In a significant boost to India’s alternative investment landscape, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) officially launched the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital, the country’s first Centre of Excellence dedicated to PEVC research, innovation, and collaboration.

The Centre has been established through a generous endowment by Mathew Cyriac, IIMB PGP 1994 alumnus, Institute Gold Medallist, and recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. Cyriac, who serves as Chairman of Florintree Advisors and Co-founder of Yali Capital, is a former Managing Director and Co-Head of Blackstone India’s private equity business.

The Centre is named in honour of Hamilton Evans “Tony” James, former President and Vice Chairman of global investment firm Blackstone. It aims to foster world-class research, policy engagement, industry partnerships, and talent development in the private equity and venture capital sectors.

Speaking at the launch, Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge of IIMB, underscored the capital-intensive nature of high-quality research, noting that Cyriac’s contribution will help the institute build a globally competitive research ecosystem. Thampy, the newly appointed Florintree Chair in PEVC, outlined the Centre’s vision to strengthen India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by deepening the understanding and accessibility of private capital.

Mathew Cyriac explained that the idea was born during IIMB’s golden jubilee celebrations. “I wanted to reinforce IIMB’s stature in finance and create a centre of global repute. Tony James’ name reflects the highest standards of excellence in PEVC,” he stated.

Delivering the keynote address, Vivek Pandit, Senior Partner and Global Co-Leader for Private Equity at McKinsey & Company, emphasised the need for robust public-private partnerships and academic research. He noted that while India accounts for only 2% of global private capital deployment, it contributes nearly 10% of global incremental GDP growth, signalling untapped potential in the PEVC space.

Chief Guest Sanjiv Mehta, Executive Chairman of L Catterton India and former CEO of Hindustan Unilever, called the Centre “an exceptionally timely initiative”, stressing the immense capital requirements of India’s projected $4 trillion GDP growth.

In a virtual address, Tony James expressed gratitude and shared his long-standing connection to India, recalling his early collaboration with IIMB faculty during Blackstone’s expansion. He highlighted the Centre’s potential to guide the evolution of private capital in India through rigorous research and inclusive dialogue.

Prominent industry voices including Amit Jain of Carlyle India Advisors and Subrata Mitra of Accel lauded the Centre’s establishment. They cited the growing need for investor-entrepreneur partnerships, as well as research that reflects the realities of India’s rapidly transforming economic landscape.

The event also featured a moving tribute to four iconic IIMB finance faculty – Late Prof. Prakash Apte, Prof. Prasanna Chandra, Prof. S. Sundararajan, and Prof. George Varughese – with classrooms named in their honour.

Reflecting on the launch, Professor Sourav Mukherji, Dean of Faculty and Alumni Relations, said, “It is heartening when an alumnus gives back with the intent to advance indigenous research and inspire future generations.”

With its collaborative spirit, intellectual ambition, and sectoral relevance, the Tony James Centre is poised to become a pivotal institution in shaping India’s private capital landscape.

Also Read: IIM Bangalore EPGP batch’s International Immersion experience