Dr. A Velumani, the visionary behind Thyrocare, built a ₹6,000 crore empire by making swift, life-changing decisions. In a post on X, he said that in 1982, he decided to leave his home in just 100 hours. By 1986, he chose Sumathi as his life partner within 10 hours. In 1995, he resigned from his stable job at BARC in just 60 minutes. The 2016 IPO decision of Thyrocare took only 10 minutes. Finally, in 2021, he exited his company in a mere 60 seconds. His philosophy? 'Decide first, discuss later". His journey proves that speed and conviction in decision-making can shape extraordinary success.
Dr. Arokiaswamy Velumani, the founder of Thyrocare, built a billion-dollar enterprise from humble beginnings. Born in a small village in Tamil Nadu to a family of landless farmer and despite severe financial struggles, he became the first graduate from his village in 1978, marking the start of an extraordinary journey.
The Road to Mumbai and a Life Partner
After completing his education, Velumani started working at Gemini Capsules, a pharmaceutical company in Coimbatore, earning just Rs 150 per month. Realizing the need for better opportunities, he took a leap of faith in 1982, leaving his hometown with only Rs 500. He moved to Mumbai, where he secured a lab assistant job at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). This move set the foundation for his future success.
Meanwhile, his personal life saw a turning point when he received a marriage proposal from Sumathi, an employee at the State Bank of India. Though he hesitated intially, he eventually married her in 1986, finding a true partner in both life and business.
The Birth of Thyrocare
Despite lacking a background in biological sciences, Velumani developed an interest in thyroid research. He pursued a Ph.D. in Thyroid Biochemistry while juggling multiple part-time jobs, including selling milk and newspapers and offering tuition classes. These experiences shaped his understanding of business, time management, and survival in a competitive world.
In 1996, driven by his passion for thyroid testing, he founded Thyrocare with a vision to provide affordable diagnostics. This pricing strategy, along with an innovative franchise model, helped Thyrocare grow rapidly.
Scaling Up and Revolutionizing Diagnostics
By 2006, Thyrocare expanded to a 1,20,000 sq ft facility in Navi Mumbai, recording ₹30 crore in annual revenue. In April 2016, Thyrocare went public, offering 1.07 crore shares at ₹446 each. The IPO saw an overwhelming response, being oversubscribed 75.4 times. When listed on May 9, 2016, Thyrocare’s stock debuted at Rs 665, further cementing its market position.
Quick Exit
In 2021, after 25 years of building Thyrocare into an industry leader, Dr. Velumani made another bold move—he sold a 66% stake in the company to PharmEasy for Rs 4,546 crore. From a struggling young man with ₹500 in his pocket to a billionaire entrepreneur, Dr. Velumani’s journey is a masterclass in perseverance, strategic decision-making, and innovation. His story continues to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs across India
Dr. Arokiaswamy Velumani, the founder of Thyrocare, built a billion-dollar enterprise from humble beginnings. Born in a small village in Tamil Nadu to a family of landless farmer and despite severe financial struggles, he became the first graduate from his village in 1978, marking the start of an extraordinary journey.
5 major decisions. How fast ?
— Dr. A. Velumani.PhD. (@velumania) June 27, 2021
1. 1982, Left Mother, 100 hours.
2. 1986, Got Sumathi on board , 10 hours.
3. 1995, Resigned BARC job, 60 mins.
4. 2016, IPO, 10 mins.
5. 2021, Exit, 60 secs.
Decide first. Then discuss. #RomanceWithRisk.
The Road to Mumbai and a Life Partner
After completing his education, Velumani started working at Gemini Capsules, a pharmaceutical company in Coimbatore, earning just Rs 150 per month. Realizing the need for better opportunities, he took a leap of faith in 1982, leaving his hometown with only Rs 500. He moved to Mumbai, where he secured a lab assistant job at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). This move set the foundation for his future success.
Meanwhile, his personal life saw a turning point when he received a marriage proposal from Sumathi, an employee at the State Bank of India. Though he hesitated intially, he eventually married her in 1986, finding a true partner in both life and business.
The Birth of Thyrocare
Despite lacking a background in biological sciences, Velumani developed an interest in thyroid research. He pursued a Ph.D. in Thyroid Biochemistry while juggling multiple part-time jobs, including selling milk and newspapers and offering tuition classes. These experiences shaped his understanding of business, time management, and survival in a competitive world.
In 1996, driven by his passion for thyroid testing, he founded Thyrocare with a vision to provide affordable diagnostics. This pricing strategy, along with an innovative franchise model, helped Thyrocare grow rapidly.
Scaling Up and Revolutionizing Diagnostics
By 2006, Thyrocare expanded to a 1,20,000 sq ft facility in Navi Mumbai, recording ₹30 crore in annual revenue. In April 2016, Thyrocare went public, offering 1.07 crore shares at ₹446 each. The IPO saw an overwhelming response, being oversubscribed 75.4 times. When listed on May 9, 2016, Thyrocare’s stock debuted at Rs 665, further cementing its market position.
Quick Exit
In 2021, after 25 years of building Thyrocare into an industry leader, Dr. Velumani made another bold move—he sold a 66% stake in the company to PharmEasy for Rs 4,546 crore. From a struggling young man with ₹500 in his pocket to a billionaire entrepreneur, Dr. Velumani’s journey is a masterclass in perseverance, strategic decision-making, and innovation. His story continues to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs across India
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