Paras Kumar

Paras Kumar is an Investment Analyst at First Pacific Advisors (FPA) in Los Angeles, California, having joined the firm in 2024. In his current role, he is part of the FPA investment team, contributing to fundamental research and portfolio analysis, with a focus on supporting asset allocation and investment decisions across FPA’s strategies. While his public firm biography does not specify his primary asset class, FPA is known for managing equity and fixed income funds, suggesting that Paras is engaged with these asset categories, potentially with a focus on cross-asset analysis or special situations typical of FPA’s multi-asset approach.

Prior to joining FPA, Paras founded and led DebateDrills, an online education business, for seven years. He successfully built this enterprise and managed its sale in 2022, subsequently staying on as an advisor to support the acquiring company’s U.S. expansion. This entrepreneurial experience demonstrates his expertise in business operations, strategic development, and scaling high-growth ventures, skills he now brings to his investment role.

Paras holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and was a PhD student at Berkeley before moving into industry roles. His background in environmental science and advanced research, combined with entrepreneurial success and current analytical responsibilities at FPA, position him as a versatile analyst with interests likely spanning both traditional and sustainable investment sectors.