Loading page
Our Philosophy
Built on Trust.Driven by Discipline.
Certus Capital is a specialist asset management firm delivering secured private credit at scale. We combine global institutional standards with custom built tech to provide sophisticated credit solutions and predictable, secured returns.
Over the last 15+ years, our founders/senior teams has never lost capital at Certus or prior organizations.
"We bring institutional discipline and a tech-first approach to real estate credit — giving developers reliable, flexible capital, and giving investors secure, predictable returns once reserved for the world's largest institutions."
Chapter One
Institutional Advisory
2018 - 2022
2018
Certus Capital Founded
July 2018 — institutional asset management firm
Founded to channel deep institutional expertise into secured real estate private credit — advisory first, proprietary investing to follow.
2019
First Advisory Landmark
INR 1,375 Cr — first-of-its-kind secondary loan trade
The Oaktree/DHFL-Bombay Dyeing transaction closed in January 2019, weeks after IL&FS default — when Certus was barely six months old. Proof of sophisticated credit engineering at a moment when few firms would move.
2020
Advisory Scale & Recognition
Market recognizes Certus' bespoke approach
Ranked among the top 5 advisors in BFSI (Venture Intelligence, Jan 2020). Ashish Khandelia authored the VC Circle paper (Dec 2020) calling the absolute bottom of the real estate cycle and the capital vacuum.
2022
Private Credit Investing Begins
January 2022 - First principal investment closed
Commenced senior secured real estate private credit investing — transitioned from advisory proprietary debt investing structured
The Turning Point
2022
EvolutionReal Estate
Real Estate
Private Credit Investing
In January 2022, we commenced secured debt investing and launched our proprietary digital stack Earnnest.me — making institutional-quality secured credit directly accessible to a broad investor base (individuals to institutions), without diluting our governance-first framework.
Chapter Two
Private Credit at Scale
2022 - Present
2022
Proprietary Digital Stack
Earnnest.me — powered by Certus Capital
Launched our proprietary digital investor portal — full transparency, real-time portfolios, and self-service access. Making institutional-quality secured credit directly accessible to a broad investor base, without compromising our governance-first framework.
2024
Portfolio Milestones
~14-16% net IRR on exits · institutional partnership, start
First complete exits delivered ahead of contracted terms with ~16%+ net returns to investors and 100% on-time interest and principal repayments. GRI Awards recognition. Secured our first institutional partnership.
2025
Scale & Geographic Expansion
INR 1,000 Cr portfolio crosses
Crossed INR 1,000 Cr in credit portfolio (Apr 2025). Geographic expansion in India & UAE Distribution network across 500+ wealth and financial advisors.
2026
Institutional Deepening
Domestic AIF launched, GIFT City License
~INR 2,000+ Cr committed across 22 deals with 8 complete exits. Certus TFCI Real Estate Fund (INR 500 Cr + greenshoe) anchored by TFCI (10%). Establishing GIFT City presence for global capital alongside SEBI (AIF) and RBI (NBFC) licences.
₹2,000+ CrCapital Committed
22/8Deals Invested/Exited
₹8,750+ CrTransactions Advised
5,000+Registered Users
75%Repeat Participation Rate
₹2,000+ CrCapital Committed
22/8Deals Invested/Exited
₹8,750+ CrTransactions Advised
5,000+Registered Users
75%Repeat Participation Rate
₹2,000+ CrCapital Committed
22/8Deals Invested/Exited
₹8,750+ CrTransactions Advised
5,000+Registered Users
75%Repeat Participation Rate
- ₹2,000+ Cr — Capital Committed
- 22/8 — Deals Invested/Exited
- ₹8,750+ Cr — Transactions Advised
- 5,000+ — Registered Users
- 75% — Repeat Participation Rate
Meet the Founder
Ashish Khandelia
Chartered Accountant, MBA (Indian School of Business)
0+
Years of ExperienceUS$0Bn+
Transaction ExperiencePrior Experience At
Professional Highlights.
Track Record & Scale
01
FOUNDED CERTUS CAPITAL
Built an institutional asset management firm focused on secured real estate private credit — pioneering the institutionalization of this emerging asset class.
02
INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Led real estate businesses at KKR and Morgan Stanley Real Estate in India. No loss of capital since 2010 — including through 2014–2018, one of India's toughest RE credit vintages. Under his leadership, the businesses maintained global institutional operating and governance standards.
03
SCALE & EXECUTION
Built KKR's real estate lending platform from a business plan to ~US$1.0 Bn of investments — the same execution DNA that powers Certus today.
04
THREE BUSINESS LINES
Instrumental in building three distinct businesses across real estate lending, equity investing, and investment banking — providing liquidity and structuring capital where traditional channels were absent.