PERSON OF THE WEEK





At 76 most would be looking at a quiet retirement. Not Ratan Tata. He has been actively encouraging entrepreneurs. Last week he was in Bengaluru where he promised to advise VC fund Kalaari Capital's portfolio of companies. Every few weeks, he can be seen with founders of ventures he personally has invested in. Earlier this month, news came of his investment in auto classifieds portal Cardekho. That may have been driven by his long time interest in cars -­ under him, Tata Motors introduced the Nano and acquired Jaguar and Land Rover.Tata's startup investments have otherwise mostly been focused on ecommerce ventures ­ Snapdeal, which deals in a range of products; Bluestone, a jewellery etailer; and Urban Ladder, a furniture etailer. The chairman-emeritus of Tata Sons recently said: “If entrepreneurs make the difference in the marketplace through their hard work, ingenuity, and innovation rather than in the dark corridors of power to try and clip the wings of their competitors, then, I think, India has a great future.“