Fusion5 - Entrepreneur of the Year
Company: Fusion5, Durham, County Durham, United Kingdom
Entry Submitted By: Awards Intelligence
Company Description: Founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Gandhi Perla, Fusion5 is a fast-growing consumer technology company that designs and manufactures computer hardware including laptops, tablets and smartphones. Headquartered in the UK, Fusion5 has operations in Hong Kong, China, India and the USA.
Nomination Category: Entrepreneur Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Entrepreneur of the Year - Computer Hardware
Nomination Title: Gandhi Perla: Outstanding entrepreneur who is disrupting the computer hardware market
Gandhi Perla is an outstanding entrepreneur who has defied the odds to create and build a highly successful computer hardware company that competes against the giants of Silicon Valley.
His company Fusion5 has more than doubled sales since January 2019 as he has penetrated new markets in America, the Middle East and Europe.
Gandhi founded the British-based company 11 years ago with a mission to “build sustainable consumer products for everyday use at affordable prices.”
Under his leadership, Fusion5 has more than achieved its aim, winning awards for its extensive product range including laptops, Android and Windows tablets, plus smartphones.
Over the period of this entry, Gandhi’s entrepreneurial skills have come to the fore as he has overseen a 105% increase in sales, taking Fusion5's customerbase to over one million worldwide.
He has also strengthened the company's reputation withoverwhelmingly positive customer feedbackon Amazon, Walmart and other online retailers.
Ranked No.1 on Amazon for laptops and tablets, Fusion5 is given a four or five-star rating by 97% of customers.
A typical comment is: “Great computer for a great price. Amazing tablet that I need for my business operations. Great value and lets me be productive. Highly recommended.”
The success of the company is due to the drive, vision and entrepreneurial flair of founder Gandhi Perla.
A graduate in computer applications at university in India, he came to Britain in 2009 to complete an MBA course at Durham Business School, one of the top 100 business schools in the world.
The inspiration for the launch of Fusion5 came when Apple brought out a larger smartphone, the size of a small tablet.
Gandhi identified a gap in the market to produce a similar but far more affordable product.
Drawing on his knowledge of computer applications, he came up with a tablet design working from the garage of his home in the north of England.
He found a manufacturer in China that had previously produced digital photo frames.
The name Fusion arose as the device is a combination of smartphone and laptop technology.
The first sales were on eBay and, as Fusion’s customer base grew, Gandhi expanded retail channels to Amazon and a Fusion5 online store:www.fusion5store.com .
Today Fusion5 is one of the fastest growing brands in the technology sector.
The designcentrefor the company remains in Durham, while Fusion5 now has overseas operations in China, India, Texas and a worldwide distribution hub in Hong Kong. It employs more than 60 people.
The company sells to 11 countries.
Gandhi has been true to his word as Fusion5’s prices remain highly affordable, ranging from $90 to $350 – a fraction of those charged by competitors such as Apple, Microsoft and Dell.
Yet thereisno cutting corners on quality and all Fusion5’s devices are stylish, slimline, reliable and uncompromisingly fast – points also borne out in customer feedback.
Gandhi, an official member of the Forbes Business Council,has built the company by reinvesting profits back in the business.
Gandhi’s plans include opening an assembly line in the UK and establishing a major hub in Germany to distribute Fusion5 products across the EU.
He also dedicates a significant proportion of profits to research and development to further enhance Fusion5’s computer hardware and in order to continue to compete against the global tech giants.
With Britain no longer a member of the EU, Gandhi Perla is doing a brilliant job in flying the flag for British innovation and entrepreneurship around the world – and hopefully giving the likes of Apple, HP and Dell cause to look over their shoulder!
Gandhi Perla has led Fusion5 to be:
-No 1. on Amazon for laptops and tablets
-Achieve ONE MILLIONcustomers
-Win a Global Business Excellence Award for outstanding product
-Win a UK Best Business Award for Best Product Range
-Become recognised as a Microsoft Gold Partner 2021
-Expand globally with operations in the UK, USA, China, Hong Kong and India
-Earn sky-high customer satisfaction with 97% of customers giving Fusion5 products a 4 or 5 star rating
-Become one of the fastest growing brands in consumer technology globally