Ratan Tata said he plans to return to active involvement in the startup community from the end of this month. “When I retired at the end of 2012, and looked at a new life, (I) hit upon investing and interacting with the startup community as a new page in my life, leaving big business, crores of rupees, large competitive challenges behind,” he said.
The last five months, he said, put him back forcibly into the older mould. “And I really long to be back in the startup community. As of 23rd of Feb, I’m back. And I look forward to that day with greater vigour,” he said.
Tata was responding to a question by Kalaari Capital’s Vani Kola at a startup event organized by the VC firm. Tata, who is on the advisory board of Kalaari Capital, has invested in more than 30 startups including Ola, Paytm, and Snapdeal.
Tata has been embroiled in a feud with former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry over the past few months, and took on the responsibility of interim chairman following the ouster of Mistry in October. Last month, the Tatas announced that TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran will take over as chairman effective February 21.
Commenting on the newly-appointed US President, Tata said Donald Trump has posed new challenges. “I’m quite sure we can reinvent ourselves to meet those challenges,” he added.
Asked about the debate started by some startup founders around protectionism and their charges of capital dumping by global players, Tata called for an open environment but also control on unfair competition. “The regulators need to focus on areas where there is unfair competition but ensure there is enough latitude so that everyone has their chance,” he said.
source from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/people/ratan-tata-eager-to-get-back-to-startup-world/articleshow/57031179.cms