The whole startup ecosystem is still mourning the passing of Ratan Tata on October 9, 2024, many of his visionary investments are coming to light in India’s startup ecosystem. Ratan Tata was known for his sharp business acumen, investment strategies, and deep commitment to innovation. Tata’s strategic investments helped many startups to achieve significant growth and offer innovative solutions.
Ratan Tata is a known name among investors and businesses. He invested in many startups in the early days from Ola, and Ola Electric to giants like FirstCry, Paytm, and Tracxn. Following his demise, many of his angel investments and early bets came to light. Tata had more than 40 startups in his portfolio from personal to family offices and venture funds.
His portfolio reflects both financial support and his belief in transformative ideas. The influence can be seen across different sectors from mobility to e-commerce or fintech startups. In this article, we explore 10 startups that highlight Ratan Tata’s investment strategies in India’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Atlan
Atlan is an artificial intelligence-based metadata management company that allows users to collect information through a mobile data collection app. The startup uses advanced technologies to collect responses from individuals and integrate them using BI tools. Ratan Tata has backed various companies having the potential to create long-term impact and Atlan is one of those platforms with increased demand across users.
The startup has secured over 206 million USD across multiple funding rounds since its inception in 2018, including fresh capital of $105 million raised during its series C funding round. The company has investors including insight partners, Meritech, and WaterBridge.
BlueStone
Ratan Tata invested the most across the e-commerce sector in a personal capacity and through two investment vehicles. He invested in Bluestone in 2014 during that time the e-commerce sector was just getting started. The startup offers subscription-based precious jewelry including bangles, necklaces, rings, earrings, and more. The company claims to provide products made of gold, silver, diamonds, and more.
The company has been receiving investment from Tata since then, Tata saw the company reach its IPO stage this year. The company has secured around $255 million across 14 funding rounds since its inception. The funding round worth Rs 900 crore pushed the company’s valuation at 970 million USD. The company has investors including Accel and Kalaari Capital and competes with startups like GIVA and Caratlane.
Cash Karo
Ratan Tata has made various huge investments across fintech sectors and Paytm is the biggest name in his portfolio followed by Cahkaro. He invested in the startup in 2016 when no one was sure about the startup’s business model and future. However, Tata invested in the firm just three years after its inception. He was also on the advisory board of Kalaari Capital which was a key investor of the firm.
The web-based platform provides coupon offers and cashback from e-commerce portals. This platform allows users to have discount and cashback offers across a wide range of online shopping brands. The company allows users to earn cashback on fashion, electronics, and other items shopping through an online portal. Cah Karo has raised around $32.6 million across six funding rounds since its inception.
Urban Company
This company is proof of Ratan Tata being one of the most well-known investors. Tata identified many startups that boosted the Indian startup ecosystem and Urban Company is one of the flag bearers for Indian startups. Ratan Tata invested in the firm just after a year of its operations. Urban company was formerly known as Urban Clap. Urban Company competes with platforms like Service Market and Thumbtack.
The company offers multiple local services through its online platform. The application allows users to book multiple services including home repair, cleaning, beauty, and more. The company has secured over $376 million across various funding rounds since its inception, this includes $190 million raised during its series F funding round from Prosus, Wellington, and others.
Paytm
Paytm is one of the key startups in Ratan Tata’s portfolio highlighting his investment strategies. He invested in the fintech major in the early days. In 2015 Ratan Tata personally invested in the firm and became the advisor. The fintech firm offers payment processing solutions to businesses and individuals. The application allows users to process bill payments, money transfers, travel bookings, and more.
The startup has partners including Ant Group and Alibaba Group. The platform allows users an online marketplace for online shopping of multi-category consumer products. The company has raised around $3.4 billion across 16 rounds including $1.26 million secured from Angel investors. Paytm faces competition from other companies in the same market segment like PhonePe.
Curefit
The healthtech firm received an investment of $3 million from Ratan Tata through RNT Capital in 2017. The company raised a total of $75 million from Tata Digital after a few years. Curefit offers multiple wellness and fitness services including on-demand fitness, video-based live, and meditation sessions based on membership. The company also allows users to compete with track performance in real time.
The Bengaluru-based company has secured around 687 million USD across multiple funding rounds since its inception, including $22.3 million raised during its series F funding round from Sun N Sand Hotel and other investors. Curefit competes with HealthifyMe and other companies in the same segment.
Tracxn
Tracxn is a data intelligence platform that tracks a company’s financial results worldwide. The company went public in the market two years ago. Six years before this Ratan Tata led the funding round for the startup. The Bengaluru-based startup offers financial reports of the entities. The startup has raised over 7.5 million USD across four funding rounds to date.
The startup has recently expanded its employee stock option plan with an additional 2.42 lakh stock options. The company posted an 86.4 percent increase in its profit after tax to Rs 1.27 crore in the first quarter of FY25. The company competes with startups including Crunchbase, Synaptic, and CB Insights.
FirstCry
Firstcry is an online marketplace offering multi-category baby products including health supplements, toys, skincare, footwear, and more. The company was one of the very first vertical marketplaces in India. The company works much differently compared to other online shopping platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. The company received its first investment from Tata in 2016, the company bought 0.02 percent of the firm’s stake for Rs 66 lakh.
Tata later on sold these shares in the IPO for Rs 5 crore making a return on investment of 660 percent. First Cry has secured over $513 million across 9 funding rounds since its inception. The company has investors including Premji Invest, Vertex Ventures, and Elevation Capital among others and it competes with platforms like Mumzworld and Babyoye.
Moglix
Ratan Tata also provided advice and mentorships to B2B marketplace Moglix in 2016. The company turned unicorn in 2021 at that time the Indian startup ecosystem was on the rise. Moglix is industrial goods offering B2B company that provides products including hand tools, CCTV cameras, circuit breakers, screws, and more.
The company also offers medical, garden products, office supplies, and automotive supplies. The startup has raised over 471 million USD across nine funding rounds. The company faces competition from other B2B platforms like IndiaMart and Udaan.
Ola
Ola is an online ride-hailing platform that received its first investment from Ratan Tata in 2015. He picked minority stake in the firm during its early stage. Venture Capital firm RNT Capital led by Ratan Tata participated in Ola’s series I funding round of Rs 670 crore. The application allows users to book rides online by providing passenger details, location, and other information.
The platform provides several rides like cars, auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers, and more. The data intelligence platform, tracxn mentioned that the company has raised over 3.8 billion USD across 25 rounds since its inception. Ola has a post-money valuation of 1.9 billion USD. Ola faces competition from other ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Grab.
Conclusion :
Ratan Tata’s investment strategies have had a lasting impact on India’s startup ecosystem. His vision and belief in innovation allowed many startups to grow and succeed, from fintech startups like Cashkaro and Paytm to unique platforms like Atlan, BlueStone, and FirstCry. Ratan Tata supported the startups financially while nurturing transformative ideas and mentoring promising entrepreneurs.
These ten startups mentioned above highlight his forward-thinking approach and commitment to India’s startup landscape. While the whole world is mourning the loss, his legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of Indian startups for years to come. Ratan Tata not only served as an investor but also acted as an advisor and mentor for several startups.
Under his leadership, numerous startups went through trials and tribulations to achieve unicorn status. His passing is a great loss for India’s startup ecosystem. With over 40 startups in his portfolio, the ones mentioned above are some of his most successful investments, showcasing his sharp investment vision, thoughtful approach, and effective strategies.
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