Mumbai, 07 October 2025: Imarticus Learning, India’s leading professional education company, today announced the launch of the Imarticus School of Finance & Business (ISFB), the country’s first dedicated institution focused on bridging the persistent quality gap in finance education. Backed by a ₹25 crore venture fund in partnership with BLinC Invest, ISFB will empower entrepreneurial students with seed capital from day one to build and scale their ventures. For aspirants aiming for global B-schools, ISFB’s collaboration with Ambitio opens pathways to elite institutions such as NYU, Cambridge, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon, leveraging AI-powered admissions tools and mentorship from top admissions experts.
India produces over one million commerce graduates every year, yet less than 10 percent transition into sector-relevant finance roles. The issue is not supply, but quality. Recruiters consistently report that only one in ten candidates they meet is job-ready, with over 80 percent lacking the applied skills employers demand. Outdated curricula, rote-led education, and limited exposure to global practices have left graduates holding degrees but not careers. This is happening at a time when demand for finance talent is set to touch 16 million new jobs by 2030 across banking, investment, insurance, asset management, and fintech. Globally, finance education is racing ahead, embedding AI, fintech, and ESG at its core, while India lags.
ISFB has been established to close this gap by creating an institution where finance education is not just theoretical, but applied, practical, and benchmarked against international standards.
At the heart of ISFB is its proprietary R.E.A.L. pedagogy (Reflect, Experience, Apply, Learn), a framework where academic depth and industry exposure constantly reinforce each other. Reflection happens in classrooms led by industry leaders, where students examine real-world problems and decision frameworks. Experience comes through global and domestic immersions such as a week in Singapore with SP Jain School of Global Management, bootcamps at IIM Visakhapatnam, and grassroots finance explorations through the Explore India Mission. Application is built into the journey with M&A negotiations, Big4-led competitions, and simulation-driven trading labs that pressure test every concept. Learning is anchored throughout by academic leaders from IIMs, ISB, Ivy League schools, and leading economists, ensuring every concept is grounded in research and rigor.
The School launches with a three-year Bachelors in Finance & Business and will soon add an 11-month PG in Global Finance & AI. Both programmes are structured to deliver deep specialisations in fintech, financial analysis, and global accounting, with integrated CFA and ACCA pathways.
Industry integration is a defining feature of ISFB. Partnerships with Ambit (Investment Banking), Motilal Oswal (Asset & Wealth Management), and Cognizant (Digital Finance & AI) ensure students graduate with the exact skills employers demand.
Under the leadership of Joy Parekh, CEO of the Imarticus School of Finance and Business (ISFB), the institution is guided by a distinguished Advisory Council, chaired by Nikhil Barshikar (Founder & CEO, Imarticus Learning), and co-chaired by Ajay Srinivasan (Financial Services Veteran). Council brings together leaders such as Ajay Rajan (Country Head of Transaction Banking and New Economy Business, Yes Bank), Ravindra Pandey (Dy MD & CIO, State Bank of India), Garima Batra (MD and Partner, BCG), , Vikas Khattar (MD, Ambit), Dr. Avantika Tomar (Partner, EY Parthenon), Rajat Mathur (ex-MD, Morgan Stanley), along with policy experts, fintech innovators, and global academic leaders.
Beyond academics, ISFB equips students with career pathways at a scale rarely seen in Indian education. Preparation is shaped by 200+ industry experts who bring the boardroom into the classroom, and a hiring network of 1,000+ companies that translates training into real jobs. AI-driven mock interviews and masterclasses ensure graduates are job-wanted, not just job-ready. Structured internships with BFSI firms, fintechs, VC funds, and startup incubators give learners hands-on experience that often converts into full-time roles. Mentorship is woven into the journey, with 15+ personal mentors and access to an active alumni community that includes leaders at Goldman Sachs, PwC, and BlackRock. A ₹25 crore venture fund with BLinC Invest supports entrepreneurial ambitions, providing seed capital for student-led startups from day one. And for those who dream of attending global B-schools, ISFB’s partnership with Ambitio opens pathways to elite institutions such as NYU, Cambridge, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon, with AI-powered admissions tools and mentorship from top admissions officers.
The credibility of ISFB is rooted in Imarticus Learning’s decade-long legacy in finance education, having trained over 7,50,000 learners, placed 50,000+ professionals into Fortune 500 companies, and powered by a network of 3,500 hiring partners worldwide. Today, one in five investment bankers in India is an Imarticus alumnus. This placement record and employer trust provide ISFB with a strong foundation that few institutions can claim.
The campus, located at Hiranandani Knowledge Park, Powai, Mumbai, places students at the heart of India’s financial capital, surrounded by banks, fintechs, regulators, and investors. With smart classrooms, simulation labs, deal studios, ESG forums, and fintech clubs, the campus is designed to provide not only academic learning but also a professional environment that supports innovation and leadership.
Nikhil Barshikar, Founder of Imarticus Learning and Chairman of the Advisory Council, ISFB, said: “India doesn’t suffer from a shortage of graduates. It suffers from a shortage of graduates who are prepared for the future of finance. Outdated curricula and degree-led education no longer serve the needs of an industry that AI, digital lending, ESG, and globalisation are reshaping. ISFB has been created to address this gap. We’ve built an institution where practice is as important as theory, where global exposure is integral, and where industry sits inside the classroom. Our vision is simple: to give students a launchpad into careers that are globally relevant, future-focused, and real-world ready.”
Ajay Srinivasan( Executive and former CEO of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd), Co-Chair of ISFB’s Advisory Council, added: “Having spent over three decades helping to build large financial institutions, I know how critical talent is to driving and sustaining growth. ISFB is a bold response to a gap that exists. By bringing together top talent from academia and industry, it aims to create a new generation of professionals who can help shape the future of finance, both in India and on the world stage.”
With its cutting-edge pedagogy, strong industry partnerships, and the credibility of Imarticus’ legacy, ISFB represents a new chapter in higher education. More than a school, it is an institution built to prepare India’s next generation of finance professionals for the opportunities ahead.