Riding the Electric Wave
Spotting low trust in electric scooters for long rides, Simple Energy’s founder built a high-range EV startup focused on in-house technology, expansion, and sustainable growth.
Suhas Rajkumar, 29, Founder & CEO, Simple Energy
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Before founding Simple Energy, Suhas Rajkumar noticed a clear gap in India’s electric vehicle (EV) market. While considering an electric scooter for his family, he realised that trust in EVs; especially for longer rides; was still lacking. “My father said he didn’t trust electric vehicles for long trips,” recalled Rajkumar, Founder and CEO.
A first-generation entrepreneur from Bengaluru, Rajkumar graduated in architecture from Siddaganga Institute of Technology in 2013. He worked on several early-stage ventures, including a robotics startup, where he gained hands-on experience with lithium-ion batteries, circuit boards, and battery management systems. “I learned by building things myself. That experience changed how I looked at technology,” he said.
Although trained as an architect, Rajkumar had a long-standing interest in motorbikes and product design. Studying global EV developments, he saw a gap in India: no electric scooter combined range, performance, and everyday usability. In 2019, at 23, he founded Simple Energy with two co-founders, retaining a majority stake and long-term leadership responsibility.
Without a formal automotive background, Rajkumar immersed himself in technical fundamentals, emphasising in-house technology and solutions for Indian riding conditions. He believed range anxiety could not be solved by charging infrastructure alone. “It’s something people actually live with,” he noted, shaping an engineering-first approach to product development.
Today, Rajkumar leads over 450 employees. Simple Energy serves riders through an expanding retail and service network in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Agra, and Jaipur, with new markets including Delhi, Bhopal, Patna, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar.
The Bengaluru-based company claims to have sold over 7,300 scooters to date. In 2025, it more than doubled its revenue, from INR 40 crore in FY25 to around INR 90 crore between April and October.
Looking ahead, Rajkumar is focused on disciplined growth and financial sustainability. Simple Energy has raised USD 51 million from investors and aims for EBITDA positivity by FY26.
“We plan to launch an IPO in FY27, targeting around USD 350 million to expand our manufacturing capabilities and scale nationwide. By March 2026, our goal is to have approximately 150 retail stores, 200 service centers, and nearly 500 public charging points across India,” Rajkumar mentioned.
“The focus now is scale with discipline,” he ended. “Building electric mobility that people can rely on, year after year.”
Facts:
- Name and Designation: Suhas Rajkumar, Founder & CEO
- Age (as on February 1, 2026): 29
- Number of Co-founders: 2 (Shreshth Mishra – 29 years, Ankit Gupta – 38 years)
- Number of Employees: 450+
- Year of Inception: 2019
- External Investors: Pre-Series A (Nov 2021 – USD 21 Mn):
- Led by Manish Bharti (ex-UiPath) and Raghunath Subramanian (ex-UiPath)
- Participation from Athiyas Group and other HNIs
- Series A (July 2024 – USD 20 Mn):
- HNIs: Balamurugan Arumugam, Vipul Khanna (ex-CEO, Firstsource)
- Family Offices: Desai Family Office, Haran Family Office (promoters of Apar Industries), Dr A Velumani’s Family Office, Vasavi Family Office
- Bridge Round (Sept 2025 – USD 10 Mn):
- Led by Dr Arokiaswamy Velumani (Founder, Thyrocare – Family Office)
- Participation from HNIs and family offices, including Balamurugan Arumugam and Haran Family Office
Before founding Simple Energy, Suhas Rajkumar noticed a clear gap in India’s electric vehicle (EV) market. While considering an electric scooter for his family, he realised that trust in EVs; especially for longer rides; was still lacking. “My father said he didn’t trust electric vehicles for long trips,” recalled Rajkumar, Founder and CEO.
A first-generation entrepreneur from Bengaluru, Rajkumar graduated in architecture from Siddaganga Institute of Technology in 2013. He worked on several early-stage ventures, including a robotics startup, where he gained hands-on experience with lithium-ion batteries, circuit boards, and battery management systems. “I learned by building things myself. That experience changed how I looked at technology,” he said.
Although trained as an architect, Rajkumar had a long-standing interest in motorbikes and product design. Studying global EV developments, he saw a gap in India: no electric scooter combined range, performance, and everyday usability. In 2019, at 23, he founded Simple Energy with two co-founders, retaining a majority stake and long-term leadership responsibility.
