𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲-𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲? Dr. A. Velumani was born into a poor farming family near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He completed BSc in Physics and earned a PhD in Thyroid Biochemistry while working full-time. Worked as a scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for 14 years before quitting at age 37. Started Thyrocare in 1996 from a 200 sq. ft. rented space in Mumbai with Rs. 2 lakh capital. Focused solely on thyroid tests (T3, T4, TSH) to dominate a niche and reduce complexity. Priced thyroid tests at just Rs. 100 when others charged Rs. 500–600, attracting high volumes. Adopted a high-volume, low-margin model that allowed scale and affordability. Centralized laboratory system enabled cost reduction, better quality control, and faster reporting. Created a pan-India network of over 3,000+ sample collection centers using a hub-and-spoke model. Invested early in automation and IT infrastructure, enabling processing of over 50,000 samples daily. Used barcoding and automated machines to reduce human error and improve turnaround time. Operated with minimal staff and low overhead costs, maximizing operational efficiency. Avoided heavy marketing spends; relied on word-of-mouth and trusted service. Achieved profitability early and sustained growth without external funding for a long time. Went public in 2016; IPO was oversubscribed 73 times and valued at around Rs. 3,400 crore. Made Dr. Velumani a self-made billionaire with a stake worth over Rs. 1,300 crore at peak. Thyrocare became one of India’s most trusted diagnostic brands, handling over 1 lakh tests/day today. His approach: "Focus, Frugality, and Fearlessness" — with the motto "Poor man’s pathologist, rich man’s choice." Follow vishakha Jangir for more such insights. Watch his podcast with ranveer allahbadia on YouTube to know everything in detail.
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