Ratan Tata joins PE firm IDG Ventures as advisor

Will help portfolio companies with strategic matters, expansion

Ratan Tata, who has been making personal investments in start-ups across e-commerce and technology segments, has joined venture capital firm IDG Ventures in an advisory role.

Tata is already an advisor to venture firm Kalaari Capital and Jungle Ventures.

His role would be to help IDG Ventures India and its portfolio companies with business growth, global expansion, team building and leadership, IDG said in a statement. Tata will be will also be a special invitee, on selective basis, in portfolio company board meetings on strategic matters.

“Tata is an icon when it comes to business leadership in new-age India. His rich experience in building businesses and expanding globally from India is of immense value to our portfolio companies. We are indeed privileged and honoured today,” said Sudhir Sethi, founder and chairman of IDG Ventures India.

Tata has so far invested in 14 start-ups in his personal capacity, which include Snapdeal, Paytm, Ola

Cabs and Chinese phonemaker Xiaomi. His most recent investment was in the food tech space with an undisclosed investment in Holachef this September.

Since 2007, IDG Ventures India has made 79 investments in about 50 companies amounting to a value of $120 million. In the same time, the firm has made six exits, according to research firm VCCEdge.

In May 2014, the firm sold one per cent of its holding in Flipkart for an estimated Rs 940 crore. Flipkart became a part of IDG Venture’s portfolio with the acquisition of Myntra.

In the current year, IDG has made 12 investments in start-ups including Uniphore, VServ and NestAway. The total disclosed investment amount so far in 2015 has been $5.95 million, according to VCCEdge.