‘You don’t know what it’s like to be lonely’: Ratan Tata at senior citizens startup launch | Watch

Ratan Tata on August 16 announced his investment in Goodfellows, a startup that offers companionship to senior citizens as a service. The startup was founded by Ratan Tata’s business assistant Shantanu Naidu, who has been working for the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons since 2018.

At the launch of Goodfellows, Ratan Tata, 84, spoke about growing older and the need for companionship.

“You do not know what it is like to be lonely until you spend time alone wishing for companionship,” he said. “I also feel that you don’t mind getting old until you get old, and then you find it’s a different world,” added Ratan Tata.
Goodfellows, designed to pair senior citizens with young graduates in the form of a paid service, has completed a beta phase in Pune over the past six months. The company now plans to extend its services in Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.

Tata, a seasoned businessman and investor, has invested an undisclosed sum in the startup.

"The bonds between the two generations created by Goodfellows are very meaningful and are helping to address an important social issue in India. I hope the investment helps the young team at Goodfellows grow," the 84-year-old Tata said.