The Power Economy

Sachdev, son of an Indian Railways section officer, always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He faced initial setbacks, including a failed pen-selling business with his brother and a short stint as a sales executive in a cable company. He also struggled to establish a cable equipment manufacturing business due to a lack of technical skills.

Sachdev identified an opportunity to improve locally purchased inverters that couldn’t handle frequent power cuts. Despite banks rejecting his business plan, he invested his personal savings to produce inverters.

Initially, the first 100 inverters had to be returned due to glitches. Sachdev hired experienced engineers, even when funds were low, to ensure quality. This gamble paid off, leading to the establishment of Su-Kam in 1998 and its growth into a Rs 430-crore turnover company.

Su-Kam now has four advanced production facilities, including a Rs 100-crore plant in Himachal Pradesh. The company has a 20% equity stake from Reliance India Power Fund and has expanded its presence to over 50 countries.

Su-Kam plans to invest Rs 250 crore in expansion, focusing on sophisticated inverter applications for aircraft, boats, golf carts, and battery-operated gadgets.

Described as an introvert, Sachdev values his team and believes in empowering them. His associates praise his ability to motivate people by giving them independence in their roles.

Sachdev’s success is attributed to his “can-do” attitude, grit, perseverance, and strong self-belief, even in the face of obstacles like lack of management and technical background, and limited financial backing.