Dr. Venkatesh Panchapagesan is Professor of Finance at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) and Chairperson of the Real Estate Research Initiative, where he leads applied research on housing, land markets, and real estate finance in India. He holds a PhD in Finance from the University of Southern California, United States, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Calcutta. He is also a Chartered Accountant (All India Rank #2) and Cost and Works Accountant (All India Rank #5), and holds a BCom from R.K.M. Vivekananda College, University of Madras.
Dr. Panchapagesan has extensive experience across academia, capital markets, financial regulation, and corporate governance. He currently serves as an Independent Director on the boards of Brigade Enterprises Ltd. and Zerodha Trustee Pvt. Ltd., and has previously served on the boards of NSE IFSC Ltd., Gujarat Student Startup and Innovation Hub, and IIMB Innovations. He is a member of several expert and technical committees at SEBI, IBBI, IFSCA, and the National Housing Bank, and chaired SEBI’s 2023 Working Group on Alternative Investment Funds. He has also contributed to the oversight of BSE and ICCL as an independent expert.
Dr. Panchapagesan has a strong interest in entrepreneurship and innovation and previously headed NSRCEL, IIMB’s entrepreneurship and innovation centre. He mentors and advises startups and alternative funds, particularly in the fintech and proptech sectors, and serves as Faculty Advisor to the Fintech Centre of Excellence, a joint initiative of the Government of Karnataka and IIM Bangalore. His previous industry experience includes roles at Bridgewater Associates and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, while his international academic experience includes teaching at NYU Stern School of Business and Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. He was also invited to serve as a Visiting Chief Economist at the Nasdaq Stock Market.
His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed international journals, with a focus on real estate markets, market microstructure, and financial regulation. His work has informed public policy and institutional practice, and he has advised organisations including HUDCO, Capgemini, and various state and central government agencies. He is also a regular contributor to leading Indian publications, including The Hindu Business Line, Mint, and Business Standard, writing on land reforms, real estate transparency, and regulatory effectiveness.