The Tata Sons’ chairman emeritus had invested in 46 startups, including Lenskart, Urban Company, FirstCry, as per data from Tracxn. His major investments were primarily in consumer and retail, including the most recent in CashKaro (Series C Round) on Sep 29, 2022. Out of his total portfolio, there are nine unicorns, startups valued over $1 billion. The most notable exits were FirstCry, Xiaomi, Ola Electric and NestAway.

Besides, his personal investment vehicle was christened RNT Associates Pvt. Ltd., which focuses on early stage and startup investments, with offices in Mumbai and in Singapore. Adding to it, Tata also invested through a fund christened, UC-RNT, in partnership with the investment arm of the University of California. The fund, registered as an alternative investment fund in India, has reportedly invested in Ola, Ant Financial, Mwipe, NestAway, LivSpace, YourStory and Axio Biosolutions, among others.

After retiring as chairman of Tata Sons in 2012, Tata remained active in various philanthropic and business ventures. He continued to mentor young entrepreneurs, advocate for social causes, and support educational institutions and start-ups, driven by his passion for education and innovation. Even in retirement, Tata played a key role in shaping India’s industrial landscape and nurturing a new generation of leaders.

On how he makes an investment decision, Tata had some years back, at an event organised by Chiratae Ventures, said, “In my case, company selection is more by intuition rather than numbers.” But the biggest influence for Tata in making an investment is the intent of the founders.

As the former chairman and emeritus of Tata Sons, Tata was instrumental in transforming the Tata Group from a steel-making enterprise into a global conglomerate, with a presence in industries ranging from automobiles to semiconductors. His visionary leadership and philanthropic contributions have left an indelible mark on both Indian industry and society.