Mr. Ankit Agarwal Fund Manager
Possessing over 18 years of extensive experience, their professional journey spans venture capital, private equity, exotic derivatives trading, semiconductor design, and entrepreneurial ventures in the EdTech sector. For more than 13 years, they were an integral part of the investment teams at ICICI Venture (a pioneering Alternative Investment Fund manager in India), PineBridge Investments' Asia Fund, and Enam Family Office. During this tenure, their responsibilities encompassed sourcing investment opportunities, conducting deal evaluation, performing due diligence, structuring transactions, overseeing portfolio growth and performance, executing mergers and acquisitions, managing exits, and facilitating fundraising activities. They also served as the funds' designated representatives on the boards of portfolio companies.
In 2020, they founded an EdTech company, successfully securing $2.5 million in funding from Matrix Partners and angel investors. The company achieved significant scale, surpassing $1 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and growing to over 100 employees. This venture concluded with an intellectual property sale in 2022 to a prominent EdTech firm in India.
Academically, they hold a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (2005), and a Master of Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (2010).
Mr. Ashish Jalan Fund Manager
Mr. Jalan, a Chartered Accountant and an MBA in Finance from SPJIMR, Mumbai, also holds a degree from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He oversees transaction assessment, deal formulation, investment execution, capital sourcing, and portfolio oversight. His extensive background in domestic credit markets spans nearly 15 years, encompassing asset management, banking, and credit rating services. Prior to establishing the credit AIF venture, Mr. Jalan spent approximately 9 years with Nippon India Mutual Fund's Fixed Income Investment team. His earlier professional engagements include roles at DBS Bank, ICRA Ltd., and Global Analytics.
Mr. Rahul Apte Fund Manager
Mr. Apte holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and a Master of Business Administration in Finance & Marketing from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. With over 18 years of professional experience, Rahul possesses comprehensive expertise in structured credit, encompassing deal origination, client relationship management, credit evaluation, portfolio oversight, and exit strategies. He was a foundational member of the Project & Structured Finance division at Aditya Birla Finance, significantly contributing to the growth of their wholesale credit Assets Under Management (AUM) to approximately $2 billion over a ten-year period. Subsequently, he spearheaded the Non-Banking Financial Company's (NBFC) expansion into the Emerging Clients segment as Business Head.
Mr Rahul Veera Fund Manager
Mr. Rahul Veera is presently the Fund Manager (Equity) at Nippon India AIF, bringing over 14 years of comprehensive experience in equity research and fund management. His professional background includes contributions to esteemed institutions such as Abakkus Asset Managers, Morgan Stanley, Edelweiss, and Elara Capital. Mr. Veera's academic qualifications comprise a Bachelor of Commerce from H.R. College (Mumbai University), an MBA from Swansea University (UK), and an Executive Finance certification from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. He possesses a strong research acumen across various industry verticals, including consumer staples, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and construction materials. Mr. Veera has demonstrated a consistent ability to discern lucrative investment themes and securities, resulting in significant wealth creation. His career trajectory across multiple organizations has fostered a broad spectrum of transferable expertise, enabling him to perform effectively in portfolio management and investment analysis.
Mr. Sachin Bid Fund Manager
With over two decades of experience, this professional possesses extensive expertise in sourcing investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, and structuring Private Equity and Venture Capital investments. Their capabilities encompass portfolio monitoring and support, fund-raising activities, financial modelling, and the development and execution of differentiation strategies for portfolio companies. They are adept at evaluating and implementing inorganic growth initiatives.
Their experience includes leading growth and early-stage investments within India-focused consumer businesses. This has involved direct investments in Venture Capital funds, the launch of startups, and, more recently, the co-founding and successful divestment of an internet-based travel startup. Their involvement extends to both investor and operator roles, where they have been instrumental in incubating and scaling startups from inception to significant monthly revenue generation (in USD millions). They have also managed successful business pivots and contributed to the diligence processes and portfolio construction of various VC funds.
Before joining NAM India, this individual served as the Co-founder & CEO of "MyDreamHoliday," a travel startup specializing in the online distribution and discovery of tourist products. They successfully exited the company through a 100% stake sale to a prominent B2B cruise operator in India.
Prior to establishing their own venture, they were associated with Ncubate Capital, a family office fund with assets under management of $300 million, and Nine Rivers Capital, a Private Equity fund.
Their educational qualifications include an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (expected completion 2025), and professional certifications such as CAIA and CFA (ICFIA).
