According to a document seen by a media house, India’s markets regulator has accused Pranav Adani, the nephew of the billionaire founder and a director of many Adani Group firms, of sharing price-sensitive information and violating laws meant to stop insider trading.
According to a report, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) last year sent a notice to Gautam Adani’s nephew Pranav Adani, accusing him of informing his brother-in-law about Adani Green’s 2021 acquisition of SoftBank-backed SB Energy Holdings prior to the deal’s announcement.
Pranav Adani acknowledged that “he has not violated any securities law” and that he was looking to resolve the charges “to put an end to the matter, without admission or denial of the allegations”. A media report further claims that settlement terms were being considered.
Adani Group on the Firing Line
The Adani group’s most recent hurdle is the scrutiny. Gautam Adani and two Adani Green officials were accused by US authorities last year of allegedly deceiving US investors and paying bribes to obtain contracts for Indian power delivery.
The group has referred to the accusations as “baseless” and refuted them. According to the SEBI document, which revealed call logs and trading patterns were examined during the investigation, Pranav Adani broke insider trading regulations in 2021 by providing his brother-in-law Kunal Shah with UPSI (unpublished price sensitive information) about the SB Energy acquisition.
The paper further stated that Kunal Shah and his brother Nrupal Shah made “ill-gotten gains” of 9 million rupees ($108,000) through their trading in Adani Green shares. The Shah brothers claimed in a statement issued by their legal practice that neither malicious intent nor knowledge of any unpublished price-sensitive information was involved in the trades.
According to the statement, the relevant information was already widely accessible and in the public domain.
Adani Group-SB energy Largest Acquisition in Renewable Energy Sector
The largest acquisition in India’s renewable energy industry to date was Adani Green’s purchase of SB Energy on May 17, 2021, for an enterprise value of $3.5 billion.
According to SEBI, Pranav Adani learnt about the upcoming acquisition two to three days before the deal was concluded on May 16, 2021. SEBI had suggested that Kunal and Nrupal Shah also reach a settlement, but the brothers decided to fight the accusations because they felt the conditions were too harsh.
Following the conclusion of SEBI’s ongoing assessment of its settlement process, Pranav Adani’s settlement plea will be considered.
Microsoft has said that it will shut down Skype, its video-calling service, on May 5 of next week. Skype was one of the most popular video-calling platforms in the last two decades when it was launched in 2003.
However, the emergence of WhatsApp and FaceTime for video calling, which increased competition, coincided with the rapid advancements in communication technology. As part of its larger plan to simplify its other communication platforms and concentrate on Microsoft Teams, Microsoft revealed in an official blog post that Skype is being decommissioned.
“We will be retiring Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams (free), our modern communications and collaboration hub, in order to streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs,” the company said.
Existing Users can Migrate to Teams
Since these Skype IDs can be used to log in and effortlessly move contacts and chats on the Teams platform, Microsoft has also confirmed that current Skype users won’t experience any significant problems when switching to Teams.
In order to give people enough time to adjust, the firm first disclosed this decision earlier this year for this and other reasons. The move won’t be too difficult because both systems have comparable functionality, and Microsoft has promised consumers that thorough help would be provided during the transfer process.
Microsoft has announced that Skype Credit and calling plans, among other premium services, will no longer be available to new customers. Nevertheless, paying subscribers can still utilise Teams to access their active subscriptions and credit.
Additionally, Microsoft has made it clear that even when Skype Credit is stopped, any unused services will remain accessible. Via the Skype web portal or Microsoft Teams, paid users will also get access to earlier premium features like the Skype Dial Pad.
History of Skype
With the assistance of a group of former classmates who had no prior telecommunications experience, Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, who had previously co-founded the peer-to-peer file-sharing application Kazaa, established Skype in Estonia in 2003. Skype started off as a way for users to make free online calls to each other.
The unusual title was a reference to the VoIP (voice over internet protocol) infrastructure that underpinned the service: “sky peer to peer”. Skype quickly gained popularity. Eleven million users had registered by 2004.
With 54 million users, Skype was expecting $60 million in revenue annually from fees from people who wanted to call landlines and mobile phones by the time eBay revealed plans to purchase Skype Technologies SA for $2.6 billion in 2005.
Meg Whitman, the CEO of eBay at the time, had the idea that by bringing buyers and sellers together, Skype would enable individuals to sell goods—especially expensive ones—more rapidly. Additionally, eBay might charge more for these calls.
Skype users worldwide could also learn about PayPal and eBay. After 29 days, the transaction was finalised.
According to reports, the Karnataka state government has no intention of revising its March 2024 ruling banning bike taxi activities, despite the state’s imminent prohibition on the service.
The Karnataka High Court has extended the deadline for stopping bike taxi services till June 15; however, the prohibition is expected to have a significant impact on millions of commuters, lakhs of bike taxi drivers, and aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido.
The HC granted the extension after the three had already filed a case contesting the Karnataka state government’s decision. Not to mention, the HC gave these bike platforms six weeks to cease operations in the state in its April 2 ruling, citing the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988’s lack of a legal framework.
According to a media report, the government is reluctant to reevaluate the prohibition because, in contrast to cars and taxis, bike taxis are mostly used for private purposes and do not pay ongoing taxes.
Although there is only a one-time lifetime tax applied when buying a bike, around 1.7 lakh cars travel Bengaluru’s roads and are subject to periodic taxes. Similar tax laws also apply to taxis.
Change in the Tax System of Commercial Vehicle
The tax structure pertaining to commercial vehicles, such as cars and taxis, has recently changed. As of May 2025, the majority of commercial vehicles are now subject to a lifetime tax scheme, whereas cars and taxis previously paid quarterly taxes.
Ramalinga Reddy, the transport minister for Karnataka, has ordered the transport department to implement the High Court’s decision to halt bike taxi activities in a similar manner. It is anticipated that commuters will pay more if there are no bike taxis available.
To make matters worse, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) raised metro fares by about 50% earlier this year, and state-run bus fares have already climbed by 15%. Between 75,000 and 1 lakh bike taxi users in Bengaluru are thought to be connected to several ride-hailing services.
Rapido said at the previous HC hearing that the livelihoods of about 6 lakh bike taxi drivers connected to the platform would be impacted by the court’s prior order. This measure clearly benefits cab service providers and autorickshaw operators. Karnataka has been experiencing continuous turmoil due to the purportedly unlawful activities of bike taxis.
The transport department launched a specific enforcement campaign against these services in response to protests spearheaded by unions representing drivers and autorickshaws.
Demand of Regulatory Framework for Bike Taxis
Growing worries about women’s safety are the reason behind the call for an appropriate regulatory framework for bike taxis. Additionally, Karnataka was compelled to discontinue its e-bike program, which was started in 2021 to enhance first- and last-mile connectivity from train, bus, and metro stations.
Following union-led protests over alleged scheme misuse, the action was taken. Simultaneously, unions representing bike taxis have demonstrated opposition to specific state initiatives. In the past few years, there have been multiple incidents of physical confrontations between car drivers and bikers, and numerous films of abuse of bike taxi drivers have gone viral.
Citing allegations of conflicts between car drivers and bike taxi operators in the city, the Bike Taxi Welfare Association filed a case in the High Court. The High Court ordered the state government to preserve bike taxi activities in Karnataka in response to this appeal.
Cellecor Gadgets Limited, one of India’s fastest-growing consumer electronics brands, has announced the launch of its “Pink Leave” policy, a progressive initiative aimed at supporting women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace and becoming one of the few companies in India to formally recognise menstrual health as a workplace priority.
The newly introduced policy grants one paid leave per month to all female employees during their menstrual cycle, reinforcing Cellecor’s commitment to building a workplace culture that is not only high-performance but also compassionate, inclusive, and gender-sensitive.
“At Cellecor, we believe that true productivity is rooted in physical and emotional wellbeing,” said Mr. Ravi Agrawal, Managing Director, Cellecor Gadgets Limited. “The Pink Leave policy is a reflection of our values-it acknowledges a very real physiological need with dignity, and reinforces our trust in our people. Supporting our women team members through thoughtful policies is an essential part of how we define leadership.”
This initiative applies across all verticals and locations of Cellecor Gadgets Limited and reflects the brand’s forward-thinking HR approach grounded in wellbeing, equity, and inclusion. In a country where conversations around menstrual health are still often avoided, Cellecor is taking a bold, human-centric stance.
The Pink Leave policy is more than a benefit- it is a statement: That employee wellbeing is integral to business success, and that women deserve supportive frameworks that acknowledge real challenges and create real solutions.
By being among the few companies in India to implement this kind of leave, Cellecor is not just changing its internal culture-it’s sending a message to the wider industry: Empathy is leadership. Women’s empowerment is a policy. And inclusion is non-negotiable.
As a homegrown brand proudly aligned with the Make in India mission, Cellecor continues to drive innovation not only in technology but also in people practices that truly matter.
About Cellecor Gadgets Limited
Cellecor Gadgets Limited’s journey in the electronics device business, and selling products in its own brand, including Smart TVs, Smart Gadgets, Wearables, Mobile Phones, Home and Kitchen Appliances, and more outsourced from various electronic assemblers and manufacturers, started in 2012 as M/s Unity Communications-its founder Mr. Ravi Agarwal’s proprietorship firm. The company is promoted and managed with an enduring sustainable business strategy, wherein the company aims to synergetic amalgamate business potential embedded in the ever-growing demand for electronic products with a modern business approach of sourcing, producing, and marketing with an objective to provide quality products at affordable prices.
Today, Cellecor Gadgets Ltd is a leading name in the consumer electronics industry, known for its innovative and cutting-edge technology. With a commitment to making happiness affordable, Cellecor offers a diverse range of products, including mobile phones, smart TVs, speakers, neckbands, TWS, soundbars, smartwatches, Washing Machines, and many more.
UK Russell Group University to offer Degrees in AI, Cybersecurity, Business, Economics, and Creative Industries.
Marking a bold new chapter in UK-India research opportunities, the University of York—one of the UK’s most prestigious research-intensive institutions and a member of the elite Russell Group—has announced plans to open a new campus in Mumbai. University of York Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, discussed the initiative with Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, paving the way for the new campus.
The proposed campus, expected to welcome its first cohort in 2026, pending final regulatory approvals from the University Grants Commission (UGC), will offer cutting-edge undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, Business, Economics, and the Creative Industries. Programmes in emerging fields – AI, cybersecurity, creative industries- will be designed with global industry input, boosting job readiness in high-demand sectors and opening career pathways for Indian learners.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, said: “It is a privilege to welcome the University of York to Mumbai as we expand world-class educational opportunities in India. The opportunity to connect our students with the academic excellence of a Russell Group institution is particularly valuable and will offer significant academic and research benefits to students and scholars alike, while further enriching the educational landscape. Built on a strong foundation of shared innovation and aligned priorities, we remain dedicated to advancing a relationship that reinforces national development objectives and enriches the global exchange of knowledge.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: “This is a truly exciting new venture, and we are committed to building and strengthening our connections in India and contributing to the education of its future leaders and entrepreneurs. York’s global reputation rests on its outstanding achievements in teaching and research and is one of only four universities in the UK – alongside Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London – which is both in the top 10 in the UK for the quality of its research and has a gold ranking for the quality of its teaching. We have research strengths that align with India’s priorities, especially in the areas of digital technologies, creative industries and the real-world applications for AI systems. We look forward to working with our partners in India to welcome students and establish new research opportunities.”
The initiative also deepens research collaboration between India and the UK. Research and teaching in the creative industries is a key part of the plans for the University of York, Mumbai, and follows the launch of the University’s Co-Star Live Lab, a research and development facility based in Yorkshire which offers technological solutions to enhancing live performance experiences. CoStar Live Lab will present new opportunities for researchers in the UK and India to collaborate on new technologies that will enhance the gaming, TV, film, performance and entertainment sectors. The high-tech facilities will create immersive, multisensory and interactive technologies, incubate startups, train future leaders in the industry, while empowering diverse voices and new talent across the sector.
Initially housed in a prominent business district in Mumbai, the University of York plans to develop a state-of-the-art campus over the coming years. All programmes will be delivered in line with York’s academic standards, with students graduating with a University of York degree, enabling York to bring its world-class academic model directly to one of the fastest-growing education markets in the world.
Alison Barrett, Country Director, British Council India, added: “It is exciting to hear that the University of York is planning to open an international campus in Mumbai, India. The strong emphasis on research and innovation alongside high-quality teaching and learning will catalyse research partnerships between innovators from India and the UK. It is especially good to see the focus on the creative industries as well as courses in computer science, AI, cyber security, business and economics, all high potential sectors which will support India and UK growth. This new venture will be testament to the shared commitment between India and UK towards the internationalisation of education.”
Founded in 1963, the University of York has consistently ranked among the top 150 universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings), renowned for its pioneering work across the sciences, humanities and social sciences, and globally renowned for its excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. With Nobel Prize-winning alumni, award-winning faculty, and interdisciplinary research centers tackling global challenges – from sustainability and digital futures to public health and conflict resolution – York is uniquely positioned to offer Indian students a transformative learning experience aligned with the needs of the 21st century.
The University of York has strong and enduring ties with India through a vibrant alumni network, academic collaborations, and joint research initiatives. The University of York’s research collaborations with India have led to the enhancement of talent in conservation, better allocation of health resources, and improvements to the resilience of edible crops, among others. The University is also working with Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), where researchers and York and experts at KIIT are focused on the study of food sustainability in Odisha. The Mumbai campus intends to extend research partnerships further, as York actively engages with Indian academic partners, regulators, and industry leaders to shape a campus that meets national and global standards of excellence.
About the University of York
The University of York was founded in 1963 and is a member of the esteemed Russell Group of Universities, which brings together 24 of the UK’s most prestigious research-intensive universities. York is recognised as one of the leading universities in the UK and globally renowned for its excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
With over 600 courses across 40 Schools, Departments, and Centres, the University proudly serves a diverse community of more than 20,000 students from over 150 countries. Its vision is clear: to be a world leader in transforming education, delivering impactful research, and shaping positive change on a global scale.
What truly sets York apart is its unwavering commitment to being a ‘University for public good’ with a focus on advancing human life and conditions—a mission that has been at the heart of the University since its inception.
According to its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), PO-bound consumer services startup Urban Company has started to wind down its step-down subsidiary in Saudi Arabia since it was unable to turn a profit.
The startup in consumer services announced that it has begun moving its operations in Saudi Arabia to a joint venture that was established in 2024 with the goal of eventually closing the step-down subsidiary, Urban Company Arabia for Information Technology. Urban Company Arabia, which was incorporated in 2021, had a 182% increase in its pre-tax loss from INR 8.3 Cr to INR 23.4 Cr in the nine months ending December 31, 2024 (9M FY25).
For FY24, FY23, and FY22, its pre-tax loss was INR 14.1 Cr, 17.7 Cr, and 10.1 Cr, respectively. Through Urban Home Experts, the startup acquired a 100% indirect investment in Urban Company Arabia, an online marketplace that enables users to look for and hire service providers for their business and home needs.
According to the DRHP, the Group has begun operations through Waed Khadmat Al-Munzal For Marketing, a joint venture company based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as of January 1, 2025. The goal of this venture was to eventually shut down Urban Company Arabia for Information Technology, a step-down subsidiary.
Shortage of Service Professionals
Urban Company added that during FY25, FY24, FY23, and FY22, it encountered shortages of service professionals in its international markets, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, and that supply constraints might persist in the future.
“There is no assurance that we will not face any supply shortages or that we will be able to find alternatives, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition,” the statement stated, even though the supply shortage has not yet had a negative impact on its business operations.
Urban Company, a tech-enabled, full-stack online marketplace platform that allows consumers to hire professionals for domestic services, was founded in 2014 by Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav Chandra. In order to raise INR 1,900 Cr through an initial public offering (IPO), it submitted its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) to SEBI last month.
The IPO would include an offer-for-sale component of INR 1,471 Cr and a new issue of shares valued at INR 429 Cr. In the OFS, current investor Accel India will sell shares of Urban Company for INR 433 Cr, and Bessemer India Capital Holdings II Ltd would sell shares for INR 173 Cr. Elevation Capital and VY Capital are among the other investors taking part in the OFS.
Founders will not Participate in OFS Round
Between September 2024 and February 2025, the founders of Urban Company sold shares for INR 779 Cr in secondary transactions prior to the IPO.
They are not going to take part in the OFS round. From a deficit of INR 57.8 Cr in the same period last year, the consumer services unicorn posted a profit before tax of INR 27.1 Cr in the 9M FY25.
From INR 600.9 Cr in 9M FY24 to INR 846 Cr during the period under review, operating revenue increased 41%. By doing this, Urban Company has joined a number of other cutting-edge software firms that have announced plans for massive initial public offerings.
Additionally, startups like Physics Wallah, boAt, and Smartworks have submitted draft IPO documents to SEBI. The market’s watchdog approved BlueStone and Aye Finance’s initial public offerings (IPOs) last month.
Anupam Mittal, founder of People Group and investor on Shark Tank India, is known for his candid, thought-provoking takes on entrepreneurship. In a recent LinkedIn post, he called out a common trend in the startup world, the flood of founders chasing “the next big thing” without real clarity or depth.
“I’m building the next big app,” he wrote, echoing what he hears all too often. “So is the rest of BLR 😅”
“If I had a rupee for every time someone says this, I’d have… well, a lot more,” he joked.
But beneath the humour lies a sharp insight, one that separates dreamers from doers. Mittal is no longer swayed by ambition alone. As a seasoned investor, he is learnt to look beyond excitement and into substance.
Level 1 vs Level 2 Thinking: The Real Filter
Level 1 Founders: High Energy, Low Clarity
Mittal calls this “surface-level” thinking. These are founders who are full of passion, but they stop at stating what they want to build. There is enthusiasm, but no deeper interrogation of the idea.
In his words, “9 times out of 10, it’s not a pitch–it’s a ‘Jai Mata Di’,” a sign of surface-level thinking that relies more on hope than a solid roadmap.
Level 2 Founders: Clarity Over Chaos
What catches Mittal’s attention now is a different kind of pitch, one that includes roadblocks. “Level 2 founders explain what stands in the way,” he says. These are entrepreneurs who have dissected their industry, studied the friction points, and identified the real problems.
In his words, “The way you frame your thoughts tells me everything about how you’ve processed it.”
Why This Matters
Mittal’s post goes deeper than a typical motivational message. It serves as a filter for seriousness. Founders who understand their market, their risks, and what usually causes failure are more investable, not because they sound flashy, but because they HAVE done the hard thinking.
For example, when someone tells him they have “cracked the cold start problem for a niche network,” he pays attention, not because it sounds smart, but because it shows they understand what usually kills such networks.
Likewise, he respects bootstrapped founders doing INR 2 crore a month with 20% EBITDA margins. As he says, “That’s not a 💪🏼. That’s control. That’s focus.”
It’s Not Just for Founders, It’s for Everyone
Mittal’s message is not limited to startup founders. He expands the idea to students choosing careers and professionals trying to lead change. Anyone pitching an idea, leading a team, or planning their future should move beyond just passion. Understand the obstacles. Prepare for them. Talk about them.
Consistent with His Earlier Advice
This thoughtful post follows a pattern in Anupam Mittal’s public advice. He frequently shares insights with young professionals and students, like in his earlier viral post about the two most essential skills one needs to become a successful entrepreneur: the ability to sell and the ability to build.
Takeaway: Study the Dream, But Prepare for the Detours
If there is one clear takeaway, it is this: dreaming is not enough. Whether you are building a product, pitching a project, or plotting your career. Success depends on how deeply you have interrogated the challenge.
As Mittal puts it, “Don’t just show me the dream. Show me you’ve studied the detours.”
When Nithin Kamath started Zerodha, not many believed a bootstrapped broking firm could take on the giants. But he did. And he changed the game. No flashy offices. No outside funding. Just a clear mission, to simplify investing for Indians.
But Nithin did not stop there. As Zerodha grew, so did his interest in backing others with bold ideas. Startups that were not afraid to question the norm. Ideas that were raw, risky, and real. He was not chasing trends. He was betting on passion.
From health tech to climate solutions, his investments show a pattern, real problems, real impact. Nithin is clearly not just writing cheques. He is supporting change.
Curious to know where India’s most grounded fintech founder is putting his money? Let’s take a look at Nithin Kamath’s investment journey.
Nithin Kamath is the Founder and CEO of Zerodha, a leading stock brokerage firm in India known for revolutionising retail trading with its zero-brokerage model.
Nithin Kamath did not take the usual route to success. In fact, he was already trading in the stock markets long before he graduated. While studying Electronics and Telecommunications at Bangalore Institute of Technology, he was also busy learning the real lessons on how markets move and how people invest.
His early years were all about hustle. By day, he traded. By night, he worked in a call center making telesales calls to the US. No shortcuts, just grit. He ran Kamath Associates for a few years, offering trading and advisory services, before the big idea struck.
In 2010, along with his brother Nikhil, Nithin launched Zerodha, a bold move that would shake up India’s broking industry. No big investors, no buzzwords. Just a simple promise: make investing cheaper and easier for everyone. Today, Zerodha is India’s largest brokerage firm.
But Nithin did not stop there. In 2015, he launched Rainmatter, an initiative to support Indian fintech startups. Later, Rainmatter Foundation was born, funding organisations working on climate change and sustainability.
From trader to founder to investor, Nithin Kamath’s journey is all about building quietly, but boldly.
Here is a comprehensive list of all the Nithin Kamath invested companies:
Nithin Kamath Invested Companies
Founded Year
Headquarters
Sector & Sub-Sector
Ultrahuman
2019
Bengaluru, India
HealthTech > Fitness & Wellness Tech
Licious
2015
Bengaluru, India
Food and Agriculture Tech > Online Grocery
AssetPlus
2016
Chennai, India
FinTech > Investment Tech
The Whole Truth Foods
2019
Mumbai, India
Food and Agriculture > Food & Beverage Products
AgniKul
2017
Chennai, India
Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech > NewSpace
Even
2020
Bengaluru, India
HealthTech > Healthcare Payer Tech
GalaxEye
2021
Bengaluru, India
Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech > NewSpace
PeeSafe
2013
Gurugram, India
Consumer Goods > Beauty & Personal Care Products
BankSathi
1999
Bengaluru, India
FinTech > Alternative Lending
Kalvium
2021
Bengaluru, India
Education > Higher Education Institutions
Kredily
2017
Bengaluru, India
Enterprise Applications > HRTech
Climes
2021
Delhi, India
Environment Tech > Air Pollution Management Tech
Gytree
2014
Mumbai, India
Life Sciences > Nutraceuticals Tech
Sparkl Edventure
2024
Delhi, India
EdTech > K-12 EdTech
Invact
2021
Bengaluru, India
EdTech > Continued Learning
SuperYou
2024
Mumbai, India
Food and Agriculture > Food & Beverage Products
ImStrong
2015
Bengaluru, India
HealthTech > Fitness & Wellness Tech
SatSure
2017
Bengaluru, India
Business Intelligence > Big Data Analytics
🧠 What Guides Nithin Kamath’s Investments?
Nithin Kamath does not just invest money, he invests in ideas he believes in. His thoughts on health, money, tech, and life, shared through blogs and posts, often match the kinds of startups he supports.
He cares a lot about health and well-being. After going through his own health issues, he now supports companies that focus on fitness, better healthcare, and wellness, like Ultrahuman, Even, and Gytree.
He also likes apps and products that are easy to use. He often talks about how apps today are too complex. That is why many of the startups he backs, like AssetPlus and Kredily, are known for their simple and clean designs.
He’s also big on the environment. Through Rainmatter, Nithin supports a variety of companies, including Climes, that are working to tackle climate change and promote sustainability.
And he believes people should keep learning new things. Startups like Kalvium and Invact match his goal of helping people grow through new ways of learning.
In short, Nithin invests in ideas that make life simpler, healthier, and better for everyone.
What companies are a part of Nithin Kamath’s investments?
Nithin Kamath’s investments range across various sectors, including healthtech, fintech, edtech, and more. He has invested in companies including Ultrahuman, Licious, AssetPlus, Even, Gytree, Kalvium, and more.
Does Nithin Kamath invest through Zerodha or personally?
He invests both personally and through Rainmatter, Zerodha’s fintech-focused initiative. Rainmatter also backs climate startups through its foundation.
What type of startups does Nithin Kamath prefer to invest in?
He supports startups that focus on health, finance, learning, climate, and simple tech. His choices often reflect his personal interests and values.
Is Rainmatter only for fintech startups?
While Rainmatter initially focused on fintech, it has since expanded to support startups in sectors such as health, education, and sustainability, especially through the Rainmatter Foundation. The Rainmatter Foundation primarily focuses on climate and environmental sustainability, funding startups and projects that address climate change and promote sustainable solutions.
The NPCI is promising to cut the time required to complete a UPI transaction, and in half, to 15 seconds. This is good news for UPI services, which have been running into intermittent troubles during peak hours due, at least in part, to the amount of time taken to process various intermediating steps. The new mandate is definitely a step in the right direction. But whether it will translate into a better experience for users remains to be seen.
In practical terms, when a customer employs an application such as PhonePe or Paytm to scan a QR code and transact with a merchant, the request for that transaction is sent from the sender’s bank to the recipient’s bank through the NPCI network. The entire process from sender to recipient, including the all-important confirmation that completes the transaction, has been made faster and more efficient.
Smoother Transaction Status and Reversal Processes
Apart from the accelerated payment completion time, verifying a transaction’s status and starting any needed reversals are also getting faster. In the past, acquiring banks or payment service providers (PSPs) had to wait 90 seconds before they could even check to see if a payment was successful. Now, they check after 45 to 60 seconds.
TechFini co-founder Jai Kumar explains that the previous delay allowed avoiding the premature or redundant status checks that can load a system too much too soon. Everything is on track now, he says, and the new transaction timeline is better aligned with the kind of efficiency that the company and its users expect. Kumar hints that the service should recover soon, and in the not-too-distant future, have a kind of reliability you can stake your lunch on.
For end users, the new standards mean a much more smooth and well-functioning experience. Transaction failures mostly happen in the 3-5% of transactions due to network or handshake-related failures. Shoppers will not have to wait 90 seconds anymore before they or their bank can do anything about a payment that has gotten stuck. We will handle ambiguity in digital transactions more effectively and with fewer words. This move should earn us even more trust in using the digital payments ecosystem.
Will There Be Downtime?
A quicker system isn’t by definition a fragile system. Even though the new expectations for the UPI network are quite a bit tighter, its infrastructure is considered by many to be well-equipped to handle the new demands. Rahul Jain, CFO of NTT DATA Payment Services India, has a very optimistic perspective on this. He said that the digital framework supporting UPI is mature and resilient enough to accommodate the new changes and that it is not likely to have any significant hiccups.
NPCI has introduced a system of financial penalties for banks or payment players that do not meet the new standards to ensure consistency and compliance. Depending on the seriousness or how often they happen, these penalties can differ and are meant to further ensure that everyone in the ecosystem sticks to the rules.
If you have a little bit of interest in the equity or stock market, you must have come across the name Zerodha. It is one of the dominant brokerage platforms that facilitates five million+ orders daily.
To be very honest, after the 2008 financial crisis, many big corporate houses have faced colossal losses. The stock market was at its worst, and many people lost their faith in investment.
The 2008 market collapse was the most significant single-day decrease in modern history. The fallout from this disastrous financial catastrophe washed away large portions of retirement savings and had a long-term impact on business, even after the share market had stabilized.
The recession was the black phase for every country, but then in 2009, the Kamath brothers came up with the idea of Zerodha, which is an online brokerage platform. At that instant, there were many share marketing platforms like Sharekhan and ICICI available in the market, and launching Zerodha seemed to be a foolish move. Because how can you beat the legends but with hope in their heart, they launched Zerodha in 2010 with a small budget of INR 10 lakhs.
Let’s know all about Zerodha and its marketing strategy in detail.
Zerodha is a brokerage company situated in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Nitin Kamath created it on August 15, 2010. It is India’s first cheap broker, ushering in a new era in the brokerage sector. In India, Zerodha is the biggest and one of the finest stock brokers. The ultimate aim was to make investing barrier-free, which is why they came up with the name Zerodha.
The name “Zerodha” is an English-Sanskrit portmanteau word consisting of “Zero” in English and “Rodha” (Barriers or Obstructions) in Sanskrit, to sum up as “No Obstructions.” The name of the company directly signifies the birth of the challenge-free online stock-broking platform that Zerodha is!
The Zerodha logo features the numeral ‘0’ in a block format, cropped stylishly to form an upward-pointing arrow. This represents the successful path traders can expect when using Zerodha’s platform.
Do you know that both brothers are listed in the Forbes list of India’s 100 most prosperous 2020? You might be aware of that, but what makes us awe is how they became the most substantial brokerage company in India, with around 10 million users.
Before founding Zerodha, the company’s co-founder, “Nithin Kamath,” worked in customer service at night and traded during the day. He was exposed to the financial markets by a companion when he was 17 years old, and he has been investing ever since.
After working full-time for over ten years, he chose to be a broker because he felt the moment had come to offer a distinct type of structured finance service that he had never encountered throughout his trading career. When he initially considered creating Zerodha, he believed that digitalization and a user-friendly platform were highly required. Nithin Kamath further noted that the hefty brokerage costs imposed on trades are one of the reasons why young people are hesitant to begin trading. His goal was to be an internet broker who prioritized people before profits by utilizing cutting-edge technology. That’s the incarnation of Zerodha.
Coming to our next section, where we will shed light on how Zerodha became so popular among people and what their marketing strategy is. Zerodha was launched to give consumers technology-efficient and cost-effective services. Many young users were afraid to try stock investments because of the brokerage charges. Furthermore, the technology used was old and could be a bummer for many of us. Kamath’s brother knew that it was time to change and allure young minds with a service that didn’t require any technological expertise.
Not only this, he knew that to attract youthful consumers, he had to offer something out of the box. Many of the young customers were put off by hefty commission fees when it came to trading. He took advantage of it, and hence he introduced a zero brokerage strategy. The owners of the company believed that there was no better marketing than word of mouth. They didn’t spend huge chunks of money on the advertisement. Instead, they started focusing on building brand credibility. The next thing they started was educating millennials about trading.
Zerodha’s Unique and Innovative Customer Acquistion Approach
While many stockbrokers still use cold calls and ads to get clients, Zerodha took a different route. It focused on making trading easy, rewarding referrals, and educating users, leading to massive word-of-mouth growth.
India’s First Zero Brokerage Plan
Back when all brokers charged a fixed commission, Zerodha broke the norm. It became the first in India to offer zero brokerage on equity delivery trades. This bold move helped them stand out and quickly attract customers.
Growth Through Referrals
Instead of spending heavily on ads, Zerodha chose to reward its users. Through its referral program, existing clients earn bonuses for every new person they bring in. Today, more than 60% of Zerodha’s users have joined through referrals, saving the company a lot on marketing.
Educating Investor Communities
Zerodha created Varsity, a free learning platform that teaches everything from basic finance to advanced trading strategies. It’s become a trusted resource for anyone looking to learn, helping Zerodha build trust and credibility in the market.
Zerodha Marketing Success Factors
The critical factors involved in the success of Zerodha are mentioned below.
Zerodha Marketing Success Factors
Standard Proposition
The very first marketing strategy was to be crystal clear about everything. Most users don’t trust brokerage services because they involve money. So they considered that thing by being clear about everything. When the company entered the market, many stockbrokers offered irrational prices and non-transparent pricing to clients. Then Zerodha came up with a standard proposition with zero commitments. This worked out well for the company. If you take a look at the FAQ section of the company, you will see the direct response and clear answers admired by most of their users. The company doesn’t believe in confusing its clients.
Concentrate on New Account Opening
The second reason for their vast success was putting their minds to bringing in more customers. They didn’t have any relationship managers or dealers. They started focusing on getting a new client. Today, the company has more than 2.3 million clients.
Number of Active Clients With Zerodha From Financial Year 2014 to 2022
Referral Program and Business Affiliates
The strongest pillar of Zerodha marketing is the referral and affiliate programs. Rather than investing in an advertisement, they came up with the idea of giving a commission to their referrals. Many bloggers and YouTubers promote the services through affiliate programs on their platforms, and in return, they earn a commission on every purchase. The referral program helped Zerodha discover thousands of leads that too without any upfront cost.
Innovation and Technology
The company understands the importance of change and evolution for growth. They knew how important it is to take advantage of technology and offer something innovative to their client base—that’s why they keep launching applications like Kite, Pi, and much more. The platform was fundamental in the earlier days with minimal features, but then they added advanced features like API integrations, third-party applications, and much more. They keep adding new features so that their consumers won’t lose interest.
Zerodha Kite
Online Engagement and Digital Marketing
Every business knows how important it is to gain an online presence and engagement. This is why they kept their users engaged on the platform by offering to educate them about blogs and much more. Varsity offers content that educates users, and it brings a chunk of traffic. The importance of digital marketing is that it provides a subscriber base and improves the authority of the domain in the eyes of Google. Also, clients find the service genuine when they gain something in return, such as learning about the stock market or trading.
The reason for the same is that most users don’t make impulse purchases when it comes to stock marketing. Trading involves investment and the risk of losing money, so the users try to be very cautious and attentive. The following reason why most people prefer to invest in the stock market is because of greed. The greed to double their money. Zerodha analyzed their customer mentality, and they knew if stock marketing became an impulse, it wouldn’t benefit them. So they started shifting their focus to word-of-mouth marketing. Most of the users on Zerodha are recommended by others. Such users won’t lose interest in trading because they want to make the best out of it.
So, rather than focusing on an advertisement, they start investing in customers.
The reason why Zerodha is distinct from its users is its approach to educating its users first. Zerodha does not provide stock recommendations, unlike a full-fledged brokerage platform. When new traders enter the site, they first must learn the ropes of the trade. An engaged customer base would be driven by traders’ capacity to comprehend why they are going bankrupt or trade sensibly. In 2015, Zerodha Varsity was developed with the same goal in mind and a blog connection to build interest in the website. In 2019, the Varsity App was released, as well as material in Hindi.
Later, there were Finception and LearnApp. Finception concentrates on making financial material easy for its users, whereas LearnApp sells finance information to consumers for a fee, including videos handpicked by top fund institution specialists. They’ve been extending their educational goal by using current collaborations.
Furthermore, unlike the other companies, the Kamath siblings do not impose charges for distribution or trading. Instead, they retain a 10% portion of the earnings from the investment.
That’s all! Here we have mentioned all about the Zerodha marketing strategy. The business model of a company is promising. Their user base is young. The reason behind their success is exceptional products with transparent pricing. However, most of the users were not satisfied with the company’s uptime, and it has been news for the server down issue, but the brothers promised to make the platform more friendly each passing day. Not just this, there has also been news that soon the company will enter the advisory sector too. It would be fun to watch how well this would work out for Zerodha.
That’s all we have for now. In case we have missed something, please feel free to reach out to us in the comments section.
FAQs
Is Zerodha a unicorn?
Zerodha entered the unicorn club in June 2020 with a valuation of $1 billion.
Who is the owner of Zerodha?
Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath are the owners of Zerodha.
How much does it cost to open a Zerodha account?
Zerodha charges Rs 200 for online accounts and Rs 400 for offline account opening.
What is Zerodha Pricing?
Zerodha Pricing are listed below:
All equity delivery investments (NSE, BSE), are absolutely free.
Flat Rs. 20 or 0.03% (whichever is lower) per executed order on intraday trades across equity, currency, and commodity trades.
All direct mutual fund investments are absolutely free.
What is the number of active customers of Zerodha?
Zerodha has over 62.77 lakh active customers as of 2022.
