Former Google India head Lalitesh Kattragada invests in startup Betterplace

Betterplace has database of 100,000 largely blue collar workers, verified for companies such as Doormint, HouseJoy, Commonfloor, Swiggy and Parcelled.in

Former Google India head Lalitesh Katragadda has invested and joined the board of Betterplace, a background verification firm that uses a combination of physical and technology.

Betterplace has database of over 100,000 people, largely blue collar workers who have been verified for companies such as Doormint, HouseJoy, Commonfloor, Swiggy and Parcelled.in.

"It is becoming clear to me that Indian enterprise has a large collaborative role to play in nation building, including institutions such as safety, sanitation, basic education, health and so on. Institutions which traditionally governments have provided," said Lalitesh Katragadda

"The reason is simple economics - e.g. to provide US government level protection to all Indian citizens alone will be about half of our GDP, while India's internal safety needs are probably higher. In other words, the only way out is superb innovation and execution, at scale. And conversely, don't see it happening any other way."

Katragadda, who led the initiative to setup Google's engineering centre in India, also has worked on Mapmaker, Google's project that allows users to map the world.

Betterplace is buildinga database of profiles by using a combination of id cards, Aadhaar identification numbers, digital footprints of a person on social networks as well as physical verification. The platform also uses a trust based mechanism where past employers and colleagues rate a person based on their interactions with them, said Pravin Aggarwala, co-founder of BetterPlace. He declined to comment on Katragadda's investments.