Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath | |
|---|---|
 Nikhil Kamath at World Economic Forum | |
| Born | September 5, 1986 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Dropped out after 10th grade |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Investor |
| Known for | Co-founder of Zerodha |
| Awards | Forbes 30 Under 30, Young Global Leaders |
| Website | zerodha.com |
Nikhil Kamath (born September 5, 1986) is an Indian entrepreneur and investor, best known as the co-founder of Zerodha, one of India’s largest retail brokerage firms. Kamath is recognized for his contributions to the financial services industry and for his role in revolutionizing the stock trading landscape in India through technology and innovation.
Early Life and Education
Nikhil Kamath was born in Shimoga, Karnataka, India, and was brought up in the small town of Udupi called Udyavara. He dropped out of school after completing 10th grade and does not hold any formal degrees [1].
Career
A combination of words ‘Zero’ and ‘Rodha’ (Sanskrit for ‘barrier’), Zerodha has been true to its name when it comes to serving common investors. Founded in 2010 by Nikhil Kamath and elder brother Nithin Kamath, Zerodha has emerged as a disruptor in the retail category by offering discount brokerage services. It has more than one crore retail subscribers, accounting for over 15% of retail volumes in the Indian stock market [2].
Last fiscal, Zerodha managed an asset base of ₹3 lakh crore, making it India’s largest retail-focused broker. In FY23, Zerodha reported revenue of ₹6,875 crore and profit after tax of ₹2,907 crore, compared to ₹4,964 crore in revenue and ₹2,000 crore in profit the previous year [3]. Nikhil Kamath is recognized as India’s youngest billionaire with a net worth of $3.1 billion, according to the Forbes Billionaires List 2024 [4].
Kamath started his career with a job at a call center while also engaging in equity trading on the side [5]. In 2006, he became a sub-broker and started his brokerage firm with his brother Nithin titled Kamath & Associates, which managed high-net-worth individual portfolios in the public markets [6].
In 2020, he co-founded True Beacon, an asset management company that helps ultra-high-net individuals invest in the Indian markets via privately pooled investment vehicles [7].
In 2021, Kamath co-founded Gruhas, a venture capital fund, with Abhijeet Pai. Gruhas invests in incubators, startups, and special situations through its proptech-focused fund [8].
In March 2023, Kamath started hosting the podcast 'WTF is'. As of April 2024, he has hosted notable personalities including Tanmay Bhat, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Suniel Shetty, Ritesh Agarwal, Ronnie Screwvala, and other public figures and entrepreneurs throughout the year [9].
In June 2023, he committed to donating 50% of his wealth to charitable causes like climate change, education, and healthcare by signing The Giving Pledge [10]. Kamath is also involved with various organizations and foundations such as Rainmatter, Giving Pi, Bridgespan, British Asian Trust, and YUVA.
Kamath has also been recognized for his financial acumen, being named among the youngest self-made billionaires in India. He is known for his views on the importance of financial literacy and has actively promoted it through various initiatives [11].
Chess.com Charity Match
In June 2021, Kamath participated in an online charity chess match against five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand to raise funds for those suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic [12]. During the event, Kamath cheated against Anand by using the assistance of chess analysts and engines. He later apologized, calling his behavior "quite silly" [13]. Following the match, Chess.com, the virtual platform used to play the charity game, decided to ban his account. However, Chess.com restored his account within 24 hours, stating, "Chess.com has no reason to uphold anything given its rules and guidelines toward unrated games and exhibition events" [14].
Personal Life
Nikhil Kamath is known for his philanthropic efforts and commitment to social causes. He has actively supported various initiatives focused on education, financial literacy, and environmental sustainability [15].
References
- ↑ Forbes: Nikhil Kamath
- ↑ Moneycontrol: Nikhil Kamath on How He Became a Multi-Millionaire at 29
- ↑ Forbes: How Zerodha is Changing the Brokerage Landscape in India
- ↑ Forbes: Nikhil Kamath
- ↑ Moneycontrol: Nikhil Kamath on How He Became a Multi-Millionaire at 29
- ↑ Financial Express: Nikhil Kamath's Startup Journey
- ↑ Financial Express: Nikhil Kamath's Startup Journey
- ↑ Moneycontrol: Nikhil Kamath Aims to Bring in the Next 100 Million Investors
- ↑ Financial Express: Nikhil Kamath Starts Podcast
- ↑ Forbes: Nikhil Kamath Signs The Giving Pledge
- ↑ Forbes: How Nithin and Nikhil Kamath are Changing the Indian Financial Landscape
- ↑ India Today: Nikhil Kamath Apologises to Viswanathan Anand
- ↑ Business Standard: Nikhil Kamath Cheats in Chess Match
- ↑ The Hindu: Nikhil Kamath Apologises to Viswanathan Anand
- ↑ Forbes: How Nithin and Nikhil Kamath are Changing the Indian Financial Landscape