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Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital

About the Centre

The Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIM Bangalore is a pioneering initiative that aims to be a global thought leader in research and education in private equity, venture capital, and alternative financing.

Supported by a generous endowment from Mr. Mathew Cyriac, an IIMB alumnus and a leader in the Indian private equity space, the Centre is named in honour of Mr. Tony James, former President and COO of The Blackstone Group. The Centre will serve as a hub where academics, practitioners, and policymakers converge to shape the future of the investment ecosystem in India and beyond.


The Centre will be led by Professor Ashok Thampy, who has been appointed the Florintree Chair Professor for Private Equity and Venture Capital. Under his leadership, the Centre will:

  • Drive cutting-edge research
  • Design impactful, practice-relevant courses
  • Foster deep industry-academia engagement
  • Offer advanced electives in PE and VC
  • Host the prestigious Ashish Dhawan Annual Lecture
  • Support emerging talent through scholarships for MBA and PhD students

With a strong academic foundation and meaningful industry connections, the Tony James Centre is set to become a catalyst for thought leadership, talent development, and innovation in the evolving world of private equity and venture capital.