Tata has invested in over 50 startups, both in India and abroad, including prominent companies such as Ola, Upstox, Lenskart, CarDekho, FirstCry, Paytm, and Bluestone, many of which have gone public.
Ratan Tata, renowned for his leadership in building successful long-term businesses, ventured into the startup ecosystem post-retirement, despite the often unconventional methods of new-age companies. His journey in this space began in 2014 with an investment in Snapdeal, during a time when India’s startup landscape was just beginning to gain momentum, and billion-dollar valuations were still a rarity. Since then, Tata has invested in over 50 startups, both in India and abroad, including prominent companies such as Ola, Upstox, Lenskart, CarDekho, FirstCry, Paytm, and Bluestone, many of which have gone public. His investments were primarily made through his personal investment firm, RNT Associates, and UC-RNT, a fund created in partnership with the University of California.
In 2019, Tata described himself as an “accidental” investor in startups, emphasizing his belief in the sector’s immense growth potential. He highlighted that understanding the mindset, maturity, and seriousness of founders was the most crucial factor for him, surpassing other considerations.
Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal, shared a video of his interaction with Ratan Tata that he wrote was a ‘special moment for him’. Paying tribute to Ratan Tata in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Bahl wrote, “A lot is deservedly said and will be said about Mr. Tata’s greatness. What must also be spoken about is his incredible sense of humour. This moment will always be special for me 🙏” He shared a video with the post from a event in Mumbai some years ago.
In the video, Kunal Bahl, fondly remembered his first meeting with Ratan Tata. Bahl expressed how nervous he felt, not knowing what to expect. He said, “It is like meeting someone who you have seen over the years on TV, newspapers.. never thought would meet in flesh and blood. I was extremely nervous..”
He recalled walking into Tata’s office, where Tata surprised him by pulling a chair and sitting next to him. Tata then praised Snapdeal’s growth, saying, “Your growth story is amazing, how do you manage your logistics?” Bahl shared this anecdote in a video post.
Bahl said that when he asked Tata what got him even thinking about investing in young startups like his or others, Ratan Tata said that he was as nervous sitting six inches away from him as he was.
A lot is deservedly said and will be said about Mr. Tata’s greatness. What must also be spoken about is his incredible sense of humour. This moment will always be special for me 🙏 #RatanTata pic.twitter.com/ffYtPBAnmW
— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) October 10, 2024
Snapdeal market value
In 2016, Snapdeal was valued at USD 6.5 billion (Rs 47 Thousand Crores), making it the second-largest e-commerce company in India at the time. Snapdeal was last valued at over $800 million in 2021. In FY23, Snapdeal’s net loss was Rs 282.2 crore, which was a 44 per cent decrease from the previous year. In FY23, Snapdeal’s total income was Rs 388.1 crore, which was a 33 per cent decrease from the previous year.