A beacon of inspiration, a visionary leader, and a philanthropist, Ratan Tata’s journey has touched countless lives. From his pioneering role in the Tata Group to his unwavering commitment to social causes, his legacy continues to inspire and shape the world. Today’s Tech3 newsletter celebrates the life of this extraordinary individual.

One quick thing:  TCS Q2 FY25 net profit falls to Rs 11,909 crore, misses estimates 

In today’s newsletter: 

• The angel investor
• The IT visionary
• Beyond business

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In the late hours of October 9, the world bid farewell to an icon who redefined the landscape of Indian business.

• Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, passed away at the age of 86

Ratan Tata was not just the architect of Tata Consultancy Services (more on that later), which evolved into a global technology leader; he was also instrumental in nurturing India’s startup ecosystem, now the world’s third-largest. 

• Tata's keen eye for innovation led him to invest in around 45 startups including Ola, Paytm and several others

He was a mentor and an angel investor whose faith in India’s startup ecosystem propelled many entrepreneurs toward success.

"Once Mr. Tata came onboard, literally everyone started taking us seriously in India and we got the much needed boost to grow," reflected Kaushal Dugar, founder of Teabox, on how Tata's investment in his company in 2016 changed the game for them.

Ratan Tata’s bets have earned him handsome returns, too. 

• His early investment in Upstox yielded returns of over 23,000%, while Lenskart gave a staggering 28X return

• New-age companies like Ola Electric and Firstcry, that went public earlier this year, also brought him significant returns

Beyond his financial backing, Ratan Tata was a mentor who invested his time in guiding entrepreneurs. 

Sudhir Sethi, founder of Chiratae Ventures, highlighted Tata’s genuine interest in the startup ecosystem and his commitment to nurturing talent. 

“He never rushed for time,” Sethi shared, emphasising Tata’s role as a teacher and father figure. He added that Tata left a little bit of himself in every founder he met.

Abhiraj Singh Bhal, co-founder of Urban Company, spoke of Tata’s lasting impact: “Some men do live on forever."

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Picture credit: Kalaido.ai

From humble beginnings to global dominance, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) stands as a testament to the vision and leadership of Ratan Tata.

• The IT behemoth was listed on the bourses in 2004, which wouldn’t have been possible without Ratan Tata

TCS’s market capitalisation was about one-and-a-half times lower than that of Infosys in 2008.

• However, TCS’s efficiency dethroned Infosys subsequently, making it India’s largest software exporter

• The gap has only widened significantly ever since

In fact, TCS is way ahead when compared to its nearest rivals.

• Both its revenue and profit are almost double those of its nearest rival as of FY24

• Margins are about 5 percentage points higher than those of its nearest rival

A lot of credit goes to Ratan Tata for the magnificent success TCS has achieved over the years.

Also read: Ratan Tata guided TCS through transformative global expansions: CEO K Krithivasan

The loss of Ratan Tata has been deeply felt by the global tech community.

• Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates: I had the privilege of meeting him on several occasions, and I was always moved by his strong sense of purpose and service to humanity.

• Google CEO Sundar Pichai: He leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing modern business leadership in India.

• Infosys Founder NR Narayana Murthy: Ratan was a role model for me in value-based leadership. He was indeed a moral compass whenever I had ambiguity and confusion regarding ethical issues.

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Picture credit: Kalaido.ai

In a world often driven by profits, Ratan Naval Tata stood out as a beacon of kindness, empathy, and compassion.

Under his leadership, the Tata Group ventured into diverse sectors, including telecommunications and passenger vehicles.

• But his true legacy is deeply rooted in his philanthropic endeavours

Through Tata Trusts, Ratan Tata funded many initiatives across education, healthcare, and rural development. 

• His commitment to healthcare is evident through the establishment of cancer care facilities

• The Tata Trusts have financed many educational institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science and various Indian Institue of Management campuses 

The Trusts rank among Asia’s top five philanthropic funders, averaging an annual contribution of $168 million from 2018 to 2022.

Also read: Zee's Punit Goenka proposes a biographical film on the life of Ratan Tata

He was known for his genuine concern for the wellbeing of all, including animals!

• The Tata House and Taj Hotel in Mumbai have long served as havens for stray dogs 

One of Tata's final projects was the setting up of India's first Small Animal Hospital in Mumbai.

• In 2018, Tata showcased his profound love for animals by cancelling a trip to London to receive a prestigious award from Prince Charles (now King Charles III) due to the grave illness of one of his dogs

The Maharashtra Cabinet passed a resolution to recommend Ratan Tata's name for the Bharat Ratna award. 

• If you ask us, he is a Bharat Ratna in every sense of the word

Picture credit: Kalaido.ai

• OpenAI in a report said that its AI models have been used to create fake content, such as articles and social media posts, to influence elections.
  
  
• To bridge the AI gap in Indian law, three Harvard grads launched jhana.ai, a generative AI paralegal for lawyers.

Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of the Tata Group, is one of the most respected industrialists in the world. But did you know that his journey to success was not always easy? 

• Check out Mega Icons: Ratan Tata, a documentary giving a glimpse into the lesser-known details of his life, including his struggles, his triumphs, and his unwavering commitment to social responsibility

Watch it on Disney+ Hotstar  

Prefer a literary journey? Pick up The Tatas: How a Family Built a Business and a Nation by Girish Kuber. The book offers a comprehensive look at the Tata legacy. Check it out on Amazon

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