IIMB to inaugurate India’s first Centre of Excellence for PEVC: Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital
Established with a landmark contribution by PGP ’94 Mathew Cyriac, the Centre launches on 6 August
29 July, 2025, Bengaluru: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) will inaugurate the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital on 6 August 2025, marking the launch of India’s first global Centre of Excellence dedicated to the acceleration of research, innovation and collaboration in private equity and venture capital (PEVC). The Centre has been established through a generous contribution from PGP 1994 alumnus Mr. Mathew Cyriac, Institute Gold Medallist & Distinguished Alumni Award Winner 2025, Chairman-Florintree Advisors, Co-Founder – Yali Capital.
To attend the launch event, kindly register HERE.
The livestream of the event will be available on IIMB’s YouTube channel.
An MoU formalizing the creation of the Centre was signed on 24 August 2024 between IIMB and Mr. Cyriac. In one of the largest individual alumni contributions in IIMB’s history, the donation supports the establishment of the Centre, the naming of four classrooms after eminent finance area faculty who inspired Mr. Cyriac’s cohort, and the institution of scholarships for students in the PGP and Doctoral programmes.
The inaugural event on 6 August will bring together renowned leaders from the global PEVC community. The ceremony will begin with a welcome address by Professor Sourav Mukherji, Dean, Faculty & Dean, Alumni Relations and Development. Professor Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge, IIMB, will deliver the opening remarks and formally introduce the Centre, as well as announce the appointment of Professor Ashok Thampy, Finance & Accounting area, as Chairperson of the Centre. Professor Thampy, who holds the Florintree Chair in Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIMB, will outline the Centre’s proposed vision and activities.
“The Tony James Centre will be a catalytic force in shaping the future of PEVC in India and beyond. Through research, teaching, and sustained engagement with industry, we hope to cultivate a new generation of leaders who will redefine the dimensions of investment and enterprise,” said Professor Thampy.
On the intent behind the Centre, Mr Mathew Cyriac stated, “Establishing the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital Excellence at IIM Bangalore is more than a tribute—it is a commitment to a future where Indian talent leads global investing conversations. This institution shaped me; its professors instilled in me the principles that continue to guide my journey. Naming the Centre after Tony James, my mentor, and an icon in the world of private equity, is my way of honouring a legacy that blends excellence with integrity. As the Indian investing market evolves, I believe it will need innovation and sophistication that suit the nuances of the Indian market. I am confident this Centre will provide the right launchpad for deep Industry-Institute collaboration on innovation and nurture generations of ethical, global visionary leaders in the PE and VC ecosystem.”
Named in honour of Mr. Hamilton Evans “Tony” James, former President, COO, and Executive Vice Chairman of global investment firm Blackstone, the Centre aspires to be a hub for world-class research, education, industry collaboration, policy engagement, and talent development in the PEVC sector.
“The timing is right now for a Centre of Excellence at IIM Bangalore to bring the Indian perspective to global PE thought leadership. I look forward to working closely with IIM Bangalore to build the Centre into a world-class institution”, said Mr. James.
Key segments of the launch event include an address by Mr. Mathew Cyriac, a keynote address by Mr. Vivek Pandit, Senior Partner & Global Co-Leader, Private Equity & Principal Investors, McKinsey & Company, and a Chief Guest’s address by Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, Executive Chairman of L Catterton India, and former CEO & Chairman of Hindustan Unilever (HUL).
Prominent voices from the PEVC ecosystem, Mr. Subrata Mitra, Partner, Accel; and Mr. Amit Jain, Managing Director & Head, Carlyle India Advisors, will share insights into the evolving trends of the industry. Global industry veteran Mr. Tony James, after whom the Centre is named, will also be joining virtually to address attendees at the launch event.
As part of the ceremony, IIMB will also honour four of its finance area faculty: Late Prof. Prakash G. Apte, Prof. Prasanna Chandra, Prof. S. Sundararajan, and Prof. George Varughese, whose contributions have shaped the academic foundation for generations of students. Remarks will be delivered by Late Prof. Apte’s son, Alok Apte, alongside addresses from the other three honourees.
The Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital aims to advance scholarship, practice, and pedagogy in PEVC. It will host eminent global experts, generate research on critical industry issues, and foster sustained collaboration among academia, industry leaders, and regulators. With a mission to nurture future leaders in finance and investment, the Centre’s influence is expected to extend well beyond the boundaries of the IIMB campus.
About Florintree Advisors Pvt Ltd
Florintree Advisors Private Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, with a presence in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad, is a sector-agnostic specialized alternative investment firm focused on private market as well as PIPE investments. Founded in 2017 under the leadership of Mathew Cyriac, former Co-Head of Private Equity at Blackstone India, Florintree has built a reputation as an active investor engaged with founders and management teams to drive value addition. Our investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value creation, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and operational engagement. The firm backs businesses with high-calibre management and a strong vision for growth. Some of its notable investments include Gokaldas Exports, MTAR Technologies, Data Patterns, International ARC and IndoStar Capital, showcasing its ability to identify and support high potential opportunities in both public and private markets.
For the speaker profiles, click here.
For the launch event agenda, click here.
IIMB to inaugurate India’s first Centre of Excellence for PEVC: Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital
Established with a landmark contribution by PGP ’94 Mathew Cyriac, the Centre launches on 6 August
29 July, 2025, Bengaluru: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) will inaugurate the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital on 6 August 2025, marking the launch of India’s first global Centre of Excellence dedicated to the acceleration of research, innovation and collaboration in private equity and venture capital (PEVC). The Centre has been established through a generous contribution from PGP 1994 alumnus Mr. Mathew Cyriac, Institute Gold Medallist & Distinguished Alumni Award Winner 2025, Chairman-Florintree Advisors, Co-Founder – Yali Capital.
To attend the launch event, kindly register HERE.
The livestream of the event will be available on IIMB’s YouTube channel.
An MoU formalizing the creation of the Centre was signed on 24 August 2024 between IIMB and Mr. Cyriac. In one of the largest individual alumni contributions in IIMB’s history, the donation supports the establishment of the Centre, the naming of four classrooms after eminent finance area faculty who inspired Mr. Cyriac’s cohort, and the institution of scholarships for students in the PGP and Doctoral programmes.
The inaugural event on 6 August will bring together renowned leaders from the global PEVC community. The ceremony will begin with a welcome address by Professor Sourav Mukherji, Dean, Faculty & Dean, Alumni Relations and Development. Professor Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge, IIMB, will deliver the opening remarks and formally introduce the Centre, as well as announce the appointment of Professor Ashok Thampy, Finance & Accounting area, as Chairperson of the Centre. Professor Thampy, who holds the Florintree Chair in Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIMB, will outline the Centre’s proposed vision and activities.
“The Tony James Centre will be a catalytic force in shaping the future of PEVC in India and beyond. Through research, teaching, and sustained engagement with industry, we hope to cultivate a new generation of leaders who will redefine the dimensions of investment and enterprise,” said Professor Thampy.
On the intent behind the Centre, Mr Mathew Cyriac stated, “Establishing the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital Excellence at IIM Bangalore is more than a tribute—it is a commitment to a future where Indian talent leads global investing conversations. This institution shaped me; its professors instilled in me the principles that continue to guide my journey. Naming the Centre after Tony James, my mentor, and an icon in the world of private equity, is my way of honouring a legacy that blends excellence with integrity. As the Indian investing market evolves, I believe it will need innovation and sophistication that suit the nuances of the Indian market. I am confident this Centre will provide the right launchpad for deep Industry-Institute collaboration on innovation and nurture generations of ethical, global visionary leaders in the PE and VC ecosystem.”
Named in honour of Mr. Hamilton Evans “Tony” James, former President, COO, and Executive Vice Chairman of global investment firm Blackstone, the Centre aspires to be a hub for world-class research, education, industry collaboration, policy engagement, and talent development in the PEVC sector.
“The timing is right now for a Centre of Excellence at IIM Bangalore to bring the Indian perspective to global PE thought leadership. I look forward to working closely with IIM Bangalore to build the Centre into a world-class institution”, said Mr. James.
Key segments of the launch event include an address by Mr. Mathew Cyriac, a keynote address by Mr. Vivek Pandit, Senior Partner & Global Co-Leader, Private Equity & Principal Investors, McKinsey & Company, and a Chief Guest’s address by Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, Executive Chairman of L Catterton India, and former CEO & Chairman of Hindustan Unilever (HUL).
Prominent voices from the PEVC ecosystem, Mr. Subrata Mitra, Partner, Accel; and Mr. Amit Jain, Managing Director & Head, Carlyle India Advisors, will share insights into the evolving trends of the industry. Global industry veteran Mr. Tony James, after whom the Centre is named, will also be joining virtually to address attendees at the launch event.
As part of the ceremony, IIMB will also honour four of its finance area faculty: Late Prof. Prakash G. Apte, Prof. Prasanna Chandra, Prof. S. Sundararajan, and Prof. George Varughese, whose contributions have shaped the academic foundation for generations of students. Remarks will be delivered by Late Prof. Apte’s son, Alok Apte, alongside addresses from the other three honourees.
The Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital aims to advance scholarship, practice, and pedagogy in PEVC. It will host eminent global experts, generate research on critical industry issues, and foster sustained collaboration among academia, industry leaders, and regulators. With a mission to nurture future leaders in finance and investment, the Centre’s influence is expected to extend well beyond the boundaries of the IIMB campus.
About Florintree Advisors Pvt Ltd
Florintree Advisors Private Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, with a presence in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad, is a sector-agnostic specialized alternative investment firm focused on private market as well as PIPE investments. Founded in 2017 under the leadership of Mathew Cyriac, former Co-Head of Private Equity at Blackstone India, Florintree has built a reputation as an active investor engaged with founders and management teams to drive value addition. Our investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value creation, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and operational engagement. The firm backs businesses with high-calibre management and a strong vision for growth. Some of its notable investments include Gokaldas Exports, MTAR Technologies, Data Patterns, International ARC and IndoStar Capital, showcasing its ability to identify and support high potential opportunities in both public and private markets.
For the speaker profiles, click here.
For the launch event agenda, click here.