 crore annually
S T Cabs is not a typical taxi service. The startup has a fleet of 37 cars and a thriving business bringing in over ₹2 crore annually, but that’s just part of the story. Uthaya runs things differently. He believes his drivers are partners, not just employees. That’s why they get a 70% share of the revenue, which has motivated them to bring in clients on their own.
Uthaya’s leadership goes beyond making money. He genuinely cares about his team. He provides migrant drivers with comfortable housing and sets aside funds to support the education of children in his hometown.
Now that’s someone who walks the talk!
Of course, the road to financial and creative independence has been bumpy, as it is for every startup founder. The pandemic posed a major challenge, but Uthaya didn’t back down. He donned a hazmat suit and personally took on long-distance fares to keep the business afloat.
Uthaya Kumar’s startup story is more than just a career change. It’s a masterclass for anyone, especially highly paid professionals dissatisfied with their lives, on mastering one’s life. It’s a testament to the power of self-mastery.
It’s about building a business with a heart, where success is shared, and everyone benefits. So, the next time you hail a cab, you never know – you might just be getting a ride from a former rocket scientist with a big heart for his community.
Learnings About Leadership
Entrepreneur Sundaram wrote that he learned a great deal about startup leadership from Uthaya Kumar.
Start with a niche, then diversify:
A market opportunity in IT/ITES companies helped Uthaya grow to 3 pick-ups and drop-offs every day at ₹2500 per trip, making them cash-flow positive very early. He’s now testing Uber and exploring the film industry too.
Treat your employees as partners:
He doesn’t pay his drivers a salary; instead, it’s a 70-30 revenue-sharing partnership. Some of his drivers have even taken ownership of growing the fleet by adding new cars, operating on a 30-70 split.
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Invest in sustainable growth:
He sets aside ₹1.5 lakh a month for living expenses and saves to build accommodation facilities for some of his migrant driver-partners. He also pays for the education expenses of four children in his hometown.
