Starting his career almost six decades ago in 1960, Ratan Tata has acquired a unique status in the Indian business industry. The Harvard alumnus has not helped maintain and better the Tata brand name and legacy that his father J. R. D. Tata started in 1868, but has also invested in several small businesses and help them become a known name today.
As an investor, the veteran has promoted over 30 startups in his personal capacity till date. Here's a list of 10 startups that have got a funding from Tata and have gone on to make a successful name for themselves.
An online lingerie selling platform, Zivame.com was founded by Richa Kar and Kapil Karekar six years ago in 2011. The startup has successfully revolutionised the lingerie market in the Indian subcontinent and has gone on to make a unique place for itself in the Indian startup industry. It's quirky campaigns, both online and offline, have contributed greatly to its success. Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in the Bangalore-based online lingerie retailer in September, 2015.
The Bengaluru-based startup, which has gone on to become a go-to place for household services, right from plumbing, electrical work, carpenter work to parlour requirements etc., has successfully raised an undisclosed amount in funding from Ratan Tata in December 2015. Though not profitable yet, Abhiraj Bhal, co-founder of UrbanClap is hopeful that the company will turn profitable in 2019.
Starting its journey in 2008 from a one-room set-up with just two laptops, Cardekho, an online automobile portal, has come a long way today. The online automobile company, which acquired an another automobile platform Zigwheels a year ago, allows people to buy, sell, and explore new and used cars. Not only did Cardekho receive funding from Ratan Tata, but the business veteran also invested some capital in its Jaipur-based parent company GirnarSoft.
Started in the year 2010 in Mumbai to solve the city’s transport woes, Ola Cabs is now providing its cab services in over 100 cities across the country. The homegrown startup has grown on to become the most popular Cab Aggregator in the country, and has gone on to give a stiff competition to its global competitor, Uber. In the year 2015, Ratan Tata acquired a stake in OlaCabs, but both the parties did not disclose the amount and value of the stake.
Snapdeal, which is the third largest ecommerce company in the country currently, was the first tech startup investment that the business tycoon made in his career. Back then in 2014, it was rumoured that Tata invested less than Rs 5 crore and picking a 0.17% stake in the ecommerce company.
Cashback and coupons site CashKaro was Ratan Tata's third investment of 2016. Tata invested an undiscovered amount in the 2013 Gurgaon-based startup which claims to be India's largest Cashback and Coupons Site.
Lenskart Solutions Pvt. Ltd, which has become the go-to online retailer for eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and eyewear accessories, received funding from the Tata tycoon in April 2016. Though the quantum of investment is still unknown, but it is expected to be small as keeping in line with Tata's investment history. The veteran's approach is to become more of a adviser/mentor rather than just be a financial investor.
The Chinese smart devices-maker, which has gone on to establish a place for itself in the fastest growing smartphone market in the world, received an undisclosed investment from Ratan Tata in April, 2015. Back then, Tata's investment was the first Indian investment in the Chinese company.
Though Paytm really come to fore after the October, 2016 demonetisation announcement, Ratan Tata anticipated the Noida-based e-wallet's potential long back in 2015 when he invested an undisclosed amount in the compnay. Paytm was Tata's 5th venture into ecommerce space.
The online furniture portal received an undisclosed amount from Rata Tata in funding, in November, 2014. The 2012 Bengaluru-based startup raised a whopping Rs 102 crore from its existing investors Kalaari Capital, SAIF Partners, Sequoia Capital and Steadview Capital in February, 2017. The startup plans to pivot from being just an ecommerce portal to a furniture brand and even set up its own offline stores and list products on other ecommerce portals in the country.
As an investor, the veteran has promoted over 30 startups in his personal capacity till date. Here's a list of 10 startups that have got a funding from Tata and have gone on to make a successful name for themselves.
Zivame
An online lingerie selling platform, Zivame.com was founded by Richa Kar and Kapil Karekar six years ago in 2011. The startup has successfully revolutionised the lingerie market in the Indian subcontinent and has gone on to make a unique place for itself in the Indian startup industry. It's quirky campaigns, both online and offline, have contributed greatly to its success. Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in the Bangalore-based online lingerie retailer in September, 2015.
Urban Clap
The Bengaluru-based startup, which has gone on to become a go-to place for household services, right from plumbing, electrical work, carpenter work to parlour requirements etc., has successfully raised an undisclosed amount in funding from Ratan Tata in December 2015. Though not profitable yet, Abhiraj Bhal, co-founder of UrbanClap is hopeful that the company will turn profitable in 2019.
Cardekho
Starting its journey in 2008 from a one-room set-up with just two laptops, Cardekho, an online automobile portal, has come a long way today. The online automobile company, which acquired an another automobile platform Zigwheels a year ago, allows people to buy, sell, and explore new and used cars. Not only did Cardekho receive funding from Ratan Tata, but the business veteran also invested some capital in its Jaipur-based parent company GirnarSoft.
Ola Cabs
Started in the year 2010 in Mumbai to solve the city’s transport woes, Ola Cabs is now providing its cab services in over 100 cities across the country. The homegrown startup has grown on to become the most popular Cab Aggregator in the country, and has gone on to give a stiff competition to its global competitor, Uber. In the year 2015, Ratan Tata acquired a stake in OlaCabs, but both the parties did not disclose the amount and value of the stake.
Snapdeal
Snapdeal, which is the third largest ecommerce company in the country currently, was the first tech startup investment that the business tycoon made in his career. Back then in 2014, it was rumoured that Tata invested less than Rs 5 crore and picking a 0.17% stake in the ecommerce company.
Cash Karo
Cashback and coupons site CashKaro was Ratan Tata's third investment of 2016. Tata invested an undiscovered amount in the 2013 Gurgaon-based startup which claims to be India's largest Cashback and Coupons Site.
Lenskart
Lenskart Solutions Pvt. Ltd, which has become the go-to online retailer for eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and eyewear accessories, received funding from the Tata tycoon in April 2016. Though the quantum of investment is still unknown, but it is expected to be small as keeping in line with Tata's investment history. The veteran's approach is to become more of a adviser/mentor rather than just be a financial investor.
Xiaomi
The Chinese smart devices-maker, which has gone on to establish a place for itself in the fastest growing smartphone market in the world, received an undisclosed investment from Ratan Tata in April, 2015. Back then, Tata's investment was the first Indian investment in the Chinese company.
Paytm
Though Paytm really come to fore after the October, 2016 demonetisation announcement, Ratan Tata anticipated the Noida-based e-wallet's potential long back in 2015 when he invested an undisclosed amount in the compnay. Paytm was Tata's 5th venture into ecommerce space.
Urban Ladder
The online furniture portal received an undisclosed amount from Rata Tata in funding, in November, 2014. The 2012 Bengaluru-based startup raised a whopping Rs 102 crore from its existing investors Kalaari Capital, SAIF Partners, Sequoia Capital and Steadview Capital in February, 2017. The startup plans to pivot from being just an ecommerce portal to a furniture brand and even set up its own offline stores and list products on other ecommerce portals in the country.
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