1 / 11The late Ratan Tata, celebrated for his business acumen and foresight, left behind a remarkable legacy not just as the chairman of Tata Group, but also as an astute investor. Born on December 28, 1937, to Naval and Sonoo Tata, his contributions extended beyond corporate success to shaping India’s entrepreneurial landscape. As we commemorate his 87th birth anniversary, let’s look at 10 companies he supported through his investments.
2 / 111. Paytm | In 2015, Ratan Tata invested in the fintech platform Paytm. His early-stage backing and advisory role helped the company scale its digital payment and financial service offerings, establishing it as a household name.
3 / 112. Ola | Ratan Tata’s endorsement of Ola began with a personal investment in 2015, acquiring a minority stake in the ride-hailing company. His venture capital firm, RNT Capital, later participated in a funding round in 2017.
4 / 113. Lenskart | Eyewear company Lenskart benefited from Tata’s investment in 2016. The brand’s online-first model resonated with Tata, helping it expand into a leading eyewear platform.
5 / 114. CarDekho | In 2015, Ratan Tata invested in CarDekho, an automobile marketplace. His belief in the platform’s potential was validated when it joined the unicorn club in 2021.
6 / 115. Urban Company | Tata’s 2015 investment in Urban Company, then known as UrbanClap, supported its mission to revolutionise local services. Now, it’s a go-to app for services ranging from home cleaning to beauty treatments. (Image: Shutterstock)
7 / 116. Snapdeal | Tata invested in Snapdeal in 2014. His association added credibility to the e-commerce company, which went on to achieve unicorn status.
8 / 117. Curefit | Fitness and wellness platform Curefit attracted Tata’s attention through RNT Capital in 2017. His investment supported the brand’s expansion, leading to its unicorn status in 2021.
9 / 118. Upstox | Tata’s venture into fintech extended to Upstox, an app-based stock trading platform. Investing in 2016, he saw the startup grow exponentially, eventually yielding an astounding 23,000% return on his stake by 2024. (Image: Shutterstock)
10 / 119. Urban Ladder | Recognising the potential of online furniture retail, Ratan Tata invested in Urban Ladder in 2014. His support helped the company navigate the market, eventually leading to its acquisition by Reliance Retail in 2020. (Image: Shutterstock)
11 / 1110. Lybrate | Telemedicine platform Lybrate benefited from Ratan Tata’s support in 2015, alongside major investors like Tiger Global. His investment of around ₹64.8 crore aided the startup’s mission to improve healthcare accessibility. (Image: Shutterstock)
