JioBlackRock, the new joint venture between Jio Financial Services and BlackRock, recently launched its first active equity fund—the JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund NFO, open for subscription from September 23 to October 7, 2025. This new fund combines cutting-edge investment technology with the flexibility to invest across market capitalizations, aiming to generate long-term wealth even amid market turbulence.
But how do flexi cap funds, as a category, perform during volatile market conditions? Let’s explore.
The JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund is an open-ended dynamic equity scheme investing in a diversified portfolio of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks. It seeks long-term capital appreciation by deploying BlackRock’s proprietary Systematic Active Equity (SAE) approach. This unique investment framework blends artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and machine learning with expert human insights to build an adaptive portfolio.
Managed by experienced fund managers Tanvi Kacheria and Sahil Chaudhary, the fund uses the Aladdin technology platform that enhances decision efficiency and risk management. The fund benchmarks its performance against the Nifty 500 Total Return Index (TRI), with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.50% and no exit load, making it affordable and liquid for investors.
Flexi cap funds have surged in popularity as they allow the fund manager to allocate between large, mid, and small-cap stocks without fixed limits.
This flexibility provides tactical advantages in navigating market cycles—capturing growth during rallies while better managing downside risks during corrections.
According to recent data, the flexi cap category attracted ₹468 billion net inflows in the first eight months of 2025 alone, highlighting investor confidence amid fluctuations.
The ability to shift across different market caps helps flexi cap funds maintain a relatively balanced risk-return profile compared to funds that invest strictly in mid or small caps. This makes them an attractive choice for investors seeking long-term wealth creation in volatile markets.
Leading flexi cap funds like Parag Parikh Flexicap Fund, HDFC Flexi Cap Fund, JM Flexicap Fund, and Quant Flexi Cap Fund have showcased strong performances over multi-year periods despite market gyrations. For instance:
| Fund Name | 1-Year Return | 3-Year Return (Annualized) | 5-Year Return (Annualized) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parag Parikh Flexicap Fund | 11.80% | 22.10% | 26.50% |
| HDFC Flexi Cap Fund | 10.50% | 18.00% | 23.40% |
| JM Flexicap Fund | 8.85% | 24.58% | 27.03% |
| Quant Flexi Cap Fund | 8.01% | 18.43% | 27.13% |
These funds have demonstrated an ability to adapt asset allocation dynamically, which has shielded investors during downturns and reaped rewards during market recoveries.
What makes JioBlackRock’s flexi cap offering distinctive is its technology-driven investment process, using the SAE model. Unlike traditional flexi cap funds where decisions are highly subjective to fund manager expertise, the SAE approach leverages data from economic trends, social media, consumer behaviour, geolocations, and company fundamentals for systematic, evidence-based portfolio construction.
This systematic active investing approach aims to reduce human biases, enhance consistency, and potentially deliver superior returns over time.
The fund managers retain discretion to implement adjustments, blending technology and human judgment.
Flexi cap funds, including JioBlackRock’s newer offering, are subject to market volatility. Equity funds carry inherent risks such as:
Market fluctuations causing short-term NAV declines
Sector-specific or concentration risks if allocations weigh heavily on particular industries
Macro risks from global economic uncertainties, trade dynamics, and policy changes
JioBlackRock’s fund is classified as very high risk, which means it is suitable for investors with a long-term horizon (minimum 3-5 years) and a high risk tolerance.
Start with the minimum investment amount (₹500 in lump sum or SIP) to assess fund behaviour.
Use a SIP approach to average out entering prices during market volatility.
Monitor fund performance periodically but maintain a long-term view.
Compare with existing top flexi cap funds to understand relative performance.
The JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund offers Indian investors a novel approach through AI-backed systematic active investing combined with multi-cap flexibility.
Given the strong track record of established flexi cap funds in handling 2025’s volatile market, this new fund’s tech-driven model is a promising addition to the equity mutual fund space.