Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, who has been fairly active in lending his name and money to start-ups and proven disruptors alike, has now joined the advisory board at IDG Ventures India as a Senior Advisor. This is the third VC fund after Kalaari Capital and Jungle Ventures where Tata has come on board as an advisor.
Tata will be advising IDG Ventures India and its portfolio entrepreneurs on their overall business strategy, global expansion, team building and leadership. He will also be a special invitee, on selective basis, in portfolio company board meetings on strategic matters.
“Mr. Tata is an icon when it comes to business leadership in the new age India. The vision and experience of Ratan Tata will help us pave the way for homegrown disruptors to scale rapidly as category leaders in India and globally. This is a huge opportunity for IDG Ventures and our portfolio companies,” said Sudhir Sethi, Founder and Chairman of IDG Ventures India Advisors.
In its nine years of existence, IDG Ventures India has advised investments in 50 companies, committing over Rs 1,000 crore in the Indian early stage technology companies. In a recent report by C B Insights IDGVI was positioned among the top three investors in Asia and India. It has invested in companies such as Myntra, Lenskart, Zivame, Vserv, Manthan, etc.
Over the last one year or so, Tata has invested in 10 start-ups in India such as Paytm, Snapdeal, Xiaomi, Bluestone, CarDekho, Kaaryah, Swasth India, Urban Ladder, Swasth India and Altaeros Energies.