Apoorva Bajaj, CFA

Fund Manager, The Simple Fund (TSF)

"We are a sector agnostic fund and invest in early-stage startups registered in India, building for India and the world."

• Profile: Apoorva Bajaj is a skilled professional with 10 years of rich experience in Investment Management, Hedge Funds, Consulting, ESG Quant Scorecard Creation, Carbon Intensity Modelling, Blockchain, Tokenization of Real-World Assets and Emerging Technologies Skilling. He has worked with clients across the globe on various projects to create award winning products along with high client satisfaction and excellent feedback.
• In his previous roles Apoorva was the Practice Head of Financial Markets at GlobalData where he created quant scorecard-based products which won multiple awards. He has worked with Hedge funds of Goldman Sachs, DE Shaw and Credit Analysis Unit of J.P. Morgan tracking Oil & Gas, Mining and Steel sector MNCs.
• Apoorva is an alumnus of IIM Kozhikode and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. He is a Gold Medallist from IIM and a CFA Charter-holder. He is a sought-after trainer in emerging technologies including AI, Blockchain, Data Science etc. He has done advanced technologies training from courses offered by IBM, Google, Indian School of Business (ISB).

Nishchal Kesarwani

Partner & Founder, The Simple Fund (TSF)

"The Simple Fund (TSF) is a partner for founders who want to bring relevant change in the world using technology whilst keeping in mind sustainability of the planet. We look for engineer-led startups solving large-scale local & global problem.”

• Profile: Some of the projects Nishchal advised or connected, often for no benefits, just out of his love for entrepreneurs are mentioned below:
• GameXS.in — Helped them raise their seed investment in 2014–15.
• Ebikego —Advised them and made way to have them get a consultant who eventually was hired into their management team.
• Zipgo — Nishchal connected two entrepreneurs Jitendra and Pritesh for he felt they were headed for a common goal. After a few years, they cofounded ZipGo and ended up raising $55 million together.
• 91springboard — Connected the cofounder of 91 Springboard, Varun Chawala with someone whose company Varun acquired for his father’s travel business.
• Co-living and homestays — Spent ample time exploring accommodation industry with a friend Minakshi as a potential partner. Nishchal and Ritesh Agarwal, founder, OYO once lectured together about the entrepreneurship and the accommodation industry in India.
• LawClik — A firm we are looking to lay our mind and connection to, to make a dent in the legal industry with. The founder is a friend who often collaborates with Nishchal over their legal industry tech thought.
• eduSquare — I am involved with them as a friend over matters of their growth. Soon we will translate this friendship into a business handshake.
• www.IVAT.Com — I have been offered to join them as a co-founder. This deal is under negotiation
• Delhi Furniture Company
• DIY Guru — An education company that can lead Indian students into contemporary education about mobility. Nishchal is looking to find an investor for them.
• Potbelly — Its an award-wining restaurant chain of regional food, and it is winning. Nishchal helped them hands on during the first few months of Potbell’s start.