Gopakumar has a PGDM from IIM Bangalore (1991). As a key manager in two venture funds, ICICI Venture Management and CDC Capital Partners, over an eleven year period, he worked extensively on building small and medium businesses and on focusing on organizational growth, management and team development. Gopakumar has routinely negotiated with prospective investee companies, joint venture partners, mergers and acquisition specialists, and investment bankers and is certified by Effective Negotiation Services (Aus).

He is an alumnus of the Beahrs Environment Leadership Programme run by University of California, Berkeley, the co-founder of The Nityata Foundation (www.nityata.org), Wildlife and Conservation focused foundation in Bangalore and teaches Corporate Social Responsibility at Business Schools.