The founders of Ratan Tata-backed mobile energy distribution business Repos Energy described how a call from the industrialist altered their lives weeks after they unveiled their organic waste-powered “mobile electric charging vehicle” solution.
Co-founders Aditi Bhosale Walunj and Chetan Walunj realized they required a mentor—someone who has worked toward a larger good—when they first started Repos a few years ago in order for the firm to develop. And Ratan Tata was the first person they could think of.
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As soon as Aditi Bhosale Walunj proposed meeting Ratan Tata, Chetan Walunj said,
Aditi, he (Ratan Tata) is not my neighbour that you are saying let’s go meet him.
But she remained steadfast. Aditi Bhosale Walunj commented on LinkedIn,
We both have no formal business education but we learnt one thing very early in our lives–an excuse towards anything is a foundation which one builds a house of failure.
She also added,
Everyone told us you cannot meet him (Ratan Tata) and that it’s impossible. We didn’t use this as an excuse. “NO” was never an option…
How Repos Energy co-founder Aditi Bhosale Walunj got the chance to talk to Ratan Tata
Aditi Bhosale Walunj detailed how they prepared a 3D presentation outlining how Repos Energy intended to use technology to change the way energy is distributed and deliver any energy or fuel to the last mile before sending handwritten letters to Ratan Tata to finally get the chance to meet him in person in Mumbai. They also waited for 12 hours outside his residence and contacted people who could have been able to connect them to him.
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Later, at around 10 o’clock, when they got back to their hotel, they got a call.
Aditi Bhosale Walunj recalled,
I was reluctant but when I answered, the voice on the other hand said ‘Hi! Can I speak to Aditi?.
She claimed that despite asking who was on the other end of the telephone, deep down she knew that this was the call they had been waiting for.
On the phone, she heard,
This is Ratan Tata here. I got your letter. Can we meet?
Couple meeting with Ratan Tata
Aditi Bhosale Walunj remembered going through several emotions at once. She experienced shivers, was numb, and had tears streaming down her cheeks while grinning.
She wrote,
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The next day we reached his house at 10.45 am at his house and waited for him in the living room with our presentation. And sharp at 11 am a tall, fair person with a blue shirt walked towards us. And it felt like SILENCE.
She added,
That meeting at 11am went up to 2 pm and those three hours were sheer mediation for us where he heard our idea, shared his experiences and guided us
Ratan Tata reportedly asked the co-founder of Repos Energy what she anticipated from him, to which the pair responded,
Sir, help us serve people and take our country global. Guide us
Ratan Tata responded with,
okay
How a phone call changed Repos Energy’s fate
Aditi Bhosale Walunj said,
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We stepped out of his house like we were walking out of the temple. After that repo is where it is today because of him
She also added,
From Tata Motors helping us, to conversations with Ratan Tata… to showing him our first Mobile Fuel Station to him and getting his feedback and receiving his first token investment in 2019 and another round in April 2022–this would not have been possible without his whole team
She also expressed gratitude to Ratan Tata’s office’s deputy general manager, Shantanu Naidu, calling him “an angel in disguise for us”.
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