India's first learning center for Private Equity and Venture Capital: IIM Bangalore to launch Tony James Centre

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) will open the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital on 6 August. This will be the opening of the first Global Centre of Excellence in research, learning, and networking in the private equity and venture capital (PEVC) space in Asia's third-largest economy

The Centre, named after Blackstone's Hamilton "Tony" James, has been established with support from Mathew Cyriac, Chairman of Florintree Advisors, Co-founder of Yali Capital, and 1994 IIMB graduate.

An MoU for establishing the Centre was signed on 24 August 2024 between IIMB and Cyriac, the top management institute stated in an official release, while mentioning that it is one of the biggest individual alumni gifts in IIMB's history. 

"This is not just a tribute, it is a pledge towards a future where Indian talent defines global investing discussions," Cyriac stated prior to the inauguration.

Cyriac, a gold medalist of his batch and the IIMB Distinguished Alumni Award winner in 2025, has donated one of the most valuable contributions in the history of the institute. His donation covers the new Centre, student scholarships studying finance in the PGP and Doctoral programmes, and naming four classrooms to honor influential faculty members.

The 6 August launch event will bring together the most prominent leaders in the international private equity and venture capital world. The proceedings will begin with a welcome address by Professor Sourav Mukherji, Dean of Faculty and Dean of Alumni Relations and Development.

Professor Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge of IIM Bangalore, will give the opening address, welcome the newly established Centre, and declare Professor Ashok Thampy from the Finance and Accounting division as its Chairperson, whose appointment has been announced. Professor Thampy, holder of the Florintree Chair in Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIMB, will unveil the vision of the Centre and lay out its future projects.

"The Tony James Centre will be a catalytic influence for shaping the future of PEVC in India and worldwide. Through teaching, research, and continuous interaction with industry, we aim to produce a new generation of leaders who will redefine the boundaries of investment and enterprise," stated Professor Thampy.

Professor Ashok Thampy, who has been designated Chairperson of the Centre and is Florintree Chair in Private Equity and Venture Capital, will give the Centre's roadmap. "The Tony James Centre will be a catalytic influence in determining the destiny of PEVC in India and globally," he mentioned.

Conceived as a premier platform for policy discourse, industry interaction, and academic research, the Centre seeks to pool global experts and cultivate extensive insight into upcoming private equity and venture capital developments. It also seeks to cultivate a next generation of finance professionals based on robust ethics and international best practices.