With nearly two decades of experience spanning quantitative investing, trading and portfolio management across India and overseas, Gaurik Shah shares his investment philosophy, career journey and approach to managing investor money.
Let's start with your personal story
I was born and raised in Mumbai, where I completed my schooling before spending the next fifteen years across different cities and international financial centres pursuing higher education and building my career. After gaining global experience, I returned to Mumbai in 2015.
Academically, I hold an Engineering degree from the Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT), Pune University. I started my professional journey as a Software Engineer, which gave me a strong foundation in technology, analytical thinking, and structured problem-solving. Realising that my true passion lay at the intersection of data, decision-making, and financial markets, I pursued an MBA in Finance from XLRI Jamshedpur.
My career has been shaped by a combination of technology, finance, and global market exposure, which has helped me develop a disciplined and process-driven approach to investing.
How did you land this job?
My journey into fund management has evolved organically over nearly two decades in quantitative investing and trading.
I started my journey into financial markets after completing my MBA. My first role in the industry was as a Quantitative Research Analyst at a sell-side research firm, where I developed quantitative models and interacted closely with institutional investors, including mutual funds, hedge funds, and proprietary trading desks.
In 2010, I moved to Hong Kong to join RBS N.V. as a Delta One Trader, marking my transition from research into portfolio management and trading. I subsequently joined Monsoon Capital, a U.S.-headquartered hedge fund, where I traded Asia-Pacific equity index futures from both Mumbai and Singapore within a systematic CTA-style framework.
I returned to Mumbai in 2015 to manage quantitative equity strategies for a Category III AIF and later joined Avendus Capital in 2021, where I managed an aggressive alternative investment strategy.
Today, I am focused on building and managing systematic investment strategies under the Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) framework at Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, leveraging the experience gained across research, trading, portfolio management, and risk oversight in multiple markets and asset classes.
Which funds are you currently managing?
I currently manage the Platinum hybrid Long -short fund, with assets under management of approximately ₹210 crore.
These strategies are designed around systematic and quantitative investment principles, with a strong focus on research, disciplined execution, and risk management. My objective is to deliver differentiated risk-adjusted returns while maintaining a robust and repeatable investment process.
What is your investment philosophy, and how will you describe your investment strategy?
My investment philosophy is built around a simple belief: long-term investment success is driven by process, not prediction.
Financial markets are inherently uncertain, and rather than attempting to predict every market move, I focus on building robust investment processes that can navigate different market environments. Over the years,
My investment approach is quantitative and data-driven. We seek to identify repeatable market inefficiencies and behavioural patterns using statistical analysis, technology, and research. Investment decisions are driven by clearly defined rules rather than emotions or subjective opinions.
Equally important is risk management. Generating returns is only one part of the equation; preserving capital during difficult periods is just as critical. Every strategy is constructed with a strong emphasis on portfolio diversification, risk controls, and disciplined position sizing.
Having worked across India, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and across various market cycles, I have developed an investment framework that combines global best practices with a deep understanding of Indian markets.
What excites you most about managing other people's money?
What excites me most is the opportunity to transform years of research, experience, and innovation into investment solutions that can make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
The introduction of the SIF framework has created an opportunity to bring more sophisticated investment strategies to a wider set of investors. The challenge of developing and deploying new quantitative strategies and innovative products is intellectually stimulating, but the larger purpose is even more important.
When investors entrust us with their hard-earned savings, they are not simply allocating capital—they are placing trust in us to help achieve some of life's most important goals. Whether it is buying a home, funding a child's education, securing a comfortable retirement, or achieving financial independence, investment management ultimately has a direct impact on real people and real aspirations.
India's financial markets are evolving rapidly, and I believe fund managers have a responsibility that goes beyond generating returns. We must innovate responsibly, educate investors, communicate transparently, and help shape a better understanding of how disciplined investing can help individuals achieve their financial goals. Being able to contribute to that journey is what I find most rewarding about this profession.
