Nilesh Mehta
Co-founder & Managing Partner, Access India Fund - I

Cumulative thirty + years investing and financial services experience, of which twenty years are in direct private equity investing. Access India Fund – I, Managing Partner (2011 to present date): Nilesh co-founded Access India Fund– I, a private equity fund investing in mid-market privately held companies in India. He has been instrumental in setting up and investing from a US$ 50 mn fund focusing on consumer and B2B service segments. This Fund is fully invested across 5 portfolio companies.

Aureos India, Managing Partner (2005 to 2010): Nilesh was part of the founding team of Aureos’ activities in India. Aureos is an asset manager, owned originally by CDC (Commonwealth Development Corporation, UK) and Norfund (Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, Norway). Nilesh was instrumental in setting up and investing a US$ 100 Mn fund focused on investments in small and medium-sized businesses in India. The fund made 5 investments and 2 exits during his tenure. Nilesh led 2 investments - in Paras Pharmaceuticals and Accutest Research, both of which are successfully exited.

eIndia/Infinity II, Founder and Managing Partner (2000 to 2005): In 2000, Nilesh set up the US - India cross border technology fund called eIndia Venture Fund (also known as Infinity II). Infinity II made 5 investments in early-stage technology companies. Meghraj Financial, Managing Director (1992 to 2000): Nilesh was instrumental in Meghraj Bank’s (the UK-based private bank) entry into India. Nilesh’s primary activities included investing in venture and private equity on behalf of Meghraj’s clients as well as setting up their investment banking business. During this time, Nilesh led 7 investments and 5 exits. Before Meghraj, Nilesh spent eight years in corporate leasing, hire purchase, and retail car financing as Executive Director, Anagram Finance between 1984 and 1992. 

Education: Nilesh is a Chartered Accountant (a rank holder in both levels), and a management graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad where he also taught Finance and Control Systems as a visiting faculty for few years. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Gujarat University, where he was ranked 3 rd in the University. Other Positions: Nilesh is a Charter Member of TiE, Mumbai. Nilesh also sits on the Boards of a few public and private limited companies and is one of the founder trustees of Aavishkaar Micro Venture Fund, set up to invest in socially relevant, sustainable, and scalable rural businesses.