Jinesh Gopani, former Axis MF star, plots comeback with Taksh AIF

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Nearly a year after his departure from Axis Mutual Fund, Jinesh Gopani has resurfaced with a new alternative investment fund, Taksh AIF (a category III AIF). Its inaugural scheme is the Taksh India Enterprising Fund.

Gopani has received financial backing from legendary investor Shivanand Mankekar and family, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Gopani was formerly head of equity at Axis Mutual Fund but left in 2023. Axis Mutual Fund faced a front-running investigation in 2023 and saw a complete revamp in its senior team.

The fund’s first offering, the Taksh India Enterprising Fund, signals Gopani’s renewed focus on capturing India’s entrepreneurial spirit with backing from one of the most respected names in the investment community. Also read: Sebi's proposed new asset class is just the ticket for affluent Indians Taksh means to ‘create’ or ‘carve out’, according to Gopani. “I admire the work that Nalanda Capital (Pulak Prasad) does and I wanted to come up with a name on similar lines," he said.

Taksh, named after the ancient university of Takshashila in Gandhara (now Afghanistan), marks Gopani’s re-entry into the investment landscape. Known for his growth and quality-driven investment style, Gopani made a name for himself at Axis Mutual Fund, which he joined in 2009. His strategy earned widespread acclaim in 2019 when his growth-focused picks outperformed the market.