Bengaluru: People Tree Hospitals Founder, MD & CEO, Dr. Jothi Neeraja, has initiated the exit process for BlackRock, which invested ₹210 crore ($24 million) in the hospital network earlier this year. The investment in March marked BlackRock’s first major bet on India’s healthcare delivery sector, backing People Tree’s expansion and super-specialty growth.
A first-generation woman entrepreneur from Kadapa and an Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Dr. Neeraja built People Tree from the ground up, steering it into a 300-bed multi-specialty institution known for ethical and affordable care. Her governance track record includes early exits to 78 investors and a timely exit for the family office of Infosys Co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan.
“I began with no legacy or network, only intent and integrity. When investors trust you, you uphold it. Ensuring BlackRock’s exit reflects that commitment,” she said.
As People Tree enters its transition phase, Dr. Neeraja is now driving the expansion of Maarga Mind Care, which aims to build a 1,000-bed, 25-center specialized mental health network to address India’s vast 70–90% treatment gap.
Highlighting the need for urgent focus, she noted, “India has mastered super-specialty care. The coming decade must prioritize mental health with the same rigor.”
From managing investor confidence to scaling ethical healthcare models, Dr. Neeraja continues to shape an impact-led, financially disciplined approach to healthcare entrepreneurship in India.
