Former Tata Sons’ exec director Alan Rosling joins Navam Capital as senior advisor

Kolkata-based venture capital firm Navam Capital Pvt Ltd, which focuses on seed and early-stage investments, has appointed Alan Rosling, co-founder of Kiran Energy and former executive director of Tata Sons Ltd, as a senior advisor and operating partner, the company said on Monday.

In 2010, Rosling co-founded solar power firm Kiran Energy, which is backed by a consortium of private equity funds, and has over 90 MW of solar power capacity operating in Gujarat and Rajasthan and new projects underway in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Prior to this, he was executive director of Tata Sons Ltd for over five years where he was spearheading the group's international expansion strategy.

Having started his career as an investment banker with S G Warburg & Company, Rosling has also been India chairman of the Jardine Matheson Group and special advisor to former British Prime Minister John Major.

Talking about his association with the VC firm, Rosling said, “Navam Capital is building a unique franchise in India’s venture capital industry. This is a special moment for technology ventures in India – over the last five years we have seen startups go from the fringes of the economy to taking centre-stage in a number of industries. India’s fast-maturing ecosystem offers unrivaled opportunities for growth and investment.”

“Alan brings stellar strategic and operational experience in building and scaling businesses – Navam is delighted to have him join the team. As our firm expands its operations and pursues its vision to back innovative, technology-driven startups, Alan will be closely involved with investing activities as well as assisting portfolio companies refine their business and growth strategies,” said Rajeev Mantri, executive director of Navam Capital.

Rosling has also joined the advisory board of Apex Avalon (Singapore), the parent company of Mumbai-headquartered Avalon Consulting, as its senior advisor.

Navam Capital invests in the energy, technology and healthcare sectors. Since 2010, the firm has made four investments. Last year, it invested Rs 10.50 crore in Delhi-based Invictus Oncology Pvt Ltd along with other investors.

Prior to this, the VC firm has invested twice in biopharmaceutical company Vyome Biosciences Pvt Ltd (in 2010 and 2012), and EnNatura Technology Ventures Pvt Ltd, a clean materials company.

(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)