Anand Singh: Curating a world-class investing experience for foreign investor
Anand Singh: Curating a world-class investing experience for foreign investor
“Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life, Its about what you inspire others to do”
Anand Singh founded Elios financial services in 2022, with a profound desire to change the way foreign investors look at investing in India. His deep domain knowledge, coupled with decades of experience with reputed firms like Motilal Oswal, Edelweiss, and IIFL led him to believe that there needs to be a paradigm shift in the way foreign investors access India’s capital markets. Which is when he decided to set up Elios, a boutique, advisory-led financial services firm, specifically focussed on offering curated solutions to such investor and adding value at every step of their investing and transactional journey in India. Hailing from the holy city of Varanasi, Mr. Singh brings over 2 decades of hands on experience, marked by transformative roles across the spectrum of financial services. From his humble origins to setting up Elios, his journey is a testament to resilience, vision and an unwavering commitment to simplify India’s capital markets.
Early Beginnings: The Spark of a Dream
Whilst being at Edelweiss, Mr. Singh travelled across the world selling the India story to the foreign investors. Early in the game, he realised that while global investors like India and wanted to invest, the rules and regulations around the same weren’t very investor friendly. For instance, it was relatively easy for an Indian investor to invest overseas, the same wasn’t necessarily true for foreign investors wanting a slice of India’s growth story. India was always a ”high-touch” market, which meant multiple touch points, regulations, counter-parties to deal with, complex entry regulations etc. Sophisticated investors found it difficult to navigate through the complex process and needed someone who could “hand-hold” them. That was the Eureka moment for Mr. Singh as he could clearly see the gaps he wanted to fill. Elios was thus born with a vision to transform and elevate the investing experience of foreign investors.
Rising Through Challenges: A Test of Resilience
The turning point came at Basiz Fund Services, where, from 2007 to 2011, as AVP (Sales) for the Middle East and India, Singh poured his soul into building the firm’s reputation. The joy of seeing Basiz rise as a leading fund administrator was tinged with the exhaustion of long hours and the pressure to deliver. Yet, the gratitude he felt for his supportive team and the pride in positioning the company as an industry contender fueled his determination. Those years taught him the value of trust and collaboration, emotions that would later define his leadership.
Building a Legacy: The Birth of Wilson and Elios
In 2017, Singh co-founded Wilson Financial Services Pvt Ltd, a venture born from a dream to innovate in credit and capital markets. The five-and-a-half years that followed were a rollercoaster of excitement and challenge. Late-night strategy sessions with his co-founder brought laughter and camaraderie, while the weight of responsibility tested his resolve. Seeing Wilson grow into a trusted name in Mumbai filled him with a profound sense of accomplishment. The launch of Elios Financial Services in October 202 was a moment of pure joy and nervous anticipation. Driven by a heartfelt mission to serve institutional investors with tailored solutions, he built a team that shares his passion. His advisory roles, including with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) Mauritius, reflect a deep sense of duty to bridge global and Indian financial landscapes.
A Leader with Heart: Connecting Through Empathy
Singh’s belief in empowering people and offering them equal opportunities for growth has been a hallmark of his success. At Elios he is trying to build a Leadership team that integrates empathy with a “people-first” mindset involving actively understanding team members’ feelings and perspectives, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard, and taking action to support their growth and well-being. Although a growing company, Elios has had an “Institutional” approach when it comes to its human capital. For instance, regular training sessions and workshops are organised around mental & emotional well being of the employees where some of the stalwarts of the industry are invited to share their views. Flexible working hours, regular team outings, one-on-one sessions on working Saturdays are just some of the examples of how it tries to balance work and personal well being.
Lessons from Experience: Shaping a Vision
His philosophy is rooted in client centricity and a “people first” approach. His decades of experience in the financial services business has taught him that no “people” business can succeed without having a good team that believes in you and is ready to put in their best foot forward. Singh’s vision of offering world class services to foreign investors would be a distant dream without a passionate team and hence Singh learned that a good team is a must. At Edelweiss Financial Services, from 2009 to 2017, as Head of Sales-Institutional Custody and Clearing, Singh scaled businesses with a sense of responsibility that kept him awake at night. The pride of growing custody and clearing services for diverse clients, including FIIs and AIFs, was matched by the humility of learning from every setback. These years instilled a deep compassion for his clients and team, shaping his approach at Elios.
Interview with Anand Singh
Question: What inspired you to start Elios Financial Services?
Anand Kumar: It was a dream born from years of seeing gaps in the market. I felt a deep urge to create something that serves institutional investors with heart and innovation. The excitement of building a team that shares my passion keeps me going every day.
Question: How do you manage the pressures of leadership?
Anand Kumar: It’s tough, especially late at night when doubts creep in. But the laughter of my team, their trust in me, it’s like a warm hug that pushes me forward. I lean on them, and that connection gets me through.
Question: What’s the most emotional moment in your career?
Anand Kumar: The offsite on August 24th, 2025, stands out. Seeing my team laugh and cry together under that open sky, it was overwhelming. I felt their love and support, and it reminded me why I do this.
Question: How do you see Elios impacting the future?
Anand Kumar: I dream of Elios as a global name with India’s soul. It’s about creating opportunities, touching lives, and leaving a legacy that my team and I can be proud of. That vision keeps my heart full.
Looking Ahead: A Dream for the Future
Looking to the future, Singh dreams of Elios becoming a global leader, with India at its core. His journey marked by late-night worries, triumphant smiles, and tearful gratitude, resonates with aspiring entrepreneurs. As Forbes India beautifully notes, “Anand Singh is not just building a company; he is weaving a legacy with threads of heart and soul.” With every handshake, every late-night call, and every shared laugh, Singh continues to inspire, proving that true success is measured not just in profits, but in the lives he touches.
