Kris to invest in start-ups post Infosys

S ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan, a co-founder and non-executive vice-chairman of Infosys, the information technology giant, has plans to invest in start-ups after his retirement in October. He’d possible look at those in areas such as e-retailing and digital marketing.

He’s also expanding his family office, which runs a Pratiksha Trust. According to Forbes magazine, Gopalakrishnan’s net worth is currently close to $1.5 billion (Rs 9,150 crore).

“I am involved with innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups in Bangalore and Kerala,” Gopalakrishnan said. “Obviously, what I know well is technology, and within technology, the whole areas of digital marketing and e-retailing seem very hot...E-retailing has to change as we learn more about it. This is something very nascent. Initially, our reaction was to copy what we do in the physical world but as we understand more about the technology, we will change the way we do things.”

While Gopalakrishnan does not hold investments in any start-ups as of now, he has invested in a business incubator called Start-up Village in Kerala; he’s also chief mentor there.

His investment plans would be limited to Bangalore and Kerala, as of now. “One needs to leverage one’s network and connection, and these are the two places where I know people,” he said.

On being asked if he would look at investing in the US, like some of his colleagues within the founding team of Infosys, he said, “I am keen to do things in India; I am not going anywhere else.”

While Gopalakrishnan refrained from sharing any details about his family office, he said he “may or may not” set up a fund dedicated towards making investments in technology innovation and start-ups. Or, could look at partnering with existing funds or new ones.

“That (setting up a fund or partnering with another one) is something I am debating,” Gopalakrishnan said. “I may or may not set up a fund because I can also invest directly without having a fund. I don’t want to comment on partnering with other funds as of now because all kinds of things are possible. I may need to collaborate with others tomorrow. All models are possible, it will evolve.”

Over the recent months, Gopalakrishnan, through his charitable trust, has been investing in brain research. In January, Pratiksha Trust, established by him and his wife, Sudha Gopalakrishnan, said it would grant Rs 225 crore over a period of 10 years towards setting up and functioning of a Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. In July, Gopalakrishnan donated an additional $1.8 million (Rs 10.8 crore) to Carnegie Mellon University in America to establish a research partnership between the university and CBR at IISc in Bangalore.