Ash Khandelwal has built a successful career on recognizing underappreciated asset classes and market inefficiencies. As the Managing Partner of eponymous Ash Capital, a high-performing private equity firm, Khandelwal’s convictions around financial inclusion—particularly through digital infrastructure and decentralized tools—are earning him attention well beyond traditional finance circles.
“Finance shouldn’t be a gated experience,” he says. “We’re building systems that put power in the hands of people, not just institutions.” While Ash Capital is known for its aggressive short-term strategies and double-digit returns in real estate arbitrage and venture allocations, a much larger mission underlines his work: democratizing financial opportunity.
A New Lens on Private Equity
Launching his first accredited company through MIT’s incubator at age 14, Khandelwal has since evolved into a multi-sector investor with a deep interest in the confluence of influence, innovation, and capital. Today, Ash Capital manages over $30 million in assets, serving a curated network of investors that includes athletes, creators, and institutional players alike.
But what sets Khandelwal apart is how he envisions private equity—not merely as a vehicle for wealth accumulation, but as a catalyst for systemic change. His focus on emerging digital infrastructure, particularly decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and mobile-first tools, underscores his belief that finance should not be a gated experience. “The next financial revolution when it comes to crypto isn’t going to be led by institutions; it’s going to be led by individuals,” Khandelwal says.
Bridging the Digital Divide Through Education
Central to Khandelwal’s thesis is the idea that financial literacy and access must extend beyond early adopters. While many crypto products are built with digital natives in mind, Ash Capital is backing initiatives designed to reach older generations—those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—who may feel alienated by technical jargon or intimidated by volatile digital assets.
He emphasizes that mobile-native, user-friendly platforms are not only breaking down technical barriers but also expanding crypto’s reach globally. “This information is becoming a lot simpler, more concise, and easier to digest,” he notes, highlighting the importance of education as a cornerstone of adoption. Khandelwal believes that the more accessible DeFi tools become, the greater their impact will be—particularly in regions where centralized banking infrastructure is either unreliable or entirely absent.
Decentralization as a Global Equalizer
Khandelwal speaks often of “crypto without borders”—not just as a catchphrase, but as a vision for an inclusive financial future. In many emerging markets, where inflation, corruption, and limited access to traditional banks are daily obstacles, decentralized systems are not just beneficial—they’re essential. “Crypto is becoming a tool in countries where inflation, corruption, and lack of access to banks are life-changing challenges,” he explains.
By enabling individuals to securely store and move value without reliance on a central authority, Khandelwal sees decentralized finance as a lifeline in regions where people have limited trust in their financial institutions and governments. From Africa to South America, Ash Capital is evaluating platforms that empower individuals to safeguard their assets and participate in local and global economies with autonomy.
Decentralized, Mobile and Global
For Khandelwal, accessibility is a non-negotiable when it comes to expanding greater financial inclusion. “Mobile phones are the most widespread form of technology worldwide. They’re the perfect on-ramp for new users,” he says. Whether on a $5 Android device or a high-end smartphone, emerging DeFi applications now allow users to store, send, and earn with ease.
Just as e-commerce and mobile banking revolutionized retail and finance over the past decade, Khandelwal believes DeFi will reshape how individuals around the world think about ownership and security. “Why shouldn’t people have access to their own assets?” he asks. “Why should anyone else get to dictate whether or not they do?” By backing companies building infrastructure with institutional-grade security and streamlined onboarding, Ash Capital is helping dismantle the remaining gatekeeping in global finance.
From Wealth Creation to Wealth Access
Under Khandelwal’s leadership, Ash Capital has carved out a niche in innovative investment strategies—but its long-term legacy may lie in how it helped redefine who gets to participate in wealth creation. Aligning capital with emerging technologies that prioritize usability and inclusion, Khandelwal is positioning his firm not just as a returns-focused fund, but as an architect of a more equitable financial ecosystem.
“The future of finance is decentralized, mobile, and global,” he affirms. And increasingly, that future is being shaped by visionary investors like Khandelwal who are willing to bet on more than just numbers.
For more insights from Ash Khandelwal, follow him on LinkedIn or visit his website.
