We continue this foray to gain insight into the Indian businesses that have not only sustained through the years but have successfully stayed relevant in a continuously changing market scenario. This is a brief look at those Indian companies and the feeling of pride they instill in the citizens of this country.
Touted as one of India’s most valuable private enterprises, it was founded as a partnership firm by the name of Littlewood Pallonji in 1865. The firm’s first-ever project was to construct a pavement on Girgaum Chowpatty in the city of Mumbai. This was swiftly followed by being a part of reservoir construction on Malabar Hill. This reservoir has supplied water to the city of Mumbai for over a century. Over the years the company went on to build the famous Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi as well as the Mumbai Central Railway Station. Shapoorji Pallonji has also built the Barakhamba Underground Station in Delhi and Providence Stadium in Guyana.
A company that began its business operations as a construction firm has now grown to include real estate, textiles, engineered goods, home appliances, shipping, publications, power, and biotechnology. It has expanded its footprint to more than 50 countries across Europe, America, and Australia. It also has a significant presence in the Middle East and Africa. It now delivers end-to-end solutions in Engineering and Construction, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Water, Energy, and Financial Services.
The Shapoorji Pallonji Group has two listed companies – Forbes & Company Ltd and Gokak Textiles. Apart from these, the Group also operates various other subsidiaries and companies under its umbrella.
Forbes & Company Ltd
Erstwhile Forbes Gokak Limited was established in 1767, and the management of the company eventually moved into the hands of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. It is an engineering company and listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange since the year 1919.
Gokak Textiles
Established in the year 1887, the company is a specialist manufacturer of grey yarn and one of India’s largest exporters. It also supplies bamboo textile towels including other products.
SP Engineering & Construction
The company’s business operations include end-to-end solutions in engineering and construction within India.
Shapoorji Pallonji Business Empire (150+ Years) | How big is Shapoorji Pallonji Group?
Eureka Forbes Limited
A well-known household name, the company is engaged in making water purification devices, vacuum cleaners, air purification systems, and home security products.
SP Investment Advisors
This company is a synergistic expansion to the group’s existing real estate development and contracting businesses. This business allows the group to offer services as a fully integrated real estate development and investment advisory platform.
SP Oil & Gas Pvt. Ltd.
The company is a designer, fabricator, owner, and operator of cutting-edge floating technologies within the country.
SP Real Estate
The company is a well-known and well-regarded business operator within the real estate sector of India. Its business operations include creating opulent skyscrapers, affordable housing, and functional workspaces.
Apart from these, the other subsidiary companies include Shapoorji Pallonji Ports Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure, Forvol International Services, Sterling & Wilson, SD Corporation, Oman Shapoorji Co., and NextGen Publishing.
Jamsetji Tata, sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of Indian Industry’ founded the Tata Group in 1868, headquartered in Mumbai. Its beginning was as a humble trading house. A few years later, in 1874, he established a textile mill in Nagpur, which was the turning point for him and the business. This was followed by Jamsetji building the famous Taj Mahal Hotel, Colaba in 1903, which became the first hotel with electricity in British India. Tata Steel, erstwhile TISCO, was established by Dorabji Tata in 1907. The year 1932 also saw the founding of Tata Air Services which was later renamed as Tata Airlines.
Over the years, the company recognized the changing market and consumer scenario as well as advancing technology and re-invented its business operations to include and expand into newer ventures. It has slowly and steadily grown to become India’s largest conglomerate with products and services in more than 150 countries. The group’s business operations span 100 countries across 6 continents. With the group’s annual revenue recorded as USD 128 billion in FY 2021-22, each of the Tata Group companies functions individually under its board of directors and shareholders. The philanthropic trust, Tata Trust controls 66% of the holding company Tata Sons.
Of the Tata Group’s many and varied companies, 29 companies are publicly listed with a combined market capitalization of USD 311 billion as of March 2022. The affiliated companies of the Tata Group include –
Tata Advanced Systems
The company is engaged in the Aerospace and Defense sector
Tata International Group
This company’s business operations include leather products and global trading through various subsidiaries
Tata Consultancy Services
This is the information technology arm of the group
Tata Elxsi
Similar to TCS, this is also the information technology arm of the group
Tata Steel
The name of the company is self-explanatory as to the nature of the business
Tata Electronics
The business operations include Electrical and Electronics
Tata Power
This company too operates in the Electrical and Electronics sector
Tata Projects & Tata Consulting Engineers
Both these companies individually operate in the engineering space
Tata Housing, Tata Realty & Infrastructure, and Hemisphere Props
The Real Estate arm of the Tata Group is handled by these three companies.
Tata Motors
The company is engaged and operates in the automotive sector
These companies work in the financial services sector.
Indian Hotel Company, Taj Air, Air Asia India, Air India Limited, and Vistara
These companies operate in the Travel and Tourism sector.
Tata Communications, Tata Teleservices, Tata Play –
The telecom and media sector is successfully traversed by these companies.
Tata International, Tata Industries Ltd., And Panatone Finvest
These are the companies that are engaged in the trading and investments business.
Tata Digital
It operates in the digital space.
Over the years, the Tata Group has also acquired many businesses within the group’s fold and has helped establish and finance several research, educational, and cultural institutes within the country. Some of these institutes are the Indian Institute of Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Center for Performing Arts, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Cancer Hospital, etc.
Dr. S. K. Burman founded Dabur Ltd., in the year 1884. He was a qualified physician and an Ayurvedic practitioner who formulated Ayurvedic medicines for illnesses like cholera, constipation, and malaria. He went on to mass-produce his ayurvedic formulations and sell them under the brand name Dabur, a name he earned from his patients.
It was C. L. Burman who first set up the company’s Research and Development unit and his grandson G. C. Burman moved the company’s headquarters from erstwhile Calcutta to Delhi due to an unpleasant workers’ unrest. The company was among one of the first businesses in India that separated family ownership from management as they successfully handed over the management of the company to professionals in the year 1998. In the year 1997, the company set up a wholly-owned consumer goods subsidiary called Dabur Foods. Under Dabur Foods, the group launched the popular fruit juice brand Real. Dabur Ltd. also acquired a 51% stake in the Indian spices company Badshah Masala. In the year 2003, it also demerged its pharmaceutical business and established it as a separate company called Dabur Pharma Ltd.
The current chairman Dr. Anand Burman and the vice-chairman Amit Burman are the fifth generation of the family at the helm of the company. Dabur Ltd., is one of the largest FMCG companies in the country that records 60% of its revenues from the consumer care business, 11% from the food business, and the remaining from its international business unit. The Dabur Group operates three subsidiaries called Dabur Research Foundation, Aviva India, and H&B Stores Ltd and also drives its corporate social responsibility initiatives through Dabur’s Sustainable Development Society (Sundesh).
Indian industrial history is as rich and deep as its culture and tradition. The country’s homegrown brands have traveled a long and winding road through the years and emerged successfully into a world that is driven by technology, information, and data. Part III of this article covers more indigenous brands and their journeys….
FAQs
Who is the founder of Tata Group?
Jamsetji Tata, sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of Indian Industry’ founded the Tata Group in 1868.
Who are the current chairman and vice-chairman of Dabur Ltd.?
The current chairman Dr. Anand Burman and the vice-chairman Amit Burman are the fifth generation of the family at the helm of the company.
What is Gokak Textiles about?
Established in the year 1887, the company is a specialist manufacturer of grey yarn and one of India’s largest exporters. It also supplies bamboo textile towels including other products.
The world we live in is not an ordinary one anymore. It is a digital world and technology is ruling over it. There is hardly anyone, who is not digitally connected. Everything and everyone is online, if you are not then, you are losing a very big opportunity.
The development of technology has changed the world for the better and now almost every country is focusing on transforming itself into a digital one. Not surprisingly, India is also included in this list and focuses on reaching the goal.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have all the facilities like payment and any kind of financial transaction in just a single app? Well, thanks to the digital world and its lifestyle, we have got one sooner than we have expected. There is hardly anyone, who doesn’t know about Tata. One of the biggest Indian multinational companies, the Tata Group is not only making its presence felt in the country but the entire world. The launch of the Tata super app, Tata Neu, is another feather in the cap of Tata, which has the potential of helping the company achieve many more milestones.
The much-awaited Tata Neu super app of Tata Group was officially launched in India on April 7, 2022. Speaking on the launch of Tata Neu, Tata Group Chairperson Natarajan Chandrasekaran referred to the day of the launch of Tata Neu as “Neu Day”. The youngest member of the Tata Group, the Tata Neu app has finally been launched with 2,500+ offline stores and a customer base of over 120 million users.
In this article, we will talk about Tata Neu and how it is looking to change the face of digital India.
As mentioned before, because of technology, it is possible to have a super app. A super app is an application that provides various services that are necessary for a human to use. It includes services of a variety of apps in a single one, and that erases your worry about your phone storage.
To be specific, with the help of this app one can chat, get their financial transactions done, shop, and even book a ride. Thus, to make the country digitally strong, Tata Group has launched a super app called Tata Neu for both Android and iOS users. The company has integrated all the major services into the framework of the app, which has been launched in a mega-media blitz during IPL. The app is now leveraging the popularity of the IPL tournament and enabling cricket fans to watch the popular cricketing event in large numbers.
It had first passed the beta version, where a Tata Group employee got the opportunity to use the Tata Super App, when reported in November 2021. It then went through several rounds of tests. Tata Neu was said to make its presence known in early 2022. The Tata Neu app, which was all set to be launched in April 2022, was finally launched on April 7, 2022, to grab the swing of the IPL season. It is also important to note here that the Tata Group has also been declared as the title sponsor of IPL for 2022 and 2023, which was really indicative of the launch of its digital loyalty app of Tata. Being the “digital loyalty app”, Tata has designed it in such a way that it will be rewarding for the customers across the Tata brands, and enable them to earn reward points and redeem them.
How Tata Neu Works?
Tata Neu Super App
Whenever you click on one of these features, the app will redirect you to the cross-linked apps of Tata. The super app will integrate an array of Tata Group’s services under one umbrella, Tata Neu. In other words, the users of Tata Neu will get all Tata services, including BigBasket, where if you tap on grocery, you’ll be led to BigBasket; healthcare will redirect you to 1mg; for electronics retailing needs, you can go to Croma; enjoy all eCommerce deliveries for varied needs; get bill payment solutions with Tata Neu, buy electronic gadget via Tata Cliq, and more. If you are wondering about the other verticals – airline companies, Vistara and AirAsia, clothing chain Westside, coffee chain Starbucks, over–the–top services, and others, they are also integrated into the super app. This long-awaited all-in-one super app from the $103 bn conglomerate will help the users avail of everything that they might want via an eCommerce app, which would also stand as a fierce rival to the likes of Amazon, Walmart and Reliance Industries. Walmart, which earlier looked to invest around $25 mn in Tata Group, as per the reports of September 2020, for the development of the Tata Neu, probably might have surfaced to avoid such a situation.
Though there is not much valid information on whether the Tata Neu-Walmart has materialised, we will be continuing to hear from them and the other biggies in the ever-growing space of eCommerce for sure.
The Tata Neu app that was launched officially on April 7, 2022, will also be rewarding the users with 5% of the amount in the form of Neu coins, which will be rewarded to them on every single purchase. The value of 1 Neu coin will be equal to Re 1, which the users can redeem for shopping or any other services in the future, which will be powered by NeuPass, a loyalty membership programme that will allow the users to earn Neu coins on their purchases.
The Tata Neu website is tatadigital.com
Tata Neu – Features and Services
Tata Neu is packed with features that extend financial services, bill payment services, and eCommerce services, including grocery, fashion, beauty, electronics, and more to its users. Plus, you can also book hotels and tickets for movies.
The super app presently opens to a screen that sums up all the services that Tata Neu presently has for its customers, with the help of which, they can:
Shop, eat, travel & more
Earn rewards
Simplify payments
Tata Neu is really a one-stop-shop for the users, as Tata rightly remarks, which would help the users:
Deck their wardrobe with Tata CLiQ and Westside
Grab the latest gadgets from Croma
Get groceries from Bigbasket
Book a flight on Air Asia
Checkup their health and fitness with 1mg
Book a luxurious stay at an IHCL hotel
Order a 5-star meal on Qmin
Tata Neu App Services
Tata Neu has formulated NeuPass, which is a loyalty membership programme that helps the users earn Neu coins by shopping on the platform.
Tata Neu – Logo
Tata Neu Superapp Logo
Tata Neu – Funding
Tata Neu, which is powered by Tata Digital, has received funding of Rs 5882 crore, from Tata Sons, after it sold 2.48 cr shares to TCS, at Rs 4500 per share. This helped it receive Rs 11163 cr in liquidity. With this latest funding that came in on April 2022, the total funding that Tata Digital received from Tata Sons has become Rs 11872 cr between 2021 and 2022. The earlier reports mentioned an interim investment of up to Rs 3795.87 cr ($500 mn) for the final launch of Tata Neu and to help the super app absorb the initial cash burn issues. However, the actual investment it made, happened to be 35.46% higher than the figures reported earlier.
Tata Neu – Growth
Launched in the first week of April, Tata Neu had seen more than 2.2 million downloads already on May 12, 2022. However, Tata Neu was rated 3.9 on Google Play Store and 3.3 on Apple App Store then. Tata Neu has reportedly clocked 7 mn downloads within 7 weeks of its launch, as per the senior Tata executives in an internal magazine, as per reports dated July 13, 2022.
The NeuPass that Tata Neu is reinforced with, is helping users to earn Neu coins and is really benefitting the Tata app. This is why Tata will be looking to scale the NeuPass members to 100-150 mn in the next 2-3 years, mentioned the CEO of Tata Digital, Pratik Pal. Pal also told that Tata Neu will be having non-Tata brands too on the platform, however, they should only be from the domains that Tata has little or no presence. “Space like mobility”, as identified by Pal, fits the deal, where Tata is looking to bring in outside players.
Pratik Pal declared the main pillars on which Tata Neu stands are:
Travel and hospitality
Entertainment
Finance
Pal has mentioned that the Tata Neu app would be onboarding all of the 3 Tata Group airlines companies, which are Air India, Vistara, Air Asia India, and also the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) onto the same. On the other hand, Tata PayPal will be gearing up to fill the space in the entertainment segment. However, the finance segment is still a growing headache for the company, and this would take more than a year to be filled up, according to Pratik Pal.
The Tata Cliq app has reportedly exited the consumer electronic space and is set to be merged with the all-new Tata Neu app. This move of Tata Group will help boost the traction of their new app. Tata Cliq, the consumer electronics category of which formed 50-55% of its business has been integrated with Croma, mentioned some of the sources, as per reports dated July 8, 2022.
Tata Neu – Challenges
In less than a day of its launch, Tata Neu has already started seeing its bit of challenges. The first of such is an alleged breach of privacy. Here are some of the challenges that Tata Neu has seen to date:
Tata Neu Employee Exits
Within just months after its launch, Tata Neu CTO Sauvik Banerjjee left the company. Banerjjee, who quit the company in the middle of July 2022, has earlier stated that he is a UK national and had planned earlier to move back to a global role. This had been decided before the launch so that he can move on post the Tata Neu launch. Though this is enough to spread a wave of concern, the company spokesperson mentioned that the Tata Neu team is “well placed to address any issues.”
Privacy Breach
A marketing professional from the Eastern Indian side of Kolkata, Ranendra Ojha, had installed the Tata Neu app only to find that the Tata super app already had his 3 addresses with them. After a brief spell of research, Ojha discovered that Tata Neu must have pulled up the details from BigBasket, another Tata-owned app for groceries. This way, he claimed that Tata must have shared all his information across the brand.
Another person based in Bangalore, also reported such instances when he found multiple addresses, which included the address of his old home, where they live no longer.
Failure in Meeting Sales Targets
Tata Neu had failed to achieve its initial target of $200 mn in gross sales in the first month of its operation. It might have clocked $120-150 mn in gross sales during the month of April when it launched in 2022.
Future Plans For Tata Neu
Tata Sons Ltd has already invested $2 billion on October 25, 2021. As per October 2021 reports, it has planned to raise $5 billion by selling the stakes for the digital venture to external investors and is still in talks with CPPIB, Softbank, Temasek Holdings, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for the same. The ambitious target of Tata Neu is to clock in $2-2.5 bn in sales in the first year of the Tata Neu operations
The Tata Neu platform will reportedly add outside players in segments where Tata has a less significant presence. Tata Digital CEO, Pratik Pal also mentioned that the hospitality and travel segment would eventually emerge as the next biggies.
Tata Digital has given a valuation estimate of nearly $18 bn for the digital identity. In the wake of a super app, many elusive deals and lucrative offers are bound to follow. When that comes about a curiosity among individuals will be piqued. It will revolve around the features of the Tata Neu app, all the services it provides, what deals and offers are available, and methods to go about using the app to make the most of all its bells and whistles. Tata Neu Referral code will be one among them where you will get a reward for referring the Tata Neu app to a family or friend. They will also receive rewards when using your referral to download and sign in to the app. Tata Neu is also set to offer loyalty programmes across the different brands available on the app. This will allow customers to earn points that can be used to further shop on the app. To know more about the above-mentioned information details, visit CouponsWala, where you will find blogs explaining the same along with coupons and deals.
With the presence of the super app from Tata, the way we do everything, from payments to shopping will change. One app that can provide so many different features will make our work convenient, and of course, not to forget, will save our phone storage!
In a world, that is almost completely digital now, super apps are definitely the future. The super app development and the launch of a super app like Tata Neu in the market will bring a revolutionary change in the technology industry in India. Just a matter of time, and we might see the unfolding of a new era in front of our eyes.
FAQs
What is the Tata Neu app?
Tata Group came up with the concept of super apps, where the users can get all the services provided by Tata under one app. This is known as the Tata Neu, which was launched on April 7, 2022, with the help of which one can get the services of a variety of Tata apps under a single umbrella.
How much is Tata planning to invest in Tata Neu?
Tata Sons are looking to invest over $2 billion in Tata Neu.
What is the Tata new app, Tata Neu, launch date and time?
The Tata new app, Tata Neu has been launched on April 7, 2022, during the match time of the match that was played that day between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) from 7:30 pm.
How many super apps will India see in the coming days?
There are numerous super apps in the making for the citizens of India. Tata Neu, Jio super app, Paytm super app, SBI super app, Flipkart super app, Google super app, Amazon super app, Whatsapp super app, and Zee5 super app, are some of the upcoming Indian super apps that will soon redefine digital India!
How are the Tata Neu app downloads done?
The Tata Neu app downloads are done simply via going Google Play Store or from Apple Store.
There is hardly anyone in India, who doesn’t know Ratan Tata. Ratan Tata is a well-known and one of the most respected and influential businessmen in the country. He was the former chairman of Tata Sons. He is known for his simple lifestyle and has contributed to the growth of TaTa Group immensely.
From the moment Ratan Tata resigned as the chairman of Tata groups on his 75th birthday, he has been looking out for interesting start-ups to invest in. Ratan Tata has always been a philanthropist and has provided innumerable contributions to various charities throughout his lifetime.
With his new look into the developing startup culture in India, various small start-ups have enquired about how to seek Ratan Tata for investment opportunities. Hundreds of small companies with innovative ideas seek the assistance of the Tata trust for a chance to develop their idea into full-fledged companies. In this article, we will talk about how to raise funds from Ratan Tata. So, let’s take a look at them.
Why Do Startups Look for the Support of Ratan Tata?
The basic reason for any startup to look for big investors is to source funds for their day-to-day activities and also to offer scalability for their products or services. But with the former chairman of Tata groups backing a company for investment, there is something more than just money that the company gets.
The trust and confidence of the people and other investors is the major gain the company gets when it is backed by Tata groups. This provides the company with a unique endorsement that sets it apart from its peers in the same field. It also gives enough traction and publicity for the business without any spending on the promotion of its products or services.
The last and most important part of it is the experience that one gets from the suggestions provided by the former chairman of Tata groups. As it rubs off, the company can look for guidance from the industry giant which gives them a huge leap in business.
There are a few ways that can be used to gain the attention of Ratan Tata regarding investment opportunities. Some of the classical ways are as follows:
1. The easiest way to connect with Ratan Tata would be to speak with someone from Tata Trust that is in charge of dealing with requests for investments. This way can take a long time to get a reply and the process is tedious.
2. The next way would be to use a formally edited e-mail stating the purpose of the mail. It is also necessary to ensure that the idea or request can be clearly understood so that it can be forwarded to Ratan Tata himself if it is worth his time. Some of the e-mail addresses that can be corresponded to are srtt- @tatatrusts.org, rntata@tata.com, rnt@tata.com, or talktous@tatatrusts.org.
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3. Alternatively, contacting Venkatramanan from Tata Trust would give a chance to meet Ratan Tata for presenting the idea. This idea is better and also more professional as all proposals are directed to him before shortlisting the ideas that are worth mentioning to Ratan Tata.
4. The best way to get in touch with the former Tata group chairman would be to write a letter explaining the idea and reasons for seeking investment. Talking about the risks and the opportunities that the idea provides will provide an edge over the thousands of ideas that are directed at him for investment. Since Ratan Tata is a simplistic, down-to-earth person, writing a letter also appeals to the approach. He is one of the popular Angel investors for a reason.
Industries That Have Received Investment From Tata Trusts
Few Companies funded by Ratan Tata
Tata groups have never been confined to one sector or industry under the guidance of Ratan Tata as chairman of the group. The same is followed by the Indian industry giant when he invests in startups and companies. The investment portfolio is never limited to just the tech industry. He looks into ideas that improve the standard of life or provide services that lead to new solutions for existing problems.
Let us take a look at the different companies in each industry that have received backing from the former chairman of Tata groups.
E-commerce
The e-commerce industry is the fastest growing technology-based industry since 2005. The business ideas that received backing from Mr Tata in the e-commerce sector are Snapdeal, Urban Ladder, CarDekho, Paytm, Bluestone, Firstcry, and Zivame. All of these companies were backed by Tata trusts between 2014 and 2016.
Digital Payments
Payment gateways are an important part of any online business nowadays. So, innovative ideas in this field were also backed by Tata groups since 2015. The US-based digital payment transfer company Abra and the Indian cashback and coupon site Cashkaro were the 2 companies supported by Tata in this sector.
On-Demand services
The use of On-demand services has become extensive and is growing more each day due to the busy work schedules of people. Ratan Tata has not left a stone unturned even in this sector. Popular companies like Ola and UrbanClap were once start-ups that were backed by Ratan Tata. Holachef is also a start-up that was supported by Tata Trust way back in 2015 when food-tech startups were emerging in the Indian Market.
Electricals
The Coimbatore-based company Ampere received funding from Tata Trusts in 2015. The company manufactures e-cycles, e-scooters, and special purpose waste management vehicles for the government. Various companies in other sectors and industries like Mobile Tech, Media, Healthcare, etc. also received funding and investment opportunities from the Tata Group.
Conclusion
The most important factor that is needed for the survival of a startup is funds. One can look for investors to invest in their business. Ratan Tata with enthusiasm invested in startups and small businesses that look promising. Through Ratan Tata, you not only get funds for your startups but also it brings a good reputation and somewhat creates a hood image of your company.
FAQs
Who is Ratan Tata?
Ratan Tata is an Indian Businessman and was the former chairman of Tata Sons.
Does Ratan Tata invest on Startups?
Ratan has invested in over 3o startups till now and is known for his generosity.
India has given rise to many billionaires who now hold a major number of positions on the list of the world’s wealthiest people. India, behind the United States and China, has the third-highest number of billionaires in the world, according to Forbes magazine.
India has surpassed Germany (136 billionaires) to take third place in the list of countries with the most billionaires in 2021, according to Forbes. Well, there is one such infamous wealthy family in India, who isn’t much talked about, but plays a significant role in the Indian business sector. They are the Wadia Group.
Mr Nusli Wadia, the chairman of Wadia Group and principal owner of Bombay Dyeing, a large Indian textile company, is regarded as one of the most astute business people in the industry. If you want to know more about this great businessman read this article.
Bombay Dyeing, a well-known Indian textile company, is led by Mr Nusli Wadia, who is also the majority stakeholder. The Indian Parsi businessman is the son of Neville and Dina Wadia and the grandson of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Wadia Group, which has significant real estate holdings across Mumbai, is valued at $4.1 billion and possesses one of the city’s largest land banks.
Wadia, although being connected to Jinnah, had a complicated past. He was born a Christian but subsequently converted to Zoroastrianism to dwell among Mumbai’s industrially prosperous Parsi community. He has completed his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida in the United States. Nusli was sent to a public school in England (Rugby) for his schooling, where he was a bit of a failure by all accounts.
Nusli Wadia’s Sons
Nusli’s sons are Ness and Jehangir Wadia. Ness Wadia oversees the IPL team Kings XI Punjab.
Ness Wadia
Jeh Wadia founded GoAir (now GoFirst) in 2005, at a time when the market was dominated by Air India, Air Asia, SpiceJet, Kingfisher, and other major airlines.
Jehangir Wadia
Nonetheless, GoAir’s joint management team of Nusli and Jeh Wadia was able to establish a brand for the airline through low rates, effective operations, and smart development.
How Nusli Wadia Kept Bombay Dyeing Afloat?
When Neville Wadia tried to sell Bombay Dyeing to the Goenkas from Kolkata in 1971, Nusli stood in his way. To derail the purchase, he persuaded employees to acquire stock in the firm and keep it afloat. The textile behemoth was kept as a result of this action, and Nusli Wadia was able to demonstrate his commercial acumen by increasing the worth of the company. As a result, he became Chairman of Bombay Dyeing, succeeding his father.
Mr Wadia has been Chairman of the Bombay Dyeing since 1977. He has been Chairman of the Board of Bombay Burmah Trading Corp. Ltd. since July 27, 1982, and a Director since October 28, 1980.
He was a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade and Industry in 1998, 1999, and 2000. He was the Convener of the Special Group Task Force on Food and Agro Industries Management Policy in September 1998. He was a member of the Special Subject Group on Disinvestment and the Special Subject Group on Reviewing Regulations and Procedures to Unbind Indian Industry.
The Wadias are one of India’s most prominent business dynasties. They have always prided themselves on doing business honestly, never paying bribes, and never dealing in black money.
In the late 1970s, Bombay Dyeing was still India’s largest and best textile company. That wasn’t the one, though, that everyone was talking about. The ‘Polyester War,’ as the battle between Wadia and Ambani was dubbed, became part of corporate lore. It was a fight that included not only the two of them but also several politicians, including then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Finance Minister V P Singh, as well as two news organizations, the Indian Express and the Observer.
For two years, Wadia was held in the courts. His passport was taken, and a deportation order was issued. Wadia was found not guilty after 42 court hearings and 2,500 pages of interrogation.
For Mr Wadia, the 1990s were a pivotal decade. He was no longer a major source of concern for the Ambanis; they had simply outgrown him. Wadia needed to show that he knew how to operate a business.
Nusli Wadia’s Long Awaited Dream of Taking Over Britannia
Nusli had a long desire to engage in the biscuit sector and had agreed to take over Britannia in India with Huntley and Palmer. While Nusli met with Nabisco officials through his friend (and cashew firm partner), Rajan Pillai, and looked to have secured an agreement in which he would still be allowed to purchase Britannia, the Americans eventually changed their minds. Rajan Pillai was named chairman, and Britannia was maintained.
Pillai teamed up with Danone, a French business, but the two swiftly fell out, with Danone accusing Pillai of being dishonest. Nusli came in as Danone’s new Indian partner to fill the vacancy.
After a protracted judicial and public battle, Pillai was removed, and Wadia finally got his heart’s desire: The Control of Britannia. Mr Wadia has been named Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Britannia Industries Limited. He joined Britannia Industries Limited’s board of directors on September 5, 1993, and has been Chairman since.
How Nusli Wadia and Ratan Tata went from friends to foes
Ratan Tata with Nusli Wadia
Ratan Tata and Nusli Wadia have a personal connection that goes beyond business. Nusli served as a mentor for Ratan Tata in addition to being childhood pals. As a result, people were taken aback when they learned that Nusli had brought a defamation suit against the Tata Group and Ratan Tata.
All of this began when Wadia chose Mistry over Tata for the position of Tata Group chairman. As a result, he was sacked as a Tata Motors independent director.
He subsequently dropped the case, but only after receiving notification from India’s Supreme Court. He also gave up the Rs. 3000 crore he would have gotten if he had won by settling.
The epitome of a workaholic Mr Wadia is a firm believer in living a simple life. He is believed to do a lot of his cooking, and despite spending a lot of time in London, he enjoys vacationing in Goa. Cricket is his main interest, and he rarely remarks, either literally or symbolically.
FAQ
What is the net worth of Nusli Wadia?
The net worth of Nusli Wadia is 370 crores USD.
What companies does Wadia Group own?
Wadia Group owns, Go First Britannia Industries, Bombay Dyeing, Bombay Realty, Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, National Peroxide, and Wadia Techno-Engineering.
What is the business of Ness Wadia?
Ness Wadia is the Managing Director of Bombay Burmah Trading Company Limited and Chairman of National Peroxide Limited.
The wealthiest human is the one who believes in giving and sharing. When you contribute to someone’s success and well-being, you can have inner peace and that’s what life is. And those at the top have learned this for a long time and believe in contributing to people and the community’s well-being. These high-profile people choose to donate their money to those communities and people who need their support. And such noble people are called ‘Philanthropists’.
A philanthropist is someone who works for the benefit of the community and donates as much as they can. They often provide food resources to the starving country people and contribute to the betterment of major social and financial issues.
The money these rich people earn comes from the public and that’s why it’s their major duty to hold the responsibility for the public’s well-being. And the philanthropist not only agrees with this but also works for their people and community.
They spent some part of their earnings in the development of areas that required their help and support. And to honour and acknowledge such Nobel people around, we have brought this article for the top philanthropists. Let’s get started!
Andrew Carnegie is known as history’s richest person. Although he is dead for almost a century still, when it comes to the biggest philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie tops the list of all time.
Andrew Carnegie donated around 90% of his total wealth. He made the largest deal in history through the U.S based burgeoning Steel Industry, which is around $298.3 billion according to the 2007 dollars value.
Andrew Carnegie was originally from Scotland and he donated almost everything he owned. He donated in every possible field, especially in the education sector (established schools and universities). Carnegie built around 300 libraries for public usage for free across the country.
Moreover, he also supported the civic institutions, established 700 Church organs and many more.
Bill Gates and Melinda Gates
Net Worth: $74 billion
Lifetime Donations: $28 billion
Bill Gates and Melinda Gates
The co-founder and chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates is known as the biggest entrepreneur of the tech era. Bill Gates has been honoured with the ‘World’s Richest Man’ many times.
He has been financing majorly in his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (the world’s leading philanthropist foundation) with the coalition of Warren Buffet. This foundation focuses on global issues such as education, healthcare, poverty and increasing IT access.
Warren Buffet
Net Worth: $58.7 billion
Lifetime Donations: $25 billion
Warren Buffet
Warren Buffet is known as the most generous and wealthiest man in the world. Also, he is the most charitable and decent among the list of philanthropists. Warren Buffet is quite famous for his economic as well as successful investment advice.
Warren Buffet has an alliance with Bill Gates and Melinda Gates, in which they work for the improvement of the current financial crisis. They promote the other billionaires to donate some amount of their income for philanthropic purposes. Warren Buffet contributes around $25 billion of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Azim Hashim Premji
Net Worth: $32.8 billion
Lifetime Donations: $21 billion
Azim Hashim Premji
The Indian Business Tycoon, Azim Premji is also one of the biggest philanthropists in India. He is the former chairman of Wipro Limited. And now, he is the non-executive member of the board and founder.
Many know this, Azim Hashim Premji is widely famous as the Czar of the Indian IT industry.
Azim Premji took Wipro to the next level of diversification and advancement. And his determination is what took Wipro among the world’s leaders in the industry of software. In fact, according to Asiaweek, in 2010, Azim Premji was counted among the top 20 most powerful men in the world.
In 2013, Premji donated half of his total wealth through the signing of the Giving Pledge. He began with a $2.2 billion donation to the Azim Premji Foundation which focused on the Indian Education system.
The youth’s inspiration, Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook. Zuckerberg is known as the youngest self-made billionaire in the world. He has signed the Giving Pledge and utter profanity that he would donate half of his lifetime wealth.
Mark Zuckerberg along with his wife Priscilla donated around $25 million in the struggle against Ebola. Also, they donated around $75 million to San Francisco General Hospital through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Mark Zuckerberg has widely donated in the education sector, around $120 million to improve the condition of education.
J.K. Rowling
Net Worth: $1 billion
Lifetime donation: $160 million
JK Rowling
J.K. Rowling is a well-known extremely successful author and generally, known as the author of the world-famous book series, Harry Potter. She is also counted among the world’s high-impact philanthropists.
She built a global charity foundation named Lumos (after a spell from her wizarding books). The foundation aimed to help children who have been dreadfully separated from their families and now live in orphanages.
Serena Williams is known as one of the biggest superstars on the tennis court. And she is as big a superstar as a philanthropist also. Serena Williams along with her sister Venus developed a Resource Centre in their hometown- Compton and named The Yetunde Price Resource Center (after their sister who was a gang violence victim).
Their resource centre provides aids for the community members of Compton and encourages healing and resiliency for the locals.
Conclusion
The philanthropists believe in making changes and developing those things which matter and have a huge impact on society. They work together with several underground operations to prevent some major dreadful crimes around the country.
With the growing economy, the number of philanthropists on the world scale is also increasing. There has been the establishment of many foundations and charitable organisations. And the philanthropists are the true inspiration and role models of today’s generation.
FAQ
What does a philanthropist person mean?
Philanthropist is a person who donates his wealth, skills or time for the betterment of the society.
Who is the number one philanthropist in the world?
Jamsetji Tata is one of the world’s biggest philanthropists, he has donated around 104 billion.
Is philanthropy the same as charity?
No, Philanthropy involves helping people over a long term while charity focused on providing immediate relief.
Paytm is the biggest E-commerce company in India which specializes in the digital transactions system. Paytm is trusted and used by millions of Indians for shopping, transferring cash, booking tickets, and paying day-to-day bills. How did Paytm get here? The journey was not an easy one!
Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Paytm.
Paytm was founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma with an initial investment of $2 million in 2010. It has its headquarters at Noida.
The idea of Paytm
Vijay Shekhar got the idea to build Paytm during his visit to China when he saw vegetable vendors using their cell phones to accept payments from some buyers. This prompted him to set up a Paytm wallet in 2013. Paytm is the most secure application. Paytm gives App secret word to your Paytm wallet and uses QR codes to complete transactions.
Facts about Paytm Owners and shares of Paytm
Paytm is an acronym for “Payment Through Mobile”
Paytm attracted a large crowd for the ease of online recharges, wallets, and shopping experiences. It also offered cashback and free movie tickets to its users.
One97 Communications is the parent company of Paytm
In 2005, Vijay Shekhar Sharma began One97 Communications that offered portable content like news, cricket scores, ringtones, jokes, and test results. One97 is the parent organization of Paytm, which was launched in 2010.
PayPal filed a case against Paytm in 2016
PayPal filed a case against Paytm in 2016 on the grounds of using similar blends of colors in its logo. Paypal claimed Paytm had stolen from its logo and created a logo that was “blatantly and strikingly similar” to its own logo. The two-toned blue color scheme was a resemblance to the Paypal logo. Paypal objected that Paytm wanted to gain an advantage over its opponent and ruin its reputation!
The default language selected for Paytm is english. However, Paytm is avaliable in 10 different Indian languages. Some of these include Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya, and Punjabi. Paytm has reached almost 88% of Indian villages and most of the users are based in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Paytm says that many Indians have still no access no internet even today and hence, they are taking a step towards “Digital India”
Paytm wallet application counts to 100 Million downloads
Paytm wallets applications has 100 Million downloads on Google play store. There are over 350 million Paytm users.
Jack Ma Purchased Stakes in Paytm
In 2015, Chinese money manager Jack Ma, proprietor of Alibaba Group, purchased a $500 million stake in Paytm. Jack Ma is assessed to hold 30 to 40 percent of Paytm. Alibaba holds a share of 25% of Paytm. Alibaba presently gives help to Paytm to further develop extortion detection and satisfaction systems also.
Paytm contributed to PM cares fund during COVID-19 pandemic
Paytm has great contribution during Covid 19 pandemic. It has contributed to PM CARES relief fund. Each Rs 10 received via a single user was donated to the PM cares fund via the Paytm app. In 10 days, Paytm had collected Rs 100 crore Via Paytm, 21000 oxygen cans were shipped to patients in need, and oxygen plants were donated to 13 of the worst-hit cities in India.
Paytm launched Paytm Mall in 2017 which permits customers to shop from 1.4 lakh enlisted sellers. It is a BTC model inspired by China’s TMall. Paytm Mall has set up 17 content communities across India and collaborated with in excess of 40 messengers. Paytm Mall raised $200 million from Alibaba Group and SAIF Partners in March 2018. Paytm Mall suffered a loss of around ₹1,800 crores and its market share dropped from 5.6% to 3%.
FAQs
When was Paytm founded?
Paytm was founded by Vijay Shekar Sharma in 2009.
Who is the owner of Paytm?
Paytm parent organisation One97 Communications owns the company.
Is Paytm owned by Tata?
No. Ratan Tata has invested in Paytm in March 2015. He picked up a stake in Paytm parent company, One97 Communications. He also plays a role of an advisor for the company.
Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Generic Aadhaar.
As per statistics, about 60% of Indians cannot afford to buy their daily medicines. The reason behind this inability is the high cost of medicines which are absolutely unnecessary in the Indian pharmaceutical market. About 85-90% of the medicines in the market are generic variants which ideally should be available at pocket-friendly prices. However, people end up paying enormous amounts for these drugs as the manufacturer has made it a wholesale business. The irony of the matter is that generic medicines are supposed to be dirt cheap.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Generic Aadhaar has embarked on a mission to make generic medicines available to all Indians at an affordable price. It has disrupted the conventional pharma industry and is determined to empower single-store owners and pass on the benefit to the end customers.
The venture provides high-quality generic medicines from pharmaceutical manufacturers at cheap prices and increases the accessibility to these medicines all over India. Generic Aadhaar follows a unique pharmacy-aggregator, profit-sharing business model to source generic drugs directly from the manufacturers. The items are then given to the retail pharmacies, thereby eliminating the 16-20 percent wholesaler margin along with other layers of margins such as C&F agents in the trade.
The most important differentiator in the case of Generic Aadhaar is the fact that the inventory-carrying cost is very low when compared to stores that stock branded drugs. Since the stores are minimally designed, the overall cost of maintaining the business for franchises is also low. In addition, Generic Aadhaar helps small pharmacies earn double the profits and allows them to stay relevant in the market through the affordable medicines it provides.
An Interview with Arjun Deshpande | Founder of Generic Aadhaar
Generic Aadhaar ensures that the franchise is taken by an FDA licensed retailer. The retailer should be a pharmacist; if not, he or she should appoint one before the franchisee is taken. The Generic Aadhaar team helps with branding and provides IT support and medicines to the outlet.
Started with a sole mission of making medicines available to every Indian, a 16-year-old set his eyes on the pharma industry in 2018. At this novel age, Mr. Arjun Deshpande, one of India’s youngest and most dynamic entrepreneurs founded this innovative venture, Generic Aadhaar.
Generic Aadhaar – How It All Started?
Arjun’s mother work in the pharma space. When he was around 14 years old, he had visited various pharmaceuticals companies and plants along with his mother and that’s when he understood that generic medicines are sold in the market at the same price as the branded ones. He noticed that the various countries he visited, import generic medicines from India and make them available to the masses at affordable rates. He wondered, “Why is this not the case in India when we are the manufacturing hub for pharmaceuticals?”
It stroked him and gave rise to the vision of creating a brand identity through ‘Generic Aadhaar’ outlets. He found that the extra cost for generic medicines could be reduced. What does he do then? He tied up with WHO and GMP-certified pharmaceuticals and directly started providing his franchise’s pharmacist with the medicines that are produced in WHO GMP-certified pharmaceuticals companies. This helped to reduce the cost of medicines by nearly 80%. Arjun, inspired by Ratan Tata, wanted to serve the nation through his generic medicines initiative.
Generic Aadhaar, the name says it all; it will give aadhaar to the customers on their medical bills on every purchase of Generic medicines. As a pharmaceutical company, Generic Aadhaar went for a white and green color combination. This combination is symbolic of the healthcare segment.
Generic Aadhaar Logo
The tagline of Generic Aadhaar is “Dawaiyan Kifaiti Daarome Lejayiye Aapne Gharome” which means that their companyrevolves around access to affordable medicines.
Generic Aadhaar – Vision and Mission
Vision: Generic Aadhaar is a pharmaceutical company with an aim to bring all small medical stores under one roof and help them to earn huge profit margins. It will support you to compete with big retail medical outlets giants and online pharmacies and help the citizens to avail good discounts on all medicines through generic aadhaar stores.
Generic Aadhaar holds a long-term vision of assisting the underprivileged sections for the betterment of India.
Mission: To serve customers by giving affordable quality healthcare medicines. To pull out all the stops to ensure no Indian is barred from the availability of generic medicines. The company is determined to empower single-store owners and pass on the benefit to the end customer.
India is a massive hub for medicinal drug intake and consumption. To cater to the underprivileged people who cannot afford high branded medicines, the Mumbai- based Generic Aadhaar is planning to expand its pan-India reach by opening more than 800 plus retail outlets across India. The company is currently operating 45 outlets in cities like Mumbai and Pune.
The pharmaceutical entity wants to touch every corner of India in the next five to seven years. It is getting calls from all parts of India for extending its franchise outlets. Generic Aadhaar is also working on an initiative called “Entrepreneurs Under One Umbrella.” Under the Generic Aadhaar umbrella, they provide quality medicines from reputed pharma companies by offering up to 80% lesser prices. It provides the biggest portfolio of Generic medicines from government-approved quality manufacturing facilities.
Generic Aadhaar provides affordable generic medicines (particularly for the underprivileged class of India) through its outlets that are present across the nation. The medicines sold by the company cover all types of ailments like minor diseases or life-threatening illnesses. The USP of the company is the pharmacy-aggregator business model wherein it sources generic drugs directly from the manufacturer and hands them over to the drug retailer who delivers medicines to the masses at cheap rates.
Generic Aadhar supports single-retail drug stores all over India. It provides medication directly from the WHO-GMP pharmaceuticals and has tied up with drug retailers from Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Odisha in a profit-sharing model.
Generic Aadhaar – Business and Revenue Model
Generic Aadhaar follows a B2B2C model. It is appointing franchisees across India by aggregating single medical stores that are in bad shape due to the intense competition in the pharmaceutical segment. The company is passing on various benefits to the franchise owners.
Generic Aadhaar has introduced a business model that can support multi-disciplinary medications. The stores are equipped to sell all types of allopathy medicines. The company is actually complementing the Indian government’s effort of making affordable medicines available to everyone.
Generic Aadhaar | General Chemist
Generic Aadhaar’s franchising model helps in generating employment for the youth in India and also promotes entrepreneurship. While taking stock of the customer’s advantage, Generic Aadhaar ensures that small chemists and retailers earn the benefits of the business too. The medicines are given to the pharmacies at their manufacturing cost which is then sold to customers, thereby reducing the retail price up to 80 percent. The organization also collaborates with the manufacturers by increasing their supply as demand increases, thus manufacturing facilities, in turn, double their profits. Generic Aadhaar protects the interests of customers, retailers, and manufacturers alike.
Generic Aadhaar started this venture for helping and benefiting the people of India. Earlier there were very few targeted people but now, by word of mouth they are able to expand Generic Aadhaar outlets across India. Due to affordable medicines, they are growing and getting demands for their brand “Generic Aadhaar” as an identity in India.
They are not only aiming in their business growth but also, to be the best in providing Generic Medicines to every Indian through their venture. Most of the senior citizens who purchase generic medicines have cut their medical bills up to 50% with the same effect of Branded Medicines.
The biggest challenge for Arjun Deshpande, the founder of Generic Aadhaar, was to make people aware of generic medicines and build their trust in such medicines. Buyers were more inclined towards branded medicines that were quite expensive when compared to their generic counterparts.
Arjun Deshpande, the brain behind Generic Aadhaar, has several recognitions bestowed upon him.
At Asia’s Biggest Entrepreneurship Awards 2020, Arjun Deshpande was awarded “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” by Mrs. Madhuri Dixit Nene.
Young Achievers Award 2020 by Indian Achievers Forum India (IAFI).
Dynamic Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.
Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association felicitated him in the presence of the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2019.
Being a young entrepreneur doesn’t mean he lacks experience; Arjun has always demonstrated his presence and abilities by sharing his journey infamous talk shows as a key-note speaker.
Generic Vs. Branded Medicine | Arjun Deshpande | TEDxDSCE
Generic Aadhaar is rapidly expanding the presence of its franchise outlets in India. The company wants to reach every corner and every Indian in the future coming years. Today they have extended to 130+cities across India, but later they are planning to reach every corner it may be not only tier-1 cities but also tier-3 cities and rural towns of India, where there is more requirement. They want to be the only brand that never fails to provide Medicines of Different segments in India.
Generic Aadhaar – FAQs
What are Generic Medicines?
A generic drug is a non-branded medicine that is cheaper as compared to the original branded drug. It has the same active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) but it costs 30-80% less compared to the original ones. It is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire.
Who is Arjun Deshpande?
Arjun Deshpande, a teenager and a founder of “Generic Aadhaar – the fastest growing pharma company”, managed to convince Ratan Tata to invest in his startup. He is the youngest entrepreneur of India in the pharmaceutical sector.
Why you should buy from Generic Aadhaar outlets?
The team at Generic Aadhaar works aggressively towards making the largest portfolio of quality generic and branded medicines available at its outlets, at prices up to 80% lower than their branded counterparts in Generic Medicines.
Why are Generic medicines cheap?
Generic medicines are cheaper because it doesn’t have to face the brand name and manufacturing cost. The drugmaker doesn’t have to undergo the invention or marketing cost as the chemical formula.
Are the medicines prescribed by doctors are Generic medicines?
In India, 80-85% of prescribed medicines are Generics. However, due to immense marketing by the pharma companies, the price benefit does not reach the patients and even the generic medicines are costing much higher.
Who introduced generic medicines in India?
The Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in 2008, under which it would provide good-quality generic drugs at affordable prices. So far, it has opened 7,290 distribution centers around the country; there should be more.
Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved byMailit.
Logistics tech startups are bound to attract investor interest again this year, due to the spike in Covid-19 across the country. Ecom Express, a logistics startup based in Delhi, raised $20 million, for example. Second, before its IPO, Unicorn Delhivery raised $3 billion in funding.
The second wave is shifting the focus of the table to technology and digital logistics in order to improve business operations. Similarly, on 21st April 2021, Ratan Tata has recently made an undisclosed amount of investment in Mailit, a Mumbai-based dispatch aggregator.
Mailit is a pioneering dispatch aggregator company headquartered in Mumbai that provides customized parcel delivery and mailroom management services. The company also has a mailroom management service, which includes bulk document and package dispatching both domestically and globally.
As of 21st April 2021, Mr. Ratan Tata, a renowned industrialist, made an investment in Mailit, a technology-driven mailroom management and logistics firm.
Although the details regarding the finances of this recent investment by Ratan Tata hasn’t been disclosed yet, Mailit happens to state that in the next five years it plans to open 500 mailrooms across India as well as fully automated warehouse and distribution centres.
Leading corporates and many blue chip companies in the Tata Group rely on Mailit for courier, parcel, mail room management digital solutions, and postal services.
Mahesh Shirodkar, founder of the company, said the investment by Ratan Tata “opens up a wider growth prospect” for the company.
“With the government reiterating its commitment to strengthening the infrastructure sector, Tata believes the Mailit IL&MS platform will bring in cost optimization, build operational efficiencies in the supply chain and create employment opportunities across India,” the company states.
This new investment by Ratan Tata came at a time when the company was looking for new ways to expand its primary business and move towards the more digitised and technical services. As a result, it made the decision to invest in Mailit for technological logistics and smooth movement.
Mailit – About and How it Works?
Mailit, a Mumbai-based dispatch aggregator, is a subsidiary of Mahesh Shirodkar’s company Shirodkar Cargo Services that provides customized parcel delivery and mailroom management services.
Mahesh Shirodkar, initiated courier services in 1987, and on March 16, 2006 his company became a private limited known as Shirodkar Cargo Services Pvt Ltd which is a business that engages in customized courier, delivery, and mailing room services. The business provides customized delivery of a variety of packages. It also involves both domestic and foreign bulk dispatch of documents and parcels.
TATA Motors, TATA Capital, TATA Hitachi, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals are among the company’s top tier customers.
Mailit – Founder and History
Mailit Founder, Mahesh Shirodkar, exemplifies entrepreneurial zeal by taking a forward-thinking approach to any business venture he undertakes. He is a firm decision-maker with a hands-on leadership style, as are all innovative entrepreneurs.
A thousand-mile journey is said to begin with a single, progressive step. Mr. Shirodkar took the crucial step in 1987 when he established Mailit, a division of Shirodkar Cargo Services Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai. In his search for excellence, he began modestly in the Mailroom services industry, as did many of his self-made contemporaries.
It wasn’t an easy ride for him. But, guided by his unwavering desire to succeed, he embarked on a fruitful entrepreneurial journey in the 1980s, beginning with a daily wage of just INR 30 at Tata Motors. His dedication to excellence propelled him up the corporate ladder, and he soon found himself in charge of the Tata Group’s intra-office mail delivery operations.
Mailit – Operational Flow Process
First Mail Operation:
Pickup service is available at all Pin Codes that are serviceable.
First-mile operations at major metros need a dedicated team and fleet.
Processing and Connection:
Shipments are processed and linked at metros by processing units.
Streamlined processing to ensure that communications are made quickly and without any delays.
A large network of several co-loaders ensures timely connections by air, rail, and road.
Delivery:
Same day delivery attempt at every location
Constant follow-up to all locations is performed centrally.
Maintain an average delivery strike rate of >85% at all locations.
Average delivery efficiency is >94%, with overall returns of 6%.
Mailit – Name, Logo and Tagline
Mailit’ s logo consists of two ‘location-icons’ which clearly depicts its services.
Mailit Logo
Mailit – Vision and Mission
Mailit’ s vision statement says, “Unmatched Convenience at Best Price to deliver the full-service innovative dispatch management system to help you save on cost and time in addition to providing unmatched convenience.”
Mailit’ s mission statement says, “To deliver Superior Service Experience through our bespoke Mailroom Management services at an affordable price in a quick turnaround time.”
The Mailit business strategy is to create India’s first digitally integrated logistics and mailroom solutions (IL&MS) platform, which will provide much-needed convergence, performance, and exposure to a fragmented market.
Mailit’ s IL&MS is a digital interface that integrates Mailroom Management, Logistics, and Distribution. Mailit aims to transform the logistics landscape by consolidating the entire supply chain, enabling seamless end-to-end delivery with real-time visibility, and thereby lowering overall logistics and transportation costs.
The business provides customized delivery of a variety of packages. It also involves both domestic and foreign bulk dispatch of documents and parcels. In Print and Post facilities, the company collects variable data from customers, which is then processed using cutting-edge technology to print, stamp, and mail documents on their behalf.
Mailit – Partners
Mailit’ s partners include Bluedart, Gati, First Flight, DTDC, FedEx, htc, Track On, and The Professional Couriers.
Mailit – Competitors
Mailit’ s competitive set include these competitors:
In the next five years, Mailit expects to open 500 mailrooms across India, as well as fully automated warehouses and distribution centres. With the government reiterating its commitment to strengthening the infrastructure sector, Mr. Ratan Tata believes the Mailit IL&MS platform will bring in cost optimization, build operational efficiencies in the supply chain and create employment opportunities across India.
Mahesh Shirodkar, Founder & CMD of Mailit, commented on Mr. Tata’s investment, saying, ““We are truly thankful to Shri Ratan Tata for showing faith in us and investing in Mailit. It opens up a wider growth prospect for us and we intend to scale up the operations across geographies. With our state-of-the-art operations and trained professionals backed by the use of the most innovative technologies available today, Mailit expects an upward trajectory from here on.”
Mailit – FAQs
What does Mailit do?
Mailit is a pioneering dispatch aggregator company headquartered in Mumbai that provides customized parcel delivery and mailroom management services.
Who founded Mailit?
Mahesh Shirodkar founded Mailit.
Which company owns Mailit?
Mailit is subsidiary of Shirodkar Cargo Services Pvt Ltd.
What companies do Mailit compete with?
Mailit’ s competitive set include these competitors: Fareye, Shadowfax, Loginext, Locus, ElasticRun, 4tigo, and Leap India.
“City of Dreams”, as many people express Mumbai, is a place that helps bring dreams to reality. Angel Investors are one of the means for you, to help achieve your dreams. Thereby, find the list of Angel Investors in Mumbai and get an insight on their specific Market Interests, Contact details and Major Investments. It is also essential for you to clear certain Myths about Angel Investors. We are here to help you out on all of it.
Mumbai isn’t just the well-off city, but the Economic Hub of India, that has various Industrialists, CEOs, Entrepreneurs, Well-known companies, Directors, Producers, Artists, and what not! The place ‘Mumbai‘ has its own culture and architecture that makes it the spot of tourist attraction. Well, a place that is full of life and energetic minds, requires a guide and a financial supporter to enthusiastic people, for building up the initial base of their dreams. Thus, here comes the Role of Angel Investors who act as wizards for breeding minds to help them act upon their dreams.
Before, moving ahead to get insights on Angel Investors, Lets’ understand the Pre-built Myths about Angel Investors and the Reality Strike.
Myths vs Reality of Angel Investors
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Arihant is the MD at Ideaspring Capital (an early-stage VC) and Hive Technologies (platform for launching startups in big data space). He acts as the MD at Patni Financial Advisor and as a Director of Nirvana Venture Advisors. An Entrepreneur, Financial Advisor, and Venture Capitalist, Arihant completed his B.Sc in Chemical Engineering from the reputable University of Pennsylvania and MBA from Babson College, with concentration in Entrepreneurship. He also did a Masters in Statistics from Columbia University.
Anupam Mittal is the Founder & CEO of People Group, which has created ventures like Shaadi.com, Mauj Mobile, and People pictures. He is one of the prominent angel investors in Mumbai with over 20 investments. He completed his studies in Commerce field from the esteemed Boston College. Before People Group, he served as the Product Manager at MicroStrategy in Washington.
Ratan Tata, one of the most influential business tycoons of India, is an investor & philanthropist. He is the recipient of India’s esteemed awards Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan for his immense contribution to the country. He was associated with advisory boards for various companies like Mitsubishi, Temasek, JP Morgan Chase, and Rolls Royce. He serves as the former Chairman of the Tata Group. He completed his Bachelor of Arts from the esteemed St. Xaviers College, Mumbai.
Markets Interested
Digital Media, Education, Healthcare, Ecommerce, Technology
Anirudh, the MD at Artha India Ventures (an early-stage investment firm) is an energetic investor in startups and also a prominent member of the Indian Angel Network. He has a vast understanding and experience of the Indian Startup Ecosystem. He is always on a hunt to find new ideas and accept new challenges. Before Artha Ventures, he acted as the Investor director at FindUrClass and Klip.in. he obtained his Bachelor Degree in Economics & Business Administration from the esteemed Austin college
Zishaan is a successful entrepreneur and a prominent angel investor. He is the Founder and CEO of Toppr, an online education platform. Before getting associated with Toppr, he also co-founded a Phone commerce marketplace Chaupaati Bazaar, which was later acquired by the Future Group. He has also worked with Opera Solutions on various strategies and consulting projects. Being a graduate from IIT Delhi, in 2015, he was awarded the Young Alumni Achiever Award.
Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra group, is a reputable businessman and also an active investor in emerging startups. He founded Project Nanhi Kali, an NGO that provides financial and academic support to underprivileged girls across India. He was included in the Fortune Magazine’s List of ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’. He did his MBA from the reputable, Harvard Business School.
Anand Mahindra’s Investments
Thinkerbell Labs, Local circles, among many others.
Kunal, the Co-founder of FreeCharge (Online mobile recharge platform), is a successful entrepreneur, mentor, and among the top angel investors in Mumbai. He acts as an active advisor at AngelList. He is also the Founder of CRED, Advisor to the board at Times group, and had been an advisor at Sequoia Capital.
Sandeep Tandon, the Co-founder of FreeCharge (Online mobile recharge platform), is an active angel investor in Mumbai. He has invested in and mentored various early-stage startups. Being the Member Board of Directors at CRED, partner at Whiteboard Capital, Non-executive chairman of Aavas Financiers, and the Member of Board of Advisors of Iron Pillar, Sandeep got exposure to various domains. He completed his studies in Engineering from the esteemed University of Southern California.
Markets Interested
Digital Media, Ecommerce, B2B, Online Marketplaces, Matrimonial, Healthcare
Sandeep Tandon’s Investments
Pocket Aces, Bharat Bazaar, ShaadiSaga, Flyrobe, Spinny among many.
Sanjay, the Director of CORE (Centre of Recognition and Excellence), is a prominent angel investor of Mumbai. He was the recipient of the “Angel Investor of the Year” award by LetsVenture in 2017. He is an active member of Indian Angel Network, Mumbai Angels, B2B 1K Ventures & CIO Angel Network, Venture Nursery. He has angel invested in more than 100 startups in diverse sectors. He did his Executive education in Venture Capital from the esteemed The Wharton School.
Ronnie, the Co-founder & Chairman of upGrad and also the Founder of Unilazer Ventures, is an entrepreneur and an experienced angel investor. He is also famous for the creation of UTV, leading Mass media aggregate. He did his Bachelor’s degree from the Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics.
Jitendra, the Founder of Citrus Pay, Jupiter, Lazy pay & MD of PayU India, is a well-experienced angel investor. He has got expertise in the field of Banking & Financial Services industry. Before Citrus, he was associated with ICICi Bank and as the Chief Manager of Global Investment Banking Group.
Vishal, the Founder & CEO of GOQii (platform from health and wellness solution), Vishal Gondal, is an entrepreneur cum angel investor. He has acted as a major contributory in modifying the journey of many startups. Believing in leading and motivating startups to get extraordinary results, Vishal expresses the importance of extra effort & commitment Before, he was associated with the Walt Disney Co. and India Games Ltd.
Haresh, Partner at True North (Private equity firm), is one of the active investors in the Indian startup ecosystem. He is an alumnus of the reputable IIT Bombay & IIM Calcutta. Earlier, he had been associated as a Group CEO at Viacom18 & Network18. He also acted as the General Manager of Times Group & the Amitabh Bachchan Corporation.
Ajeet Khurana, the Former CEO of Zebpay (Mobile wallet for cryptocurrencies), is an entrepreneur and angel investor. He is skilled in building teams, ensuring performance, scaling, digital strategy, planning, and negotiation. He was also associated as an Advisor at Kalaari Capital, a Consultant at ii5 Ventures ltd and as the CEO of IIT Bombay’s business incubator: SINE. He completed his MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.
Markets Interested
Cryptocurrency, E-stores, Fashion, Technology, Digital Media, Healthcare
Ajeet Khurana’s Investments
Medd, WittyFeed, Leaf Wearables, Stitchwood among others
Sanjay, an Operating Partner at GSF India (Venture capital firm & accelerator), is a wise mentor and an active angel investor. His portfolio is majorly composed of tech startups. He also acts as an Independent Director at Easy Home Finance Ltd. Earlier, he served as the President & CMO at Reliance Capital and also as the Marketing Head at Allianz Life Insurance. He excels at negotiations & alliances.
Anuj, the Co-Founder of Venture Catalysts (Start-up Incubator) & Samyakth Capital (Hybrid growth fund), is among the prominent angel investors in Mumbai. He has over 15 years of experience across various fields which includes real estate, financial services, manufacturing, and internet companies. By profession, he is a chartered accountant.
Markets Interested
Digital media, Cryptocurrency, Fintech, Ecommerce, Education, Real Estate
Anuj Golecha’s Investments
LenDenClub, Inc42, Koinex, Fynd, Supr Daily, Bharatpe among many.
Japan, the Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Sixth Sense Ventures, is a well-experienced angel investor. He has mentored and invested in various Indian startups and helped them in their journey of growth & development. He is also the Chartered Member of TiE Mumbai. Earlier, he served as the Director at IDFC Investment Advisors Ltd.
Anand, the CEO at Everest Flavours ltd., is an active member of the Indian angel network and Mumbai angels. He has got immense experience in International Trade.
He is also member of National Executive Committee of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Managing Committee of FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations). He has his footprints set on various social and charitable organisations.
Amit, the Co-Founder & Director of Raay Global and also the Chairman of Nirvana Venture Advisors, is a prominent angel investor in the Indian startup ecosystem. Additionally, he is also a promoter shareholder of Patni Computers and former Director of PCS Technology Ltd., Partner at The Hive-India & Ideaspring Capital. He holds a Bachelor in Commerce and an MBA from Babson College, Boston.
Vaibhav, he is a partner at Karnavat & Co and a prominent angel investor. In addition to that, he is a partner at Itreat Grocers LLP and also acted as CEO of Jewelex International Pvt Ltd. He did his Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Finance from the H R College of Commerce & Economics and is Chartered Accountant by qualification.
Dr. Apoorv, the Co-founder & President of Venture Catalysts, is one of the prominent angel investors in Mumbai. He also acts as the Board member at TiE Mumbai. Earlier, he served as the Vice President of Indian Angel Network and as the General Manager at Amity Innovation Incubator. He did his Ph.D. in Incubation from Amity University, Graduated in Engineering from HBTI, Kanpur, and Diploma in Mentor Studies of Berkley Institute of Management, University of California, USA.
Rajeev, the Founder of Magnetic Partners, is a well-experienced angel investor in the Indian start-up ecosystem. Earlier, he acted as the CEO & MD of JM Financial Services.
Pravin, He is the General Partner at Seedfund (Early-stage venture capital fund) and the owner of the Infinity Technology Venture Fund. In addition to that, he acts as the Board Member of TiE Mumbai and as an Advisor at Aavishkaar India Micro Venture Capital Fund.
The Founder & Director of Malpani Ventures, Dr. Aniruddha, is a doctor-turned angel investor. He also acts as the Director at Solidarity Investment Advisors and the Board member of Invention Labs.
Aakrit, the Co-founder & CEO of Haptik (Conversational AI Platform), is an entrepreneur and an active angel investor. He is also the co-founder of Flat.io, a real estate platform and the Director of Winmark Enterprises Earlier, he served as the director at Flurry Inc., Business Technology Analyst at Deloitte Consulting LLP and as a Financial analyst at Chicago Transit Authority.
Markets Interested
Education, Technology, AI, eCommerce, Healthcare
Aakrit Vaish’s Investments
Unacademy, ION Energy, Dataweave, Haikujam, Tookitaki, Talent Litmus among others
Bharat, the CEO & Senior President of Aditya Birla Group, is an active member of the Indian Angel Network, CIO Angel Network, Venture Nursery, and The Indus Entrepreneurs. He is an experienced person in varied fields like Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, business development, and investing. He is the recipient of the “Professional Achiever – Finance Sector” Award from the ICAI.
Bharat Banka’s Investments
OYO, Perpetuiiti Tech, Invenzone, TalView, Vegayan, AdStringo, InstaSafe among others
Devesh Chawla, Founder & CEO of Chatur Ideas, a Startup enabling platform. He is an active investor, TEDx speaker, and mentor to budding entrepreneurs. He is a recipient of various awards which includes “Youth Leadership Award” by Trade Commissioner of Canada, “Mahatma Gandhi Samman Award”, “Entrepreneur of the Year 2018″ and “CEO of the Year 2019”
He did his MBA in Finance and Insurance from the Mumbai Education Trust-Institute of Management and his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.
Devesh Chawla’s Investments
NUOS, Cloudrino, Hublio, Koonk Technologies, and others.
Vikram, the Founding partner at 8i Ventures, is a prominent angel investor. He also acts as the Board Advisor to Blue Tokai and Signzy, and the co-founder & Board Member of Eight Capital. He did his MBA in Accounting & Finance from the New York University, MBA in Personnel Management & Industrial relations from the XLRI Jamshedpur and Bcom in Finance from the Shri Ram College of Commerce.
Farooq, the Co-founder of Fynd (Online Shopping Platform), is an entrepreneur and an active angel investor. He is a graduate from the IIT Bombay and also was associated with Opera Solutions before founding Fynd. He is an alumnus of the esteemed IIT Bombay.
Abhishek Shah, the Founder & CEO of Wellthy Therapeutics is a prominent angel investor in the Indian startup ecosystem. He did his MBA in Finance, strategy & Leadership from the Esteemed Indian School of Business.
Markets Interested
Consumer Internet, Enterprise Software, E-commerce, IT, Food & Beverage, AI, Healthtech, Big Data
Abhishek’s Investments
Bizly, ZipDial (Acquired by Twitter), Innerchef, Haptik, Greatist, Silverpush, Meddo Health, myUpchar.com, Doxper, among many
Sohil is an Early stage investor and a prominent entrepreneur. With experiences in firms like Bank of America, Fortune Financial Services & Intellecap Impact Investments, he has explored his field of interest with enthusiasm and curiosity. He completed his MS in Finance from The University of Michigan.
Bhavik, the Founder & Chairman of Vamaship (India’s largest e-commerce logistics marketplace), is a focused investor & entrepreneur. He also serves as a Director at BVC ventures. Being a part of various angel networks, he has gained exposure in several tech enabled startups. With regards to academic exposure, he was part of Harvard, London School of Economics, Indian School of Business, Singularity University & Narsee Monjee.
Markets Interested
Mobile Advertising, Social Media, Digital Media, Transportation, Logistics, E-commerce, Travel & Tourism, Software Technology
Siddharth is the Founder & CEO of Noesis.tech. He was also the founding partner at 369 Solutions. With a keen passion for technology, Siddharth constantly attempts to create a platform to monetize knowledge.
Being associated with Protiviti India & StyleCracker as Consultant and Advisor at Umoja & FoxyMoron Media Solutions, he gained immense experience and exposure in his field of domain.
This was our list of Angel Investors in Mumbai. Hope the contact details of these Angel Investors helped you! If you are an investor or know any Angel Investor in Mumbai, connect with us at shubham@startuptalky.com to get featured in the list.
“If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together.” – Ratan Tata, Tata Group
Ratan Tata is a prolific investor and has made numerous investment in many Startups. His style of investment and funding are revered by many across the globe. And his investments are known to emerge as giants in their respective sectors with time. Ola Cabs is an example.
An investment from Ratan Tata gives a boost to startups in terms of publicity, acquiring finances, and brand-building. Here is a list of the startups that Ratan Tata has funded over the years. Consequently, the behemoth organization of Ratan tata – Tata Group has also infiltrated a number of markets such as telecom, software, groceries, and fashion.
Latest News
22 April, 2021 – Ratan Tata has recently made an undisclosed amount of investment in Mailit which is a Mumbai based logistics startup serving a lot of big corporates including Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, etc.
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The Recent investment by Ratan Tata was in 2021, as he invested in Mailit, a technology-driven mailroom management and logistics company. The terms of the investment are undisclosed but it comes at at a time when Mailit is planning to launch 500 mailrooms across India in addition to establishing fully mechanised warehouses and distribution centres in the next five years.
Tork Motors
Tork motors | Ratan Tata Investment
Tork Motors is a Pune-based electric motorcycle startup. Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in Tork Motors in October 2019. He saw potential in the company and found the team to be commendable. Apart from Ratan Tata, Bharat Forge and Bhavish Aggarwal (Ola Cabs’ founder) have also invested in Tork Motors.
Snapdeal
Snapdeal | Ratan Tata Investment
Snapdeal is India’s first online marketplace for multiple categories. It has received funding from Ebay and Alibaba. Snapdeal was launched by Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal in February 2010. It has over 3 lakh sellers and hosts over 3 crore products across 800+ diverse categories from more than 1,25,000 regional, national, and international brands and retailers.
Ratan Tata made an investment in Snapdeal soon after Flipkart’s acquisition of Myntra. He bought 256 shares from the e-commerce venture’s angel investors. This move not only protected Snapdeal from losing market share but also prevented any potential attempt by Flipkart to monopolize the e-commerce segment.
Cure.fit is a health and fitness startup that has raised $170 million from investors like Accel Partners, Kalaari Capital, Chiratae Ventures, and Ratan Tata to date.
Cure.fit maintains a chain of fitness centers (under the ‘Cult.fit’ brand), a food delivery platform called ‘Eat.fit’, a chain of healthcare clinics called ‘Care.fit’, and the recently launched online mental-wellness platform called ‘Mind.fit’.
Paytm started out as a mobile recharging platform and later became an online marketplace for multiple categories. It became India’s first payment bank after receiving a license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Ratan Tata Made an investment in Paytm by raising a funding of INR 1 crore in March 2015 for One97 Communications – the parent company of Paytm. This funding fetched him the position of a business advisor on One97 Communications’ board.
Paytm is now among the most successful digital payment companies with millions of subscribers. It thrived when the demonetization scheme was implemented in India in November 2018. At present, the company’s gross merchandise value (GMV) is over $1 billion.
Ola is India’s first home-grown cab aggregator service and one of the nine Indian unicorn startups valued at $5 billion. The app allows users to book a taxi on their smartphone at the best fares. Ola provides cab services across price segments that range from economy to luxury.
Ratan Tata funded Ola in July 2015, 5 years after the company began its operations in 2010. He invested INR 95 lakhs in the company in personal capacity. Ratan Tata made also an investment through his investment company – RNT Capital Advisors – of INR 400 crores in Ola.
Repos Energy
Repos Energy | Ratan Tata Investment
Aditi Bhosale Walunj and Chetan Walunj founded Repos Energy. Repos Energy is a Pune-based startup responsible for the doorstep delivery of fuel to industries. It works using cloud-based technology and IoT devices. Customers can order diesel on the Repos app. A Repos petrol pump operator then arrives at the customer’s location and completes the diesel delivery. Ratan Tata made an undisclosed amount of investment in this startup.
ClimaCell
Climacell | Ratan Tata Funded Startup
ClimaCell is an app developed by Rei Goffer, Shimon Elkabetz, and Itai Zlotnik that provides accurate weather forecast to alert people about upcoming floods. It uses day-to-day devices as environmental sensors. ClimaCell focuses on error-free weather predictions and has garnered a lot of attention.
Ratan Tata participated in ClimaCell’s seed round funding in September 2016. ClimaCell has acquired $70 million over three rounds of funding.
Abra
Abra Logo | Ratan Tata Investment
Ratan Tata has also made an investment in a Silicon Valley based bitcoin startup with American Express where he with American Express invested $12 million in Abra. People can store digital cash and send money to any smartphone using Abra’s app. Abra earns money when users buy or sell digital currency through its app.
CarDekho
CarDekho Logo | Ratan tata Funded Startups
CarDekho is India’s leading car search venture that helps users purchase the right cars. Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in GirnarSoft – the parent company of CarDekho, BikeDekho, and PriceDekho portals.
The CarDekho app has rich automotive content that includes expert reviews, detailed specs and prices, comparisons, and the visuals of the different car brands and models available in India.
The company deals with many automobile manufacturers, more than 4000 car dealers, and numerous financial institutions to facilitate the purchase of vehicles. The CarDekho portal accounts for about 30% of the automobile manufacturers’ combined annual sales today.
Holachef
Hola Chef | Ratan tata Funded Startups
Holachef was founded by Saxena and Anil Gelra in 2014. Holachef connects expert chefs with consumers via its website and mobile app (available for both Android and iOS platforms). The platform offers a new menu everyday and delivers food in a state-of-the-art packaging. Holachef received an undisclosed amount of investment from Ratan Tata in September 2015.
Ola-owned food delivery firm Foodpanda has acquired Holachef.
FirstCry is a baby care e-commerce platform. FirstCry is owned by BrainBees Solutions. It follows an omni-channel strategy of selling through online and offline stores. Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in this startup in January 2016.
Lenskart
Lenskart Logo | Ratan Tata Funded Startup
Lenskart is a popular online retailer for eyewear. It was also been added to the list of companies invested by Tata as it secured funding from Ratan Tata in April 2016; the amount is undisclosed.
Lenskart sells sunglasses, eye glasses, contact lenses, and more. The officials from Lenskart said that Ratan Tata’s role was more of a mentor and an advisor than a financial investor. Some of the investors in Lenskart are TPG Group, IDG Ventures India, and Unilazer Ventures founder Ronnie Screwvala.
NestAway
nestaway logo | Ratan Tata Funded Startups
NestAway allows users to find, book, and move-in to a rental home of their choice across Indian cities. NestAway’s aim is to provide better rental solutions with the help of design and technology. The company presently caters to more than 35,000 tenants and 16,000 owners, providing homes to over 7000 families in cities like Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and others. Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in NestAway Technologies Pvt. Ltd. in December 2017.
Urban Ladder is an online furniture seller. Urban Ladder was founded by Ashish Goel and Rajiv Srivatsa in July 2012. It currently offers over 1,000 products across 25 furniture categories such as wardrobes, beds, sofas, dining tables, and coffee tables. The online retailer secured funding from Ratan Tata in November 2015.
UrbanCompany
Urban Company Logo
UrbanCompany, previously known as UrbanClap, is a local services marketplace that raised an undisclosed amount in funding from Ratan Tata in December 2015. It is also funded by Snapdeal founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal.
The UrbanCompany app allows the online booking of services such as plumbing, electric work, beauty treatments, and salon. UrbanCompany has successfully penetrated the services sector and bridged the gap between workers and consumers. People can now easily overcome the challenges of household hurdles, troubles, fixtures, and anything related through UrbanCompany.
GOQii
Goqii Logo | Ratan tata funded Startups
GOQii makes healthcare watches that are similar to smart watches. It also makes GOQii Stride, a device people can attach to their shoes and keep track of the number of steps, etc. GOQii’s platform provides tools for real-time personalized coaching, scheduling health check-ups, and securing information in a health locker. GOQii was founded in 2014 by Vishal Gondal. It joined the list of Ratan Tata-backed startups after he invested an undisclosed amount in October 2016.
This might come across as an interesting trivia—Ratan Tata is the first Indian to buy a stake in Xiaomiandhe has also made an undisclosed amount of investment in the company. Xiaomi is the world’s fourth largest smartphone manufacturer and is based out of China. The brand is very popular in India. It entered the Indian market in 2014. The Chinese tech giant sells smartphones, laptops, air purifiers, tablets, LED TVs, fitness bands and more.
Some senior executives from Xiaomi were quoted saying that they would seek Ratan Tata’s advice on how to expand globally.
Lybrate
Lybrate Logo | Ratan Tata Funded Startups
Lybrate was founded in 2013. It connects patients and doctors. Lybrate launched an online lab testing facility in May 2016. A patient’s sample is collected right from his or her home and the results are then shared online. Lybrate secured about INR 64.8 crores ($10.2 million) funding from Ratan Tata in July 2019.
Infinite Analytics is a U.S. and Mumbai-based startup founded by two MITians – Akash Bhatia and Purushotam Bolta. It became Microsoft Dynamics AX’s first global OEM partner four months after Ratan Tata has also made an investment in this startup in August 2015.
Infinite Analytics is a cloud-based big data startup that predicts consumer behavior based on information shared by users on social networking sites. Infinite Analytics analyses raw data, maps out a person’s social genome, and then gives personalized recommendations to consumer brands with online presence. This information, which is collected without breaking privacy laws, allows a retailer to identify and recommend products that will appeal to customers. Infinite Analytics has expanded its predictive analytics technology to verticals beyond retail and e-commerce.
CashKaro
Cashkaro Logo | Ratan Tata Funded Startups
CashKaro is a cashback and coupons website that provides 30% cashback to customers who shop on its affiliates’ platforms. These platforms include Amazon, Paytm, Jabong, and ShopClues. The Gurgaon-based company was founded by Swati and Rohan Bhargava in 2013 and raised an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from Ratan Tata in January 2016.
Cashkaro generates revenue by taking commission from retailers and sharing a portion of it with customers in the form of cashback. It is the largest cashback website in India with over 10 lakh registered users and has given net cashback of more than INR 30 crores.
DogSpot
Dogspot Logo | Ratan Tata funded Startups
DogSpot is a Gurgaon-based online pet care platform that handles about 60,000 orders on a monthly basis with an average basket size of INR 1,700. DogSpot also promotes pet-centric events, drives, and related content. The startup was founded in 2007 and is run by PetsGlam Services Pvt. Ltd.
Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in his personal capacity in DogSpot in January 2016. Ronnie Screwvala also invested in DogSpot alongside Ratan Tata.
BlueStone
Bluestone Logo | Ratan Tata funded Startups
Bluestone.com is an online platform for purchasing jewelry. BlueStone was founded by Gaurav Singh Kushwaha in 2011. BlueStone is backed by Ratan Tata and has also received a funding from him in 2014. It offers over 5,000 jewelry designs and plans to scale to 30,000 designs in the next three years.
Zivame
Zivame Logo | Ratan Tata funded Startup
Bangalore-based Zivame was founded in 2011 by Richa Kar and Kapil Karekar. Zivame is an online platform for one’s lingerie needs. It has raised $48 million in four years. The startup gained popularity through its quirky campaigns and is a well-known name today. Zivame received funding from Ratan Tata in September 2015.
Generic Aadhaar
Generic Aadhaar | Ratan Tata funded Startup
Ratan Tata has invested undisclosed amount in Generic Aadhaar, a Maharashtra-based pharmaceutical startup. Arjun Deshpande founded Generic Aadhaar in 2018. Generic Aadhaar provides generic medicines from reputed pharmaceutical companies at discounted rates—up to 80% cheaper than the retail price. It offers a catalog comprising branded, generic, homeopathy, and Ayurveda medicines from government-approved manufacturing facilities.
Generic Aadhaar aims to partner with 1000 pharmacies through a franchisee model in the coming months and expand its reach to places like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, New Delhi, Goa, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
What are the names of some Ratan Tata funded startups?
Some startups funded by Ratan Tata are Ola cabs, Zivame, Paytm, Snapdeal, Xiaomi, Urban Ladder, UrbanCompany, Cash Karo, and Abra.
What sector does Ratan Tata like to fund in?
Ratan Tata does not prefer any specific sectors. He has funded startups in sectors ranging from e-commerce and real estate to electric mobility and food delivery.
Shalini Rath
