The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has inaugurated the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital (PEVC), India’s first Centre of Excellence dedicated to research, innovation, and collaboration in the PEVC sector. The centre was established through a generous endowment from Mathew Cyriac, a distinguished alumnus of IIMB’s PGP 1994 batch, who is also the Chairman of Florintree Advisors and Co-Founder of Yali Capital. The Tony James Centre for PEVC aims to become a hub for world-class research, education, industry collaboration, policy engagement, and talent development in the PEVC sector.
It plans to host eminent global experts, generate research on critical industry issues, and foster sustained collaboration among academia, industry leaders, and regulators. During the launch event, prominent figures from the PE, VC, and financial services domains gathered to celebrate this landmark initiative. Sourav Mukherji, Dean of Faculty and Alumni Relations and Development at IIMB, encouraged students and alumni to view this philanthropic endeavor as an example inspiring a sense of responsibility towards advancing indigenous research.
Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge of IIMB, emphasized the importance of high-quality research, stating, “The reality is that high-quality research is capital-intensive. Contributions like that of Mr.
PEVC hub inaugurates at IIMB
Mathew Cyriac are not only generous but also deeply useful in enabling IIMB to build a globally competitive research ecosystem.”
Ashok Thampy, the Florintree Chair Professor in Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIMB, outlined the Centre’s vision, highlighting the increasing role of PEVC as the Indian economy evolves. He thanked the notable figures for their support and contributions, recognizing their pioneering roles in the PEVC space. Mathew Cyriac, the Centre’s benefactor, stressed the need for innovation and sophistication tailored to the Indian market in his address.
He reflected on how the idea for the Centre emerged during IIMB’s golden jubilee celebrations, aiming to reinforce IIMB’s position as a top finance-specialized business school. Tony James, the investment veteran after whom the centre is named, delivered a virtual address at the inauguration. He emphasized the role of PEVC in driving economic growth, lowering the cost of capital, speeding up access to funds, and enhancing national competitiveness by enabling companies to scale faster.
James also acknowledged the challenges inherent in the private equity model and highlighted the importance of the IIMB centre in providing an open forum for studying private capital, supporting rigorous research, debating policy issues, and offering insights to regulators, legislators, investors, and the media. The inauguration of the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIMB represents a significant stride towards fostering research and development in the PEVC sector, symbolizing the collaborative effort needed to propel India’s investment landscape to new heights.
