“We therefore start with the problem as it exists here and design around the context, rather than adapting an existing global product at the end” – Mr. Shishir Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, Oakter
What was the original problem that led you to build Oakter, and how has that vision evolved over the years?
The starting point was fairly simple. We wanted to build technology that solved problems people actually faced at home, rather than bringing connectivity into products just because it was possible. Our early experiments included a solar powered brick, but we quickly realised that the idea was not commercially viable. That led us towards IoT devices that could make existing appliances smarter and easier to control. Over time, that thinking became much broader. We moved from individual connected products to building the engineering and manufacturing capabilities needed to take ideas from concept to scale. The core belief, however, has stayed consistent. Technology should work reliably in Indian conditions, offer real value and make everyday life simpler. Today, that principle shapes both our consumer products and our work as an Original Design Manufacturer.
What makes Oakter’s approach to product development different from that of larger, established consumer-electronics brands?
For us, the difference starts much earlier than the final product. We do not begin with a technology and then look for a consumer problem to fit around it. We begin with everyday friction, understand how people actually experience it, and then work backwards through design, electronics, software and manufacturing. Because these functions sit closely together at Oakter, feedback from testing, customer reviews and service interactions can move quickly into the next iteration. Our ODM model also gives us greater control over the product from concept to production, rather than treating design and manufacturing as separate stages. This is particularly important in India, where power conditions, usage patterns and price expectations can vary widely. The aim is to make technology genuinely useful, rather than simply make products more feature rich.
How important is “designed for India” when developing Oakter’s products?
It is central to how we think about products, because Indian consumers do not live in the same conditions as consumers in other markets. Power fluctuations, connectivity, climate, household sizes, usage patterns and price sensitivity can all shape whether a product becomes genuinely useful or remains a novelty. We therefore start with the problem as it exists here and design around the context, rather than adapting an existing global product at the end. Our 0.5 Ton AC is a good example of that thinking, which is absolutely designed and engineered for Indian homes. Being able to control design, engineering and manufacturing in India also lets us test, learn and iterate faster. For us, designed for India ultimately means technology that fits naturally into how Indians actually live.
Oakter now has three manufacturing facilities. What drove the decision to build this manufacturing scale, and how does it benefit the company?
The decision to build three facilities came from a simple realization that scale without control can quickly affect quality, speed and customer experience. As our product portfolio and volumes grew, we needed manufacturing to evolve alongside our design and engineering capabilities. Today, our three Noida facilities span 200,000 square feet, with 25 automated assembly lines and a Class 10,000 clean room. This gives us tighter control from prototyping to mass production, while allowing faster iterations when customer feedback or market requirements change. It also strengthens supply chain visibility and production flexibility. Having design, engineering and manufacturing closely integrated means decisions do not have to move through multiple layers. That matters when you are building India specific products and need to deliver consistency at scale.
Why did Oakter decide to enter the cooling segment with the Studio AC 5000?
The cooling segment made sense because there was a need gap amongst the urban consumers than what the market typically offers. Someone living in a 75 to up to 120 square foot room, studio apartment, cabin or small workspace often does not need the capacity or infrastructure of a conventional full size AC, but still needs dependable cooling during Indian summers. The Studio AC 5000 solved for that gap. Our approach at Oakter has always been to identify everyday problems and build around them, rather than simply add another product category. With our manufacturing and engineering capabilities, we could develop a compact solution suited to Indian conditions and usage patterns. The 2026 model takes that thinking further with inverter based cooling, around 450W-500W consumption and standard 6A socket support with a simple 3 pin socket. It is essentially about making air conditioning more practical for spaces that conventional ACs often overlook.
