A name synonymous with innovation in the e-commerce logistics industry, Shiprocket’s CEO and co-founder is Saahil Goel. He revolutionized the logistics and delivery ecosystem in India, transforming the shipping needs of small and medium-sized businesses, with ease and efficiency, scaling them up.
But little did Saahil know that his company would be valued at over $1 billion in a few years. In 2022, Shiprocket joined the list as one of India’s top unicorn startups by joining the ranks with big leagues such as Amazon and Flipkart.
So, how did he build Shiprocket into a billion-dollar company? The answer is simple: Persistence, Adaptability and an ability to learn from his mistakes.
Born and raised in a middle-class business family in Delhi, he completed his schooling at St. Columba’s School in the city itself. After completing his schooling, he attended Drexel University College of Engineering, where he pursued a degree in Computer Science.
Saahil also completed his MS and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and returned to India. Here he started his career as a Business Analyst for Max Life Insurance, after which he worked as a Technology and Process Consultant at SDLC Partners (a subsidiary of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield).
While working with SDLC partners Saahil realized that entrepreneurship was his forte. He started experimenting by becoming a founding member of Kasper Consulting. In 2012, he and his friend Gautam Kapoor founded BigFoot Retail Solutions Private Limited. His priority was fixing problems that small and medium-scale businesses faced in India.
After much deliberation, Saahil realized that logistics was the main pain point for small and medium-sized businesses in India. So, the idea of Shiprocket was born. onSaahil Goel, Gautam Kapoor, and Vishesh Khurana, Shiprocket offered automated shipping solutions to small and medium sellers across India.
Saahil started his career as a Business Analyst, but realized early on that entrepreneurship was his actual dream. After founding BigFoot Retail Solutions Private Limited, with Gautam Kapoor in 2012, he focused more on supporting small and medium businesses in the Indian Economy. With logistics being the main pain point for most business owners, the idea of Shiprocket emerged.
In 2017, Goel noticed the gap where SMBs found it difficult to ship their products. Earlier, small businesses spent a lot on shipping and endured unreliable courier services and an inconsistent order management system. Goel and his team came up with a technology-driven logistics platform by integrating multiple courier partners, automatic tracking, and optimized delivery time.
Under his leadership, Shiprocket has scaled rapidly to serve more than 250,000 sellers and cover over 29,000 PIN codes across India and internationally. While Shiprocket is primarily focused on shipping solutions, Goel noticed the urgent requirement for an extensive logistics ecosystem which could be more helpful to e-commerce businesses.
These led him to launch Shiprocket Fulfillment, warehousing, and inventory management for the sellers, whereas Shiprocket Engage emerged as a postpurchase engagement platform through which sellers enhance customer communication for reduced return rates. Further, Shiprocket X is developed to make international shipments seamless for Indian sellers; hence, they can expand across the globe without much hassle.
Goel played a very prominent role in creating strategic investments into Shiprocket to the tune of over $300 million from various top investors-including Zomato, Temasek Holdings, Lightrock India, Bertelsmann India Investments, and Info Edge Ventures.
One other notable milestone for Goel is how Shiprocket is contributing to India’s D2C market. His firm has enabled thousands of D2C brands with AI-driven order management systems, smooth multi-channel integrations such as Amazon, Shopify, WooCommerce, etc., and intelligent courier allocation for faster deliveries. Such innovations have allowed the SMBs to scale up effectively, competing head-to-head with large e-commerce marketplaces.
Under his leadership, Shiprocket also ventured into the global markets through Shiprocket X, enabling Indian brands to ship to more than 220 countries. In 2025, Shiprocket is reported to launch an IPO and raise INR 2000 to INR 2500 crores.
Goel is a great believer in technology-driven logistics and has ensured that AI and machine learning have been integrated into the Shiprocket platform to help optimize shipping costs, predict delivery times more accurately, and reduce return rates. Data analytics and automation ensure that Shiprocket gives a better customer experience while helping businesses save on logistics expenses.
A disruptor in the logistics and e-commerce space, Saahil Goel’s strategic vision has made Shiprocket India’s largest tech-driven logistics company. For helping ease e-commerce shipping, enabling SMBs, and digitizing supply chains, he has won quite a few accolades, finally making his place among India’s top entrepreneurs.
Saahil Goel – Personal Life
Saahil Goel is said to be a quiet, focused leader. He likes not coming into the media spotlight and believes his work should speak for himself. He lives with his wife, a physical therapist and full-time homemaker, his daughter, and his dog or CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) Bruno. His dedication to building Shiprocket into a leading e-commerce logistics platform reflects that he cares about making a difference in India’s startup ecosystem.
The journey of Saahil Goel as an entrepreneur is really inspiring. From when he founded Shiprocket in 2017, Saahil took the firm to become one of the most significant e-commerce logistic platforms in India. With innovation, customer-centric solutions, and technology, Saahil Goel is surely one of the most important personalities in the world of e-commerce in India.
Saahil Goel – Investments
Date
Company Name
Lead Investor
Funding Round
Amount Raised
Feb 22, 2023
Crest
—
Pre Seed Round
$800K
May 14, 2022
Listed
No
Seed Round
Rs. 123.9M
Apr 17, 2022
UrbanPiper
—
Series B
$24M
Saahil Goel – Philanthropy
Saahil Goel is all about growing Shiprocket, which he is so passionate about since its inception for empowering small businesses and startups. His vision behind Shiprocket does not only look at logistics as a service; it looks into making the entire e-commerce ecosystem accessible to the smallest of small businesses. To this end, Goel says he is more than willing to empower Indian entrepreneurs to succeed on the global map.
As a mentor to the Indian startup ecosystem, Goel also mentors young entrepreneurs and helps them navigate the complexities of scaling a tech-driven business.
Saahil Goel – Awards and Recognition
Shiprocket has emerged as one of the best logistics and e-commerce platforms in India, and the credit for taking the company’s efforts to reach small and medium-sized businesses in terms of advanced technology goes to Goel. Some of the awards they have received are:
Forbes India 30 Under 30, 2020: Saahil Goel was featured in the Forbes India 30 Under 30 in the category of Technology. Being featured here recognizes the achievement of Saahil Goel as an entrepreneur and as the leader that he is to this day.
Economic Times StartUp Awards, 2020: Shiprocket under Goel won multiple accolades at Economic Times Startup Awards which included awardds for leadership in growth for the e-commerce logistics sector.
Nandita, a young girl riding a moped through rough rural tracks, visiting scores of Kirana stores daily to learn about customer needs. That is the same girl who is now a famous leader, driving one of India’s largest fashion e-commerce platforms, Myntra to new heights. Nandita Sinha is a woman whose career is a compelling story of grit, intelligence and innovative leadership.
Nandita’s journey from her Lucknow beginnings to being CEO of Myntra is one of fearless choices and a steadfast dedication to excellence. An alumnus of IIT BHU and FMS Delhi, she has overcome the challenges at FMCG giants like Unilever and Britannia, was successful at Flipkart, and now leads Myntra to redefine fashion e-commerce.
In this StartupTalky story, we’ll look at how Nandita Sinha, who led Myntra, turned it into a global platform for international brands and technological innovation.
Although she is a very accomplished business leader, Nandita Sinha could not have become what she is today without her early life and education. Nandita was born and raised in Lucknow, India, in a family that loved education. Unsurprisingly, education was a cornerstone of her upbringing, having her household filled with very educated people, many of them having PhD, physicians, and engineers. This environment also suggested a strong foundation for her academic journey since it built in her mood of curiosity and quest for cognition from a young age.
Nandita says her mother, a physics teacher, was incredibly influential in her early years. As she grew, she was surrounded by intellectual curiosity and critical thinking bolstered by thought-provoking discussions and academic debates. Her studies weren’t just what she discussed with her peers but also what she and her peers discussed about the world, science, and technology. Her family pushed her to talk in conversations where she was allowed to break all the rules, including respectfully disagreeing with her parents. Her confidence and ability to think independently were nourished by being open-minded.
Right from the start, Nandita’s academic reputation was recognised. She then continued to study at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology BHU (now IIT Varanasi) for her undergraduate degree in Ceramic Engineering. It was a bold choice for a woman because very few women at the time chose this branch of engineering. However, it was far from conventional to pick ceramic engineering as a course at IIT BHU, and it was something Nandita was interested in trying out without any second thoughts.
It was transformative for her at IIT BHU. She further honed her problem-solving skills, intellectual discipline, and work ethic in one of India’s best of what they have to offer (or at least was/is then) in terms of a rigorous academic environment at one of India’s top institutes.
Nandita was a student of IIT BHU, which had one of the most challenging curricula and a student body that encouraged critical thinking. This was the perfect place for her to grow academically and personally. While there, she excelled in her studies and absorbed the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, which would later characterise her career.
Right after completing her B.Tech, Nandita was ready to conquer the world with her rock-solid academic base plus some considerable purpose. From here, her journey would take her into the corporate world, where her education and the values of courage and determination she had learned in her formative years would lead her to become the influential business leader she is today.
Nandita Sinha – Career
Nandita Sinha’s professional career marks her resilience, intelligence and ability to adapt to varied challenges. In 2004, she joined Unilever as a trainee manager. Nandita’s exploration in this role was exciting and formative, exploring facets from sales to marketing. It wasn’t just professionally enriching but personally transformative as she ventured into rural markets, riding on a broken-down truck on a moped and speaking to at least 50 Kirana store owners a day. However, these challenging but insightful interactions helped her hone her communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills, which became key components of her leadership style.
Nandita gained much experience and joined Britannia Industries, where she learned about consumer behaviour and market dynamics. Britannia and four good years at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) have given her a grounding to handle challenging corporate problems. Over these years, she greatly benefited from the mentorship of seasoned sales officers who shared decades of wisdom and experience.
She believes this is where she’s reached a mental toughness and preparedness that will allow her to handle the tougher roles she will have in the future.
When Nandita set up the e-commerce program MyBabyCart, a baby product e-commerce platform, her entrepreneurial spirit emerged. Though the venture failed, it was an audacious choice to show that she was not afraid at all with her career choices. While she sought to balance her professional aspirations against the personal imperatives of new motherhood, she braved the dynamic startup ecosystem. It might have seemed like a short stint, but it was an invaluable experience in the world of e-commerce and digital retail.
Nandita joined Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce platform, in August 2013. As an Associate Director, she began as a veritable whirlwind, handling the health and beauty verticals. Over her 8.5-year stint at Flipkart, she held a number of strategic roles, which helped us grow our Flipkart portfolio. She was the backbone of the organisation. Her capacity to spot opportunities and drive innovation while utilising her ability to accomplish strategies with precision was unmatched.
In January 2022, Nandita became CEO of Myntra, a fashion and lifestyle subsidiary of Flipkart. It was a new chapter in her career, and she was leading one of India’s most renowned fashion e-commerce platforms. During her time as Myntra’s CEO, she saw the business grow in leaps and bounds and made it a lean, fast-moving organisation.
When Nandita joined Myntra, the platform had around 280 international brands. By 2023, we were at 420, which was very much by design because she was determined to scale the platform’s global footprint. She also led the vertical integration of beauty products, making beauty Myntra’s fastest-growing category. Myntra Beauty was her vision to redefine the online beauty market and take it to phenomenal growth.
Her colleagues say Nandita’s career was defined by a rare combination of intelligence, grit, and empathy. Through the companies she has been a part of, her ability to think big while solving real-world problems has turbocharged various businesses. She has come up the ranks so fast and accomplished so much, but she is still very humble. She has always been ready to help others succeed and, as a result, is a respected leader in the industry.
Philosophy and Legacy
Nandita’s mantra for success is simple yet powerful: “Fear not; take every opportunity you find and use them.” She views challenges as opportunities and has an always forward, on-the-attack, adventurous spirit to take on obstacles.
She prefers to be known as an achiever, not a role model, highlighting her emphasis on results rather than accolades. Nandita Sinha’s journey has left an indelible mark on every organisation she has worked in and has set a benchmark for aspiring professionals and young women worldwide.
Nandita Sinha – Myntra
Myntra, one of India’s fashion and lifestyle platforms, will appoint Nandita Sinha as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on January 1, 2022. Her journey to the top of Myntra was one of hard work in the e-commerce and FMCG industry, where she gained experience in strategic planning, business development, and marketing innovation.
Sinha has helped Myntra strengthen its position in the highly competitive fashion industry. Her visionary approach has seen the platform reach a new phase of growth, with an emphasis on user engagement, technological advancement, and Myntra’s value proposition for its fashion-forward customer base.
Sinha contributed to Myntra’s portfolio diversification, which includes more than 6,000 brands, including global names such as H&M, Levi’s, U.S. Polo Assn, Tommy Hilfiger, MANGO, and Marks & Spencer. By fostering robust brand tie-ups, Myntra has been able to serve a wide demographic by offering premium and diverse fashion options to customers across the country.
Under her guidance, Myntra has expanded its operational footprint from 19,000 pin codes across India. This has further reinforced its accessibility and reach in both urban and rural areas, making Myntra available to customers from all around the country.
Myntra weathered the challenges, and its revenue for FY23 was INR 4,375.3 crore, showing that it’s a strong market player. However, it also noted that the e-commerce fashion sector was competitive and resource-intensive, resulting in a loss of INR 782 crore. Through these dynamics, Sinha has been instrumental in steering the company on long-term growth strategies.
Sinha has been a key driving force behind Myntra’s innovative initiatives, using technology and consumer insights to develop a better user experience. Myntra has risen as a leader, and this is all thanks to her efforts and a growing user base.
Sinha was recently given the extra responsibility of heading Flipkart Fashion and serving as the CEO of Myntra, a testament to her leadership capabilities. Sinha’s appointment comes after the exit of Arief Mohamad, Flipkart’s Vice President and Head of Fashion, which speaks to the trust and confidence the Flipkart Group has in her. While this expanded role, Flipkart Fashion and Myntra will continue to operate as separate entities, with Sinha providing strategic direction, as a whole, to the fashion segment within the group.
She has always been vocal about her commitment to democratising fashion in India. Her philosophy of leadership is to blend consumer-centric innovation with sustainable growth. With Myntra and Flipkart Fashion, she is doubling up to lead. Her focus is on creating memorable customer experiences, building strategic brand partnerships, and using the power of the Flipkart Group to create new benchmarks in the fashion industry.
Under Nandita Sinha’s leadership, Myntra has been transformed— growing, innovating, and expanding the market. While managing Myntra and Flipkart Fashion, her strategic insights and deep understanding of the e-commerce landscape promise to steer the Flipkart Group’s foray into fashion to a bright future.
Featured by the Economic Times in its ‘Women Ahead’ list
She is part of the Forbes 2024 W-Power List
‘Women of Worth’ recognition by Forbes India
People Focused CEO of the Year for our CEO, Nandita Sinha
Silver Award for Excellence in Cultivating a Culture of Trust and High Performance
Bronze Award for Excellence in Employer Branding
Recognised on the esteemed The Business of Fashion class of 2024
Nandita Sinha in Forbes 2024 W-Power List
Nandita Sinha – Interesting Facts
Before her corporate success, Nandita co-founded MyBabyCart.com, an e-commerce platform focused on baby and maternity products. Although the venture was short-lived, it drilled the entrepreneurial skills into her and paved the way for doors in the startup world.
While at Flipkart, she handled many roles in different categories, such as health and beauty, books, FMCG, home, and furniture.
Early in her career, Nandita spent months on a moped navigating rural areas, talking to Kirana store owners, which was key to her sales and customer understanding.
Under her leadership as CEO, Myntra’s international brand portfolio expanded from 280 in 2021 to 420 by 2023. She also helped the platform thrive in beauty, its fastest-growing category.
Nandita specialised in marketing and customer engagement and was instrumental in Flipkart’s iconic Big Billion Days sale.
An alumna of the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi and the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi, Nandita has a BA in Marketing and Strategy.
Nandita, though, is humble and doesn’t want to be a role model; she wants to be a woman achiever.
In fact, during her thirteen years in the company, she had the privilege of working with senior sales officers of Hindustan Unilever Limited, who spent a lot of time in their training and debut.
Much of her professional life is in the spotlight, and she has been able to keep much of her personal life, including details about her family and husband, private.
“As a leader, she has a combination of intellect, grit and empathy, which is rare,” say colleagues and industry professionals, including Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy, adding that she is a force to be reckoned with in the business world.
At Myntra, Nandita leads the company’s core mission with a leadership vision to make fashion accessible to all.
Nandita is famous for her adventurous outlook on life and work. She is also known for being head-on and a wake-up call!
Naveen Tewari, whose name has become synonymous with entrepreneurial excellence, is the genius behind not just one but two multi-billion-dollar companies: InMobi and Glance. But behind every success story is a tale of struggle, which in Naveen’s case started from the serene streets of Kanpur and became a world empire.
Tewari’s path has been anything but ordinary—from launching India’s first unicorn to shaking up mobile advertising and content delivery. He has turned adversity into opportunity, using a foundation of innovation, resilience, and deep knowledge of technology’s power to change the world and build his legacy. This StartupTalky article will tell the amazing story of the man who didn’t just ride the wave of change but made it.
In this StartupTalky article, we will explore Naveen Tewari’s success story, including his early life, history, childhood, personal life, education, achievements, and more.
Naveen Tewari’s life of entrepreneurial success was carved out in an environment he grew up in, one of learning and nurturing curiosity and innovation. He was born into a nurturing home and developed by a pedagogic father whose very essence, like his mother’s, was the urge for intellectual exploration and ambition. Their encouragement fostered Naveen’s entrepreneurial spirit, laying a strong foundation for a future leader.
From a young age, Naveen was naturally curious about technology and problem-solving. He was raised to think for himself and follow big ideas, qualities that made his career.
Naveen began pursuing Computer Science Engineering at the illustrious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. IIT Kanpur is famous for its challenging course curriculum and competitive culture, which became the cradle in which Naveen’s passion for technology and entrepreneurship began to develop. He excelled in the scholastic fraternity and participated in surreal technical and entrepreneurial ventures, leading to practical innovation and leadership experiences. Those experiences refined his technical capabilities and helped seed his advent into entrepreneurship for the future.
Naveen took an MBA at Harvard Business School to complement his technical background with a strong understanding of business.
Naveen Tewari – Career
In 2000, Naveen started his career as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, where he drove the development of strategies for the top conglomerates of India. However, it was at McKinsey that he learned about how business dynamics and market strategies work.
Naveen, in 2007, along with three friends, began mKhoj, a mobile search engine, but that did not materialize. However, the group soon shifted to mobile advertising and began InMobi in 2008.
Alongside his tenure at InMobi, Naveen cofounded Glance in 2019, helping the business amass a strong reputation for quickly delivering custom content. He was also a member of the Narayana Health Board of Directors (2023–present), Anuva Board of Directors (2023–present), and Paytm Board of Directors (2015–2017). He invested in over 30 startups, including Razorpay and NestAway, and co-founded iSPIRT, which encourages entrepreneurs and product innovation in India.
Glance Financials FY24
In FY23, the company reported an operating revenue of INR 325 crore, total expenses of INR 1,448 crore, and a loss of INR 1,094 crore. In FY24, revenue increased to INR 614 crore, while expenses rose to INR 1,569 crore, resulting in a reduced loss of INR 929 crore.
Naveen Tewari, the founder and CEO of InMobi, is an entrepreneur and a reputed angel investor powered by strategic investments in many startups and different business lines. His investment portfolio is stunning, spanning from seed to Series A. Here’s a detailed overview of his investments:
Bright Money
Fintech company Bright Money helps people manage and optimize their finances. Its goal is to use data-driven approaches to help people pay off debt and save effectively. Naveen invests in fintech startups that use technology to solve real-world problems.
Factors.AI
Factors.AI is focused on automating business operations using AI and machine learning. They propose to predict the needs and trends in real-time to make business processes more efficient. When Naveen invests in a startup, it indicates that he sees potential for AI-driven companies that can disrupt traditional.
Klub
Investments in specific sectors, such as consumer goods and wellness, can enhance quality of life. Naveen joined Klub to help SMBs access more flexible financing options.
Kaarva
Kaarva is a women’s health and wellness brand dedicated to creating personal and intimate care products. Tewari’s interest in innovative consumer goods and wellness sectors, which seek to enhance the quality of life, is evident from his investment here.
PiggyRide
PiggyRide is a ride-sharing platform connecting parents to secure and reliable rides for their children. Backed by Techstars and Tewari, it stands for family-oriented tech solutions that aim to improve everyday living for all young families.
Dextra
Dextra is a custom software development company that provides businesses with a platform for accessing scalable tech solutions. Naveen invested in this company because he believes businesses need software development to grow efficiently.
Yulu is an electric mobility startup that provides eco-friendly and cost-effective transportation solutions in urban areas. Its products include electric bikes and scooters. Tewari’s investment signals his faith in sustainable transport solutions, which are becoming more important in cities today.
Wooplr
Wooplr is a social discovery platform where users share and discover products. It combines social media with e-commerce, creating a unique shopping experience. Naveen’s investment focused on supporting platforms that bridge the social media and commerce gap.
Springboard
Springboard is an online learning platform that offers mentoring-based courses on various subjects. Its main purpose is to help people develop their careers. Tewari supports this platform because he believes in education and skill development.
Indus OS
Indus OS is a mobile operating system that delivers regional language support and helps bridge the language gap for non-English users. Tewari backs this startup because he’s interested in technology that democratizes access to digital tools for the underserved.
In 2020, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined InMobi for tracking user locations without consent. Google’s fine, which amounted to $950,000, was much smaller, at $2.7 billion for a similar issue. However, Naveen Tewari cleared the air and said that the violation was not deliberate but a software glitch. He also stressed that InMobi took the initiative to report the problem to the FTC and has proactively rectified the mistake.
Tewari pointed out that Google’s fine resulted from longstanding issues, while InMobi’s was a one-off, unintentional oversight. InMobi’s speedy disclosure of the glitch and willingness to do so openly stood out as a reflection of the company’s integrity and proactive attitude toward privacy regulations.
Naveen Tewari – Awards and Recognitions
Naveen Tewari has received many distinguished honors and accolades for his exemplary leadership in the technology and entrepreneurship eras. As a tending entrepreneur, the Prime Minister, who honored him with India’s Future Leaders Award in 2015, shook hands with Naveen. That same year, Fortune included him on the 40 Under 40 list, which described him as one of the most potent and respected businesspeople.
Naveen was awarded the Pathbreaker of the Year award for revolutionizing the industry. He received the Forbes India Leadership Award for Best Startup earlier, further proving his entrepreneurial ability. His work within the technology field was so revolutionary that it was one of the world’s 100 Most Creative People, a testimony to his global influence.
In 2013, Naveen won the ‘Distinguished Alumnus’ award for Entrepreneurship Excellence at IIT Kanpur. Also, in 2013, the Pathbreaker of the Year was brought to him by the Narendra Modi government, which greatly respected him. 2013 had him shipping along as the seventh most important man on Business Insider’s Mobile Power List and 2012 at the second. In 2013, he was also named by The Drum’s Mobile Top 50, which denotes his international eminence in mobile technologies.
Naveen Tewari – Quotes
💡
The most important lesson to remember is that failure is inevitable, but so is success, so rebound.
FAQs
Who is Naveen Tewari?
Naveen Tewari is the founder and CEO of InMobi, a global mobile advertising technology company.
What is Naveen Tewari education?
Naveen Tewari is an IIT Kanpur graduate and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
The world of technology has been rocked in the past 48 hours. The value of US tech stocks has fallen by $1 trillion, the US is no longer the undisputed leader in AI, and India has realised that it’s not even in the race for AI supremacy. The cause of this upheaval? DeepSeek is a small AI research lab in China that’s making waves.
Liang, who started as a curious student tinkering with algorithms, has become a visionary entrepreneur competing with Silicon Valley giants like OpenAI in less than a decade. Through his company, DeepSeek, Liang has shown that AI doesn’t need to be about massive resources but about strategic vision, efficiency, and innovation. Liang has gone from leading the charge in quantitative finance to launching the disruptive R1 AI model that rocked global benchmarks, making him the ‘Sam Altman of China’.
In this article, we look at the story of Liang Wenfeng, the man who is rewriting the future of artificial intelligence, challenging the hegemony of Western tech giants, and showing that the next big leap in AI innovation can happen anywhere.
Liang Wenfeng Biography
Full Name
Liang Wenfeng
Date of Birth
1985
Birthplace
Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
Education
Zhejiang University (BEng, MEng)
Profession
Founder and CEO of DeepSeek
Known For
Co-founder of High-Flyer Founder and CEO of DeepSeek
Thesis
Research on target tracking algorithm based on low-cost PTZ camera (2010)
Liang Wenfeng was born in 1985 to an education-focused family in Zhanjiang, Guangdong. His formative years were shaped by his father, a school teacher who stressed the importance of learning. Liang grew up in a modest environment, thus developing a natural curiosity and a strong interest in finding solutions at a young age.
Liang was an excellent student in school, especially in subjects such as mathematics and science. He used what he had, even if it was limited access to advanced technological resources in his hometown. Sometimes, he would dive into books and projects that stretched his understanding. He had a drive to learn and grow, and his teachers saw his potential early on and pushed him to go for his dreams.
Liang’s passion for knowledge was nurtured from these humble beginnings, which also laid the foundation for his later success in the field of artificial intelligence.
After earning his Master’s degree in information and communication engineering from Zhejiang University in 2010, Liang started to explore the intersection of technology and finance. When he and his classmates embarked on collecting financial market data and testing quantitative trading strategies with machine learning during the 2007–2008 financial crisis, his early experimentation paved the way for his future breakthroughs.
After graduating, Liang moved to Chengdu, where he lived in a modest flat and tirelessly explored different applications of AI. But Liang’s resolve was strong, and many of his first ventures failed. His eureka moment came when he realized that applying AI to quantitative finance, an emerging field combining his engineering background with his desire to solve complex problems, was a real opportunity.
In 2013, Liang co-founded Hangzhou Yakebi Investment Management Co., Ltd. with fellow Zhejiang University alumnus Xu Jin. Liang’s first venture into finance was integrating AI with quantitative trading. Based on this success, he co-founded Zhejiang Jiuzhang Asset Management Co., Ltd. (formerly Hangzhou Huanfang Technology Co., Ltd.) in 2015 and quickly became a leader in China’s financial sector.
High-Flyer
In 2016, Liang formed Ningbo High Flyer Quantitative Investment Management Partnership with two classmates. Powered by advanced mathematics and AI, High-Flyer quickly established itself as a leader in the crowded world of finance. Using an innovative approach, the firm grew to an impressive 10 billion yuan in assets in 2019.
High-Flyer wasn’t just about profits; Liang’s vision went further. In a keynote speech at the 2019 Golden Bull Awards ceremony, he said that quantitative trading is essentially about using algorithms and data-driven methods instead of human portfolio managers. Liang described High-Flyer’s mission as improving China’s secondary markets, an area in which he was more interested in improving finance efficiency.
Founding DeepSeek
Deepseek – Liang Wenfeng
Liang’s curiosity and ambition took him to new horizons even as High-Flyer thrived. In 2021, he started buying thousands of Nvidia GPUs, sparking speculation about what he was up to. This seemed too many to be the eccentric hobby of a successful entrepreneur. However, Liang had a grander vision: to create transformative AI models.
In 2019, Liang founded High-Flyer AI, a venture to research AI algorithms and their practical applications. He took this vision one step further in 2023 when he founded DeepSeek, a company focused on artificial general intelligence (AGI). DeepSeek first struggled to find external capital, as its long-term goals did not fit the short-term focus of many venture capital firms, until it was funded by High-Flyer.
However, DeepSeek quickly gained momentum. In December 2024, the company’s V3 model ran on 2,000 Nvidia H800 chips at a cost of less than $6 million, a remarkable efficiency compared to industry standards. DeepSeek’s success put it in the running as a serious player in the global AI landscape.
DeepSeek cemented its reputation further in January 2025 when it launched its R1 model, which shocked Silicon Valley. Liang’s decision to focus on long-term innovation over short-term profitability was a game-changing strategy.
Leadership and Vision
Liang’s companies are not the only things he’s influencing. He was invited to a high-profile symposium in January 2025 hosted by Premier Li Qiang to give insights and suggestions on the 2024 government work report. Liang, recognized as an industry expert, emphasized the need to help build confidence and knowledge in China’s innovation ecosystem. He stressed that China must transition from being a technology consumer to a global contributor.
According to Liang, his leadership philosophy is based on collaboration and inclusivity. For example, DeepSeek primarily hires locally educated talent, and they look for passion and ability, not credentials. Liang also believes that open-source approaches are the best way to go in disruptive technologies, saying that closed systems are only good for a short period of time.
Liang Wenfeng – DeepSeek AI
Under Liang Wenfeng’s visionary leadership, DeepSeek is at the forefront of AI innovation, with large models and the audacious aim of AGI.
In a 2024 interview, Liang emphasized that DeepSeek’s core principle is balance: “We keep our margins so modest that we don’t lose or make too much.”
DeepSeek differs from many other companies in the industry because it is committed to being open-source. Liang also pointed out that the company’s collaborative ethos means that ‘establishing a robust technology ecosystem matters more than going closed source.’
Liang is determined to change China’s AI landscape, even though the industry has a history of playing catch-up with the US.
Liang Wenfeng – Personal Life
While his groundbreaking achievements in AI are certainly not the only factor contributing to Liang Wenfeng’s journey to success, his deep sense of family and unwavering values are also major factors. Liang is one of China’s most influential entrepreneurs and, as of 2025, has a net worth of $3.2 billion. He is wealthy, yet he’s incredibly humble, always giving credit to the people who support him and encourage him to succeed.
Liang is a dedicated family man, and his wife, Zhang Mei, has been a key part of his journey. They’ve created a life together based on humility, perseverance and mutual respect. They have been married for over a decade, and their relationship reflects the values they hold, balancing personal and professional life. The couple have two children, and Liang frequently talks about the importance of teaching the values of hard work and determination to them.
Liang’s foray into AI started in 2008 when he and his classmates tested out combining artificial intelligence with finance during the global financial crisis.
Born into a modest household in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, Liang’s father was a primary school teacher. This upbringing was discipline and a passion for knowledge.
He received a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Information Engineering from Zhejiang University and a Master’s in Information and Communication Engineering. His thesis was on cost-effective target-tracking algorithms.
Liang successfully integrated AI into quantitative trading in 2013, which was a precursor to his future success in finance and technology.
By 2019, Liang had transformed Ningbo High-Flyer into an AI-driven quantitative trading leader and managed more than 10 billion yuan.
Before the US imposed restrictions on AI chips, Liang bought 10,000 Nvidia A100 GPUs for his company DeepSeek, putting it ahead of the pack.
Liang founded DeepSeek in 2023 to advance artificial general intelligence, and it’s a game changer in China’s AI landscape.
Liang believes in hiring passionate and talented people rather than experienced people, innovating, and having a long-term vision rather than short-term profit.
He believes in open innovation and that disruptive technologies should not be closed source.
The launch of DeepSeek V2 and other cutting-edge projects, such as the AI price war, proved DeepSeek’s disruptive potential.
At the 2019 Golden Bull Awards, Liang spoke about the superiority of AI-driven decision-making over human biases in finance.
Liang’s early business ventures were not easy, but his perseverance brought him to amazing success, illustrating his determination and will to succeed.
Liang pioneered bringing AI into financial markets and how quantitative trading operates globally.
FAQs
Who is Liang Wenfeng?
Liang Wenfeng is the founder and CEO of DeepSeek.
What is Deepseek?
DeepSeek is a Chinese artificial intelligence company focused on developing open-source large language models (LLMs).
What is Liang Wenfeng networth?
Lian Wenfeng’s net worth as of January 2025 is $3.2 billion.
Jaydeep Barman brought a revolution in how food is ordered and delivered within India and to the world, having introduced path-breaking Rebel Foods, originally called Faasos.
Being one of its co-founders, he’s today the CEO of the world’s largest cloud kitchen company that revolutionized how the world consumed and innovated with the business model he conceptualized which eventually became a benchmark around the world in food technology.
In his dream of using technology to create an accessible, multi-brand culinary empire, Rebel Foods shines like a light of innovation and pathfinder among other cloud kitchen-based ventures.
In this StartupTalky article, we will explore Jaydeep Barman’s success story, including his early life, history, childhood, personal life, education, achievements, and more.
Jaydeep Barman – Biography
Full Name
Jaydeep Barman
Birthplace
Kolkata, India
Nationality
Indian
Education
MBA from INSEAD, Master’s in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Georgia Institute of Technology
Occupation
Co-Founder and CEO of Rebel Foods
Known For
Founding Rebel Foods and spearheading the cloud kitchen revolution
Born and raised in Kolkata, Jaydeep Barman had spent his entire growing years developing a passion for varied culinary cuisines – a passion he would later express through entrepreneurship.
Barman pursued undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. After this, he finished a Master’s in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States. To further enhance his managerial skills, he pursued an MBA from one of the most elite business schools globally, INSEAD.
His education, which was rich in technical acumen and business sense, has enabled him to shape Rebel Foods into an international brand name.
Jaydeep Barman – The Birth of Faasos and Its Transformation into Rebel Foods
Jaydeep Barman, a serial entrepreneur, started in 2011 by founding Faasos with his business partner, and friend, Kallol Banerjee. It was designed as a QSR chain with wraps and rolls as a primary product.
In 2015, after years of experimentation and observing market trends, Barman pivoted Faasos into a pure-play cloud kitchen model. This transformed the company into one that operated without dine-in facilities and focused purely on delivery, thus cutting overhead costs and maximizing efficiency.
In 2018, he renamed the company to Rebel Foods, representing the vision of its scale. Rebel Foods, under Barman’s leadership, has transformed itself into hosting several virtual brands such as Behrouz Biryani, Oven Story Pizza, Mandarin Oak, and Sweet Truth.
Jaydeep Barman’s career is the epitome of innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, and disruption in the traditional model of business. Be it academic pursuit or forming Rebel Foods, he has had a knack for being able to identify opportunities and create value in the dynamic industries of today.
Barman had a stint in the corporate world before entering entrepreneurship, during which he had the opportunity to gain valuable experience in strategy and operations. Early in his career, he held roles that forced him to think critically and execute efficiently, preparing him for his future success.
He started his professional career with McKinsey & Company as a consultant. At McKinsey, he developed a good understanding of strategy formulation, market analysis, and operational efficiency. These skills proved instrumental in shaping his entrepreneurial approach later in his career.
Jaydeep’s entrepreneurial journey began with Faasos in 2011. The brand started as a quick-service restaurant chain serving wraps and rolls in Pune, India. While Faasos gained popularity for its convenient, affordable, and delicious offerings, Jaydeep soon realized the limitations of the traditional restaurant model.
In 2015, Jaydeep made a game-changing decision to pivot Faasos into a cloud kitchen model. The reason was his idea of how technology could fill the loopholes in traditional restaurants, which were high real estate costs and non-scalability. In 2018, Faasos became Rebel Foods with a name that reflected its shift into becoming a multi-brand virtual restaurant platform. Jaydeep Barman steered this shift and turned Rebel Foods into the world’s largest chain of cloud kitchens.
Rebel Foods Financials FY24
In FY 2023, Rebel Foods reported an operating revenue of INR 1,195 crore with total expenses of INR 1,827 crore, resulting in a loss of INR 657 crore. In FY 2024, the company’s revenue increased to INR 1,420 crore, while expenses rose slightly to INR 1,857 crore, reducing the loss to INR 378 crore.
Jaydeep Barman, the founder of Rebel Foods, is more than just a visionary entrepreneur- a leader who truly engages deeply with both social responsibility and sustainability. He believes that his journey should benefit the society around him, empower communities, and make businesses have a purpose bigger than their profits.
Commitment to Empowering Small Businesses
Jaydeep Barman has concentrated on empowering smaller and local food entrepreneurs through the Rebel Foods endeavor. Rebel Foods provides cloud kitchens to aspiring restaurateurs, with the result of small-scale food operators entering a market with virtually no capital investment and resources available. This initiative has opened ways for hundreds and thousands of such small businesses to scale their sizes, gaining high visibility, and making it competitive in the large industry.
Promoting Fair Employment Practices
Jaydeep Barman is careful to make sure there is an equal and inclusive work environment. Rebel Foods employs thousands of employees in its kitchens and delivery networks. The company ensures all its employees have a fair wage, proper training programs, and opportunities for growth. Besides this, the organization focuses on hiring people from disadvantaged backgrounds to enable them to gain stable careers in the food industry.
Sustainability Initiatives
Jaydeep was a long-term advocate for sustainability in the food tech sector. Under his guidance, Rebel Foods has incorporated some of the eco-friendly practices like:
Packaging that is bio-degradable, recyclable materials, reducing packaging waste to food.
Food Waste Management: Implementing systems to reduce food waste and donate excess food to local charities.
Energy-Efficient Kitchens: Designing cloud kitchens with energy-efficient equipment and optimized workflows to reduce carbon footprints.
Supporting Local Farmers and Supply Chains
Jaydeep has championed the cause of supporting local farmers by sourcing ingredients from sustainable and ethical producers. Rebel Foods emphasizes working directly with farmers and small-scale suppliers, ensuring fair trade practices and helping to uplift rural communities.
Focus on Education and Skill Development
Jaydeep is of the view that education and skills help one get out of poverty cycles. CSR programs in Rebel Foods included investments made towards skill development in training youngsters in the art of cuisines, safety measures while cooking, and overall kitchen management. Many young persons were placed on career tracklines within this sector through the aforementioned CSR efforts of the company.
Following are the list of Awards and recognitions that Jaydeep Barman has won:
Top 10 Food Startups in Asia – AsiaTech Awards (2022): Featured as one of the top companies changing the game in the Asian food industry.
Leadership in Sustainability Award 2022: Rebel Foods was recognized for its sustainable packaging and food-sourcing initiatives.
CNBC Disruptor 50 List (2021): Named to the most disruptive private company in Rebel Foods and showed the disruptive nature of innovating the whole concept of Cloud Kitchens
World’s Most Innovative Companies in Fast Company list of 2021: Placed in it due to innovations through its path-breaking approach toward food delivery multi-brand cloud kitchen.
Best Cloud Kitchen Operator by Entrepreneur India Award, 2021: It has operational excellence and innovation within the cloud kitchen ecosystem.
India Today Game Changer Award (2021): Jaydeep Barman was honored for his disruption of the traditional food delivery system and innovation of new business models.
INSEAD Alumni Global Impact Award (2020): This award was earned by Jaydeep Barman because of his efforts in entrepreneurship and significant contributions to global food.
Economic Times Promising Brands (2020): Rebel Foods won this title for its strong brand performance and market leadership.
Top 50 Startups to Watch- NASSCOM (2020): Rebel Foods was listed amongst some of the most impactful startups guiding innovation in India’s technology and food sectors.
Global Restaurant Leadership Award (2019): Acknowledging the redefined restaurant business through cloud kitchens
Red Herring Top 100 Asia (2019): A recognition for the scalable, technology-driven model.
These honors further repute Jaydeep Barman as the pioneer in the global food tech industry, along with Rebel Foods, as one of the flag-bearers in the global cloud kitchen revolution.
Facts About Jaydeep Barman
Global Firsts: Rebel Foods is credited as the first company to adopt a fully cloud kitchen model at scale.
Educational Background: He holds an MBA from INSEAD, the same school that shaped several other global CEOs.
Inspirational Leadership: Known for his hands-on approach, Barman often interacts directly with teams to foster innovation.
Focus on Customer Data: Barman’s belief in data-driven decision-making has been pivotal to Rebel Foods’ success.
Multiple Hats: Before starting Faasos, Barman worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, where he gained significant operational insights.
Author at Heart: Barman has expressed an interest in writing about his entrepreneurial experiences to inspire the next generation of innovators.
Food Lover: Despite running a tech-driven food company, Barman remains a foodie at heart, often experimenting with new recipes.
Jaydeep Barman – Legacy and Impact
From entrepreneur Jaydeep Barman, innovativeness with resilience and agility has led to a great entrepreneurial experience. He designed the food delivery ecosystem in a way that an extremely profitable business model is of extreme inclusiveness. The story of Rebel Foods has inspired myriads of entrepreneurs. It has revamped the perception of the world around food tech.
The plan of Barman for Rebel Foods is to extend the company in more markets, as well as to launch some new culinary brands. His legacy will be a billion-dollar company but also democratize access to food entrepreneurship and show that innovation can go hand in hand with impact.
FAQs
Who is Jaydeep Barman?
Jaydeep Barman is the co-founder and CEO of Faasos, now rebranded as Rebel Foods, the world’s largest cloud kitchen company.
What is Jaydeep Barman education?
Jaydeep Barman holds an MBA from INSEAD and an engineering degree from IIT Kanpur.
What is Rebel Foods?
Rebel Foods is the world’s largest cloud kitchen company, founded in 2011 by Jaydeep Barman and Kallol Banerjee. It operates multiple virtual food brands like Faasos, Behrouz Biryani, Oven Story Pizza, and Sweet Truth. Rebel Foods specializes in delivering a wide variety of cuisines through its technology-driven cloud kitchen model, which eliminates the need for dine-in facilities.
Lalit Keshre, Founder and CEO, Groww: a visionary who, through innovative disruption and relentless pursuit, carved a niche that changed the concept of investments for the citizens in India.
He nurtured Groww into one of the pioneering investment platforms with the vision to enable millions in informed financial decisions. A story of passion, persistence, and the urge to make a difference in the financial ecosystem that would last for generations is that of Lalit-from being a technology enthusiast to founding one of India’s leading fin-tech startups.
In this StartupTalky article, we will explore Lalit Keshre’s success story, including his early life, history, net worth, childhood, personal life, education, achievements, and more.
Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
Occupation
Entrepreneur, CEO of Groww
Known For
Co-founder and CEO of Groww
Hobbies
Reading, Technology, and Mentorship
Net Worth
$3 billion
Lalit Keshre – Early Life and Education
Born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Lalit Keshre was brought up in a farming family that gave ample importance to education and innovation. Since his childhood, he has been fascinated with technology and solving problems; this curiosity actually laid the bedrock for his journey as an entrepreneur.
Later, Lalit did his higher education in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay. The time he spent at IIT was filled with innovative enthusiasm, and the drive to solve day-to-day world problems with its support helped him a great deal. Outside of academics, he was part of extracurricular activities during which he nurtured his leadership and teamwork attributes.
The idea of entrepreneurship struck Lalit Keshre when he realized that in India, there was a dire need for something as simple as an easy-to-access investment platform. He saw the opening and, having the vision to democratize investment, he co-founded Groww in 2016, leading the scale-up of the platform from a mutual fund-only platform into offering a gamut of investment products including stocks, Exchange Traded Funds-ETFs, gold, US equities, and fixed deposits. In 2023, Groww crossed over 50 million users, emerging as one of the fast-moving fintech firms in India. Meanwhile, Lalit kept his eyes on the needs of the customer and stood out for his commitment to transparency.
Unicorn Status and Funding Milestones
He led Groww through several funding rounds at top valuations with top investors such as Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, and Ribbit Capital. In 2021, the platform achieved Unicorn status when it crossed over $1 billion in valuation, crossing over $3 billion by 2023, thus strongly making its leadership positioning statement in the booming Indian fintech space. His art of painting a clear vision and delivering on that promise consecutively was crucial in gathering investor confidence in the most constructive ways.
Lalit pioneered Groww’s expansion into newer avenues of investment, ensuring the platform was upgraded to meet users’ changing tastes. He introduced equity trading in 2020, followed by intraday trading and advanced stock analysis features. Besides this, Groww expanded its educational initiatives through “Groww Academy,” a platform designed to teach users about investing, financial planning, and market trends. This has helped Groww to focus both on product innovation and educate users to instill faith in the widest sections.
Strategic Acquisitions
He further led Groww to strategic acquisitions aimed at strengthening its technological capabilities and widening its market reach. In 2021, Groww acquired Indiabulls AMC for INR 175 crore, whereby it forayed into the asset management space. This aligned with Lalit’s vision for transforming Groww into a full-service financial ecosystem.
Leadership During Industry Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic brought never-before challenges to the financial sector, but Lalit had taken adequate care to steer Groww through these testing times. He capitalized on increased interest in online investing during the pandemic to ensure that the platform remained stable and secure, with ease of use even as user activity surged. This period saw Groww onboarding millions of new users, with many being first-time investors.
Advocacy for Financial Literacy
He is quite vocal about the aspect of financial literacy among young Indians. This financial awareness has turned into the stepping stone toward economic empowerment. Informed investing through webinars, workshops, or merely web-based content speaks volumes in their sheer proportion. It’s at his behest that Groww began to mirror everything that entails being truly synonymous with ‘financial education, empowering users and putting tools and resources required for smart financial decision making’ at every stage.
Groww Financials
Groww’s revenue from operations surged from INR 1,435 crore in FY23 to INR 3,145 crore in FY24, driven by a substantial increase in fees and commission income. Additionally, the company has remained operationally profitable, with profits of INR 535 crore in FY24 from INR 458 crore in FY23.
Recognition as a Thought Leader
He gets invited to speak at various prestigious forums, including NASSCOM, Economic Times, and IIT alumni events. His insight into the fintech industry, customer behavior, and the way forward for investing has made him an insightful speaker in the entrepreneurial fraternity.
Global Expansion Vision
While Groww has focused on the Indian market, Lalit has made his ambitions to go global known. Groww began its foray into global financial integration with the introduction of US equities on its platform. He wants Groww to be a global leader in digital investments and to cater to users across the world.
Entrepreneur of the Year, 2022: Honoured by Business Today for changing the face of the fintech industry.
The Economic Times Startup Awards 2021: Recognizing the difference it has been able to make in the investment landscape in India, Groww was named “Startup of the Year”.
For Forbes 30 Under 40: 2023, amongst “India’s most influential young entrepreneurs” making a dent in the field of Fintech.
Fintech Disruptor Award 2020: Conferred by NASSCOM for the role played in simplifying investment for the masses through Groww.
IIT Bombay Alumni Achievement Award 2022 for his outstanding entrepreneurial journey of immense value to the Economy of India.
Lalit Keshre – Philanthropy
Lalit Keshre holds an immense commitment to bringing about change in society. According to him, economic empowerment can only begin by starting with financial inclusion. He has been working on many initiatives aimed at removing the gap between urban and rural India as far as general awareness regarding financial literacy and investment opportunities is concerned.
Under Lalit’s tutelage, Groww has spread financial awareness about students and below-poverty communities through several NGO and educational collaborations. He mentors numerous young entrepreneurs and startups on how to develop their ideas by offering them experience-based insights that ensure success.
Lalit Keshre – Personal Life
Lalit Keshre keeps his personal life quite low profile. Busy with professional commitments, he always keeps quality time for his family. He is quite a voracious reader and, from time to time, publishes reflections about technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship on his social media profiles.
The soft and down-to-earth-natured Lalit has always attributed his success to his team and the unabated support of his co-founders.
Flipkart Roots: Before co-founding Groww, Lalit had been working in Flipkart‘s Indian version of the biggest eCommerce platform he managed a product development team.
IIT Bombay Alumni Network: Co-founders of Groww, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal are also IIT pass-outs. The strong professional network from those IIT days has been a strong factor in the cohesive teamwork at Groww.
Less is More: Lalit’s clear belief is in making life simple for users. Groww has a very intuitive interface and very simple investment options, thus appealing to millennials and first-time investors.
Young Investor Focus: Under Lalit’s leadership, Groww has been the default destination for the new generation of India’s investors, with over 60% of its users in the age bracket category of 18-30 years.
Innovative Marketing Approach: Groww has grown organically and through user referrals for the most part, proof that Lalit intrinsically believes in creating such a user-valuable product that users themselves promote it.
Self-Taught Financial Enthusiast: Although he studied engineering, Lalit taught himself investments and financial markets before founding Groww. He taught himself about the pain points of a first-time investor, which shaped a lot of what Groww is.
Customer-Centric Leadership: Lalit often emphasizes the importance of listening to customer feedback. He reviews user suggestions and ensures that Groww continuously evolves to meet customer needs.
Educational Advocate: Lalit strongly supports financial literacy initiatives and frequently speaks about the importance of educating users about the basics of investing. Groww Academy is a direct result of his commitment to this cause.
The Technology Visionary: To Lalit, technology democratizes access to financial services. At Groww, he has successfully been able to incorporate many of the new, upcoming technologies like Data Analytics and Machine Learning into their day-to-day operation and provide tailored recommendations to customers for frictionless experiences.
Focus on Rural Penetration: The way Lalit envisions Groww-not only for urban India but even for the most remote areas platform has started penetrating tier 2 and 3 cities. This provides facilities to small-town people so that they themselves can take the initiative and engage in financial investment, be it anything.
For Lalit Keshre, Groww is not only about building a successful business but also an overall philosophy of creating a financially literate and empowered society wherein everyone has the wherewithal to fulfill their financial needs. Opening access to investing and educating users, Lalit democratized wealth creation in India.
His leadership created a benchmark for innovation and customer focus within the fintech space while acting as an inspiration to many entrepreneurs in creating meaningful change.
FAQs
Who is Lalit Keshre?
Lalit Keshre is the co-founder and CEO of Groww, a popular investment platform in India that allows users to invest in mutual funds, stocks, and other financial products.
What is Lalit Keshre education?
Lalit Keshre completed his education at IIT Bombay, where he earned a degree in Engineering.
When was Groww founded?
Groww was founded by Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal, and Neeraj Singh in 2016.
Abhiraj Bhal is the co-founder and CEO of Urban Company (formerly known as UrbanClap). He is known to be the real transformational force that has swept through the Indian startup ecosystem. With his innate passion for solving real-world problems and commitment to customer satisfaction, Abhiraj has succeeded in developing a platform that is changing the way home services are being delivered inside India and beyond. Under his leadership, Urban Company has emerged as a household trusted name for availing beauty, wellness services and even home repairs.
Abhiraj’s entrepreneurial journey has been very interesting – by utilizing technology, and finding gaps in the market, he came up with solutions that empower not only the consumers but also the service professionals that form the backbone of his company. His vision does not rest on better business growth but on creating a sustainable economy in which the service professionals are skilled, respected, and financially secure.
What makes Abhiraj different from other entrepreneurs is that he can merge innovation with empathy, making sure the company remains not just successful but socially responsible. He positioned Urban Company as a global market leader in home services with international expansions, well-rounded funding, and a relentless focus on ensuring quality.
In this StartupTalky article, we will explore Abhiraj Bhal’s success story, including his early life, history, net worth, childhood, personal life, education, achievements, and more.
Abhiraj Bhal – Biography
Full Name
Abhiraj Singh Bhal
Birthplace
Patna, Bihar, India
Nationality:
Indian
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur Master’s in Business Administration, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad
Abhiraj Bhal was born in Patna, Bihar, and raised in an academically oriented family that harped on the virtues of hard work and discipline. Abhiraj had shown great curiosity from a tender age and had a great interest in solving problems.
After school, he went to IIT Kanpur for Mechanical Engineering. Here Abhiraj not only excelled in education but also took part in extra-curricular activities that helped build his leadership and collaborative skills. He later did his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, one of the finest business schools in the country that helped cultivate his interest in entrepreneurship and the changing on-ground dynamics with technology that was gaining considerable momentum during this period at IIM.
Abhiraj Bhal – Personal Life
Abhiraj Bhal keeps his personal life very far away from the limelight. He is married and likes spending time with family when not working. He loves traveling and is a voracious reader, drawing inspiration mostly from entrepreneurs around the world and success stories.
In addition, Abhiraj takes a keen interest in mentoring young startups, and offering guidance and support to budding entrepreneurs. His grounded nature and commitment to social change make him a respected figure in the startup ecosystem.
Abhiraj Bhal – Career Highlights
After passing out from IIM Ahmedabad in 2011, Abhiraj worked for The Boston Consulting Group global management consulting firm. During three years at BCG – he gained immense knowledge of problem-solving and strategy development by understanding consumer behavior across industries. His time at BCG acquainted him with the problems of the unorganized sectors in India; therefore, this led to the conceptualization of inefficiency in-home services.
In 2014, the trio of Abhiraj Bhal, Raghav Chandra, and Varun Khaitan started UrbanClap (now Urban Company) in Gurugram, Haryana. This service was an endeavor to connect consumers with certified professionals providing home service by bridging inefficiencies that are otherwise scattered within the disorganized sector.
The early version of UrbanClap focused on services related to beautification, repairing appliances, and cleaning. They envisioned a marketplace that empowers service professionals and assures seamless, high-quality services for customers.
UrbanClap rebranded itself as Urban Company in 2020, marking the beginning of its journey to transition into an all-inclusive platform offering various home services on one portal. The categories it deals with include deep cleaning, pest control, fitness training, and home repairs for individuals and corporations.
Abhiraj-led expansion plans have seen Urban Company moving internationally into Australia, Singapore, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. He has set the benchmark for home services platforms that can be successful globally yet maintain a localized approach. Success in other international markets is testimony to Abhiraj’s ability to adapt a business model to address diverse cultural and market needs.
A key aspect of Abhiraj’s vision for Urban Company has been empowering the service professionals on the platform. From providing training programs and financial benefits to offering health insurance and other social security initiatives, Urban Company has redefined the gig economy in India. The company ensures fair earnings, skill development, and job satisfaction for thousands of service partners.
So far, Urban Company has raised over $500 million from marquee investors such as Tiger Global, Prosus Ventures, and Elevation Capital for a valuation of over $2 billion, led by Abhiraj. The funds have been deployed for scaling operations, technological advancement, and expanding the platform’s reach.
Abhiraj Bhal and Raghav Chandra – GQ50 Most Influential Young Indians
The contribution of Abhiraj Bhal to the transformation of home services is highly appreciated and included in such listings as:
Forbes Asia 30 Under 30, 2017: Abhiraj was featured for his entrepreneurial contribution and innovation in building an Urban Company.
GQ50 Most Influential Young Indians – 2017
Business Today India’s Coolest Start-Up: Recognized as one of the most innovative and impactful startups in India, 2018.
Economic Times Start-Up Awards, 2019: Abhiraj was conferred the “Start-Up Leader of the Year” for taking Urban Company to new heights.
Fortune India 40 Under 40, 2020: Abhiraj secured a place in the most populous list of achievers for changing the way home services function.
Startup India Awards: Abhiraj and Urban Company were recognized for the novelty of their solutions and their contribution to the gig economy.
Abhiraj Bhal – Philanthropy
Abhiraj Bhal is committed to a positive social impact through his work. His initiatives are targeted at empowering service professionals, improving their livelihoods, and giving them financial security.
Urban Company has complete training programs for service professionals at the platform, which helps in enhancing their skills and capacities to render quality services. It will help increase customer satisfaction and also improve the confidence of service professionals.
Abhiraj has introduced several measures to improve the financial stability of service providers. These include offering insurance coverage, loans, and savings plans, ensuring that the gig workers on the platform feel secure and valued.
Urban Company has taken concrete steps to include more women in the workforce, especially in categories such as beauty and wellness.
He also launched its eco-friendly drive by bringing on board eco-friendly cleaning agents, coupled with the adoption of greenways amongst its service providers.
Urban Company co-founder and chief executive Abhiraj Bhal also made headlines several times during his tenure.
Accidental E-mail Response (2018): In May 2018, Bhal accidentally sent an e-mail meant for internal staff to customer Rakesh Verma, who had complained about poor repair services relating to air conditioners. In the email, Bhal wrote, “Please ignore him completely. No one should answer his queries.” This incident gained attention on Reddit, where users criticized Bhal’s response and shared negative experiences related to UrbanClap’s customer service and internal culture.
Gig Worker Protests (2023-2024): Urban Company faced protests from its service partners, particularly in the beauty segment, over policies such as ID blocking due to low customer ratings and the ‘auto assign’ feature. Workers claimed these policies led to job insecurity and challenging working conditions. In response, Bhal defended the company’s policies, stating that the average service partner rating was around 4.83 out of 5 and that local politicians and unions were exploiting these disagreements to pressure the company.
Abhiraj Bhal – Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Abhiraj Bhal:
Abhiraj is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad
He had worked for The Boston Consulting Group before founding Urban Company
He has revolutionized the gig economy through Urban Company, giving financial security and skill-building opportunities to thousands of professionals in the country.
Abhiraj has been able to take Urban Company to international markets, which means that its business model is scalable.
He insists on a very strict quality control process for the onboarding of professionals on the platform.
Abhiraj’s leadership has been characterized by an unstinting effort towards customer satisfaction and experience.
He is a firm believer in the transformative power of technology to solve real-world challenges.
FAQs
Who is Abhiraj Bhal?
Abhiraj Bhal is the co-founder and CEO of Urban Company, a platform that connects customers with home service professionals like cleaners, beauticians, and technicians.
What is Abhiraj Bhal education?
Abhiraj Bhal studied Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kanpur and completed his MBA at IIM Ahmedabad.
What is Abhiraj Bhal net worth?
Abhiraj Bhal net worth as of 2024 is INR 2200 crore.
Is it just me, or is skipping school or the college exit door like a secret handshake to the world of success and stardom? There are so many dropouts-turned-superstars out there that it’s starting to seem like an underground club, where the membership fee is ditching the classroom.
On a lighter note, we usually encounter successful people who don’t hold a proper or suitable college degree. But such people have created a history that stands as a testimony to their intellect for all the future.
In this article, we explore the journey of one such person, who dropped out of school to later found India’s largest stockbroker – Zerodha. We will explore the success story of Nikhil Kamath, early life, his education, personal life, career, investments, and much more.
Nikhil Kamath was born in Karnataka, India, in 1986. Since his dad was a bank employee, he often got transfers. Nikhil was 9 years old when they finally settled in Bangalore.
Though Nikhil displayed a strong aptitude for mathematics and problem-solving from a young age, he hated the traditional way of taking formal school education. In Bangalore, he attended a local school. Since the school didn’t let him appear for the 10th board exams citing his disinterest in studies as a reason, he decided to drop out of school. Thus, Nikhil didn’t have a formal mode of education after that.
Nikhil Kamath – Career
After dropping out of school in 10th grade, which was a huge decision, Nikhil Kamath’s journey to success was a remarkable tale of determination and resourcefulness.
After leaving school without a clear plan, he found himself working at a call center at the age of 17. To make ends meet, he even faked his birth certificate to land the job, which paid him a meager salary of INR 8,000.
During those challenging times, he labored at the call center from 4 PM to 1 AM, and in the mornings, he delved into the world of trading. Nikhil learned the ropes of life outside his family’s protective cocoon, and he discovered that it was in the outside world where the real lessons were learned.
Around the age of 18, Nikhil decided to venture into stock trading more seriously. His father entrusted him with some of his savings. This leap of faith from his father marked the beginning of Nikhil’s journey as a trader. He not only managed his father’s money successfully but also convinced his manager at the call center to invest in stocks.
It turned out to be a fruitful endeavor, and soon, others followed suit, allowing Nikhil to manage their funds. In his final year at the call center, he cleverly managed the entire team’s money, which meant he didn’t have to go to work physically, yet he received incentives.
Zerodha’s Inception
Nikhil’s ambition eventually led him to leave his job and team up with his older brother Nithin Kamath, to launch Kamath Associates in 2010, which later evolved into the highly successful brokerage firm, Zerodha. His journey from a call center employee to a prominent figure in the financial world is a testament to his resourcefulness and dedication.
Nikhil Kamath – Personal life
Nikhil Kamath resides in the city of Bangalore, India. His parents are U.R. Kamath, an employee of Canara Bank, and Revathi Kamath. He was married to Amanda Puravankara who was the director of Provident Housing Ltd., Bangalore. The couple reportedly separated within a year of their marriage. Kamath is an avid reader and a chess player.
Nikhil Kamath also hosts a podcast series “WTF is”, in which he interviews industry leaders and close friends in light-hearted but thought-provoking conversations. The program discusses various subjects including technology, social media, alternative energy, and more.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his podcast debut with Nikhil Kamath on 10 January 2025. The two-hour episode, titled “People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath,” is part of Kamath’s “WTF is” podcast series.
The conversation explored various topics, including PM Modi’s childhood, similarities between politics and entrepreneurship, essential skills for entering politics, governance, and global affairs.
People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath – Zerodha
Zerodha Website
Zerodha, a game-changing player in India’s trading and investment scene, commenced its operations on August 15, 2010, with a clear-cut mission: to remove the hurdles that traders and investors often faced, especially in terms of cost, support, and technology. The company’s name, “Zerodha,” cleverly combines “Zero” with “Rodha,” a Sanskrit word meaning barrier, to reflect their commitment to this vision.
Today, Zerodha proudly stands as one of India’s largest stockbrokers, thanks to its innovative pricing models and cutting-edge technology developed in-house.
They boast a massive client base of over 1 crore, managing millions of orders daily through their user-friendly investment platforms. Their influence is felt in the trading world, accounting for a significant 15% of all retail trading volumes in India.
Another creation of Kamath, True Beacon is a fee-free investment management company that targets investors with extremely high net worths.
Also, Rainmatter is their venture capital fund and incubator that invests in fintech companies and ventures that promote financial inclusion.
Nikhil Kamath – WTFund
Nikhil Kamath introduced the ‘Innovators Under 25‘ at the most recent WTFund Summit in Mumbai. An inaugural event was held in September 2024, to celebrate the establishment of WTFund, the first non-equity grant fund in India, to support innovation among entrepreneurs under the age of 25. It was a pivotal event for India’s startup ecosystem, showcasing the next generation of innovators ready to shape the country’s future.
The role of young entrepreneurs in creating India’s future was highlighted by Kamath. Anyone, from 25 to 80 years old, may be an entrepreneur and create the next great product. “But, come on, the enthusiasm, determination, and boldness usually come more naturally when you’re younger,” Kamath said.
To support nine startups now and nine thousand young businesses tomorrow, Kamath said, “We’re dedicated to building an India that isn’t afraid to take risks and step outside our comfort zones.” He went on to say that he hopes to aid thousands of startups in the future. Whoever decides to build their own aspirations instead of helping someone else realize theirs will lead India in the coming decade. The diversity of India’s innovation landscape is on full display among the fifteen grantees.
Kamath has recently revealed in his podcast about his investment of INR 400 crore in Radico Khaitan for a 1.6-1.7% stake. Additionally, Nikhil has made some significant personal investments:
Announced Date
Organization Name
Lead Investor
Funding Round
Money Raised
September 11, 2023
Pee Safe
–
Series B
₹250 million
June 26, 2023
Mainstreet
–
Seed Round
₹2 million
January 31, 2023
Nourish You
–
Seed Round
₹163.7 million
July 26, 2022
Nas Company
–
Venture Round
₹12 million
March 15, 2022
Licious
–
Series F
₹11.5 billion
February 8, 2022
Kofluence
Yes
Seed Round
₹4 million
January 27, 2022
Growth School
–
Seed Round
₹375 million
April 1, 2021
Third Wave Coffee
Yes
Seed Round
–
March 17, 2021
Vokal
–
Secondary Market
–
Nikhil Kamath – Partner Investments
In addition to his personal investments, Nikhil has also made investments as a partner:
Announced Date
Organization Name
Investor Name
Lead Investor
Funding Round
Money Raised
October 13, 2023
Emoha Elder Care
Gruhas Proptech
Yes
Series B
$11 million
April 5, 2023
Ossus Biorenewables
Gruhas Proptech
Yes
Seed Round
₹197 million
March 15, 2023
Spirit Media
Gruhas Proptech
Yes
Venture Round
–
February 25, 2022
Licious
Gruhas Proptech
Yes
Series F
₹91.4 million
February 17, 2022
Omnipresent Robot Technologies
Gruhas Proptech
Yes
Venture Round
–
Nikhil Kamath – Philanthropy
Nikhil is also known for his philanthropy:
Nikhil Kamath recently joined the list of wealthy people around the world who have signed the Giving Pledge & pledged to donate 50% of their money to philanthropic causes. Notably, Kamath is the youngest Indian philanthropist to join the Giving Pledge.
Kamath also launched the Young India Philanthropic Pledge (YIPP), which mandates the signatories who are below 45 years of age to donate 25% of their fortune with a minimum spend of ₹1 crore per year.
According to the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2022, Kamath donated ₹100 crore of his wealth in 2022, along with his brother and co-founder of Zerodha, Nithin Kamath.
Nikhil Kamath – Controversies
Nikhil Kamath competed in a charity chess match against Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world chess champion. He won the match, much to the amazement of everyone. However, the multibillionaire eventually apologized for beating the chess champion unfairly and acknowledged doing so.
He tweeted, “I had help from the people analyzing the game, computers, and the graciousness of Anand sir himself to treat the game as a learning experience. This was for fun and charity. In hindsight, it was quite silly as I didn’t realize all the confusion that can get caused due to this. Apologies.”
Nikhil Kamath – Awards & Recognitions
Here are some prominent awards and recognitions for Nikhil Kamath:
He was among the Forbes India ‘30 under 30’ young entrepreneurs, in 2016
He was listed as the richest self-made Indian under 40 by ‘IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 & Under Self-Made Rich List 2022’
He made it into Forbes’ list of the world’s billionaires in 2023
The Hurun India Report 2024 ranks Nithin and Nikhil Kamath 8th among self-made entrepreneurs for Zerodha, valued at Rs 64,800 crore.
FAQs
Who is Nikhil Kamath?
Nikhil Kamath is the founder and CFO of Zerodha, which is an online trading service provider company.
Where is Nikhil Kamath birthplace?
Nikhil Kamath was born on September 5, 1986, in Shimoga, Karnataka.
Who are Nikhil Kamath parents?
Nithin was born in Shivamogga, Karnataka, India, to a Konkani family. His father, Late U.R. Kamath, was employed as one of the executives of Canara Bank. His mother, Revathi Kamath, taught him to play the musical instrument, the veena.
When was Nikhil Kamath born?
Nikhil Kamath was born on September 5, 1986. His age is 39 years.
Who are the founders of Zerodha?
Nikhil Kamath and Nithin Kamath co-founded Zerodha.
Where did Nikhil Kamath study?
Nikhil Kamath did not follow a traditional education path. He dropped out of school after completing the 10th grade to pursue his interests in chess, stock trading, and entrepreneurship.
What is Nikhil Kamath net worth?
The net worth of Nikhil Kamath is $3 billion (January 2025).
What is Nikhil Kamath education?
Since the school in Bangalore, didn’t let him appear for the 10th board exams citing his disinterest in studies as a reason, he decided to drop out of school.
How Nikhil Kamath became billionaire?
Nikhil Kamath became a billionaire by co-founding Zerodha, India’s largest discount brokerage, which revolutionized stock trading with its low-cost, user-friendly platform. His success was driven by his expertise in stock trading, strategic thinking, and focus on simplifying investments for retail investors.
Nithin Kamath is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zerodha, the largest stock brokerage firm in India, headquartered in Bangalore, Karnataka. He is an Indian entrepreneur, stockbroker, and columnist for The Financial Express. Nithin gained recognition in the financial industry for his pioneering work in discount broking, which led to Zerodha’s success.
Nithin Kamath has been acknowledged for his achievements and influence in the Indian business landscape. He has received several awards and accolades, including The Economic Times naming him among the Top 10 Businessmen to Watch Out for in India in 2016, specifically highlighting his contributions to discount broking. He also received the Forbes India Leadership Award – Conscious Capitalist of the Year (2019). Additionally, his entrepreneurial endeavors have led to a significant net worth of $1.5 billion.
Zerodha’s success has also been widely recognized. In the IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 and Under Self-Made Rich List of 2020, Zerodha topped the rankings. This accomplishment further highlights Nithin Kamath’s entrepreneurial prowess and Zerodha’s position as a leading player in the Indian brokerage industry.
Here, in this article, we will learn about Nithin Kamath, his education, personal life, his parents, Zerodha, and more.
Nithin Kamath Biography
Name
Nithin Kamath
Date of Birth
5th October, 1979
Birthplace
Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Nationality
Indian
Educational Qualification
Bachelor’s in Engineering
Profession
Entrepreneur, Stockbroker, Columnist
Position
Founder & CEO, Zerodha
Net worth
$4.5 billion (January 2025)
Father
Late U.R Kamath
Mother
Revati
Brother
Nikhil Kamath
Spouse
Seema Patil
Son
Kiaan Kamath
Below is Nithin Kamath’s portfolio and his success story.
Nithin was born in Shivamogga, Karnataka, India, to a Konkani family. His father, U.R. Kamath, was employed as one of the executives of Canara Bank. His mother, Revathi Kamath, taught him to play the musical instrument, the veena.
He also has a younger brother, Nikhil Kamath, in his family who is the Co-founder at Zerodha. Nithin Kamath’s wife is Seema Patil; they both got married in 2008. He loves to play basketball. The couple is also blessed with a son named Kiaan.
Nithin Kamath had a mild stroke in January 2024. He shared this news in a LinkedIn post. His story shows how important it is to care for your heart and brain health.
Kamath, known as a fitness lover, said his stroke was caused by stress, lack of sleep, tiredness, and over-exercising. His experience reminds us to keep a balance in life, exercise in moderation, and get enough rest.
Nithin Kamath’s LinkedIn Post
Nithin Kamath – Education
Nithin Kamath’s education journey began during his childhood when he traveled across India while accompanying his father’s profession. Eventually, he settled in Bangalore in 1996, where he completed his secondary education and college studies.
Nithin Kamath’s formal education culminated with his graduation from Bangalore Institute of Technology, where he specialized in Electronics and Telecommunications. His academic background in this field likely contributed to his technical expertise and understanding of the evolving financial technology landscape.
During his early years, Nithin Kamath exhibited a passion for trading and entrepreneurship. Here is a revised overview of his professional journey:
Early Trading Experience: At the age of 17, Nithin began managing his father’s trading account, which allowed him to gain practical experience in the financial markets while still pursuing his studies.
Self-Employment as a Proprietary Trader: While in college, Nithin became a self-employed proprietary trader from January 1997 to January 2004. This period allowed him to further refine his trading skills and gain a deeper understanding of market dynamics.
Work in a Call Center: Due to a lack of trading capital, Nithin worked at a call center for three years. He traded during the day and worked as a Senior Telesales Executive in a call center-focused company from January 2001 to June 2004.
Sub-Broker and Portfolio Advisory Services: Nithin began his professional career as a sub-broker, partnering with Kamath Associates, which operated as a franchisee of Reliance Money. During this time (January 2004 to January 2010), he provided portfolio advisory services and engaged in proprietary trading.
Co-founding Zerodha: In late 2010, Nithin Kamath, together with his younger brother Nikhil, founded their stock brokerage firm, Zerodha. This marked the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey, aimed at revolutionizing the brokerage industry in India through the introduction of discount broking and innovative trading technologies.
Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath’s experiences as a trader, work in a call center, and his tenure as a sub-broker provided him with valuable insights and paved the way for the establishment of Zerodha, which has become one of the largest retail stock brokerage firms in India.
Nithin Kamath’s success story is intricately linked to the founding and growth of Zerodha, which has brought about significant disruption in the brokerage industry. Nithin drew inspiration from NSE’s free trading platform called ‘NOW’ as he observed the need for change in the industry.
Nithin Kamath – Success Story
With a decade of experience in trading the stock markets, Nithin recognized the challenges and limitations faced by traders, which led him to establish Zerodha. He aimed to alleviate the fatigue associated with the pursuit of stock market trading and create a brokerage firm that addressed the barriers traders encountered. The name Zerodha itself is a combination of “Zero” and “Rodha,” the Sanskrit word for barrier.
In 2010, Nithin and his brother, along with a team of five people, embarked on their entrepreneurial journey. Zerodha initially focused on serving day traders, and over time, the venture experienced significant growth. The company’s disruptive pricing models and in-house technology played a pivotal role in propelling Zerodha to become one of the largest stockbrokers in India in terms of active retail clients.
Through their innovative approach, Zerodha has reshaped the brokerage landscape, making trading more accessible, affordable, and efficient for retail investors. Nithin Kamath’s vision and commitment to driving positive change have played a significant role in the success of Zerodha.
Nithin Kamath – Founder & CEO of Zerodha
Nithin Kamath – Zerodha Logo
Nithin founded Zerodha in August 2010 and has a, physical presence across several major cities in India. It is considered India’s one of the largest brokerage firm. Zerodha entered the Unicorn Club in June 2020 with a self-assessed valuation of $1 billion. Today’s online stock brokerage platform has over 22 lakh active users with three million trades daily.
How does Zerodha work?
Zerodha offers trading in equities, currencies, bonds, commodities, and mutual funds. An investor needs to pay Rs.300 to open a Zerodha account. They provide free equity delivery investments.
Equity delivery, equity intraday, futures, and options variably charge Security transaction tax. A flat fee of Rs.20 is asked for every trade, irrespective of its size, without a brokerage fee. Nearly2 lakh Zerodha accounts addup every month. The Zerodha login and interface are also easy to navigate and are designed to help beginners.
Zerodha Kite, a new addition to Zerodha, is an online trading software that allows its users to trade at BSE, NSE, and MCX. It’s a front-end application that is built in-house by Zerodha engineers. Zerodha margin calculator is another popular tool that lets its customers calculate the margin required for futures contracts.
Nithin Kamath shared on 20 January 2025 that Zerodha now has over 1.6 crore users, with 30% of them joining through referrals, all achieved without any advertising.
Over 1.6 crore Indians trade and invest with us. Almost 30% of these investors came to us through referrals by other Zerodha customers. All Zerodha investors today trust us with 6 lakh crores of their assets.
Zerodha is a low-cost trading service; it also has free add-ons that attract millions of customers to trade or invest in the stock market and pay brokerage to Zerodha. Besides that, it is an online platform that helps reduce operational costs and helps them scale up their business. Zerodha also spends money on advertising or marketing.
Number of Active Clients in 2023
New data from NSE says Groww, backed by investors like Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global, is now the top player by active clients. It marked the end of Zerodha’s long streak as India’s biggest brokerage firm with the most active users. In September, Zerodha’s market share stayed at 19.4%, but Groww’s went up to 19.9%.
Nithin, along with his brother, founded True Beacon, an investment management firm. The venture is aimed at ultra-high-net-worth investors and operates on a zero-free model. The Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) does not charge an account on the grounds of an account opening fee, redemption fee, and maintenance fee. At the end of the financial year, it charges a 10% performance fee on the gains from the investor.
The Zerodha Universe
Nithin Kamath – Rainmatter
Nithin Kamath – Rainmatter Logo
Nithin Kamath’s Rainmatter is a Bengaluru-based financial technology startup fund and incubator founded by Nithin in 2015. The company is an initiative by Zerodha that would ensue funds and incubate innovative startups. Moreover, it has invested in various startups to achieve the goal of growing the Indian capital markets.
Rainmatter Climate works on funding startups and grassroots organizations working on climate change. As per regulatory filings, Nithin, his wife Seema, and his brother Nikhil have been appointed directors of the venture, Rainmatter Land Development. The paid-up capital for this new venture is INR 10 lakh.
Nithin Kamath – Personal Investments
Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath has made quite a few personal investments and they are mentioned as below:
Nithin Kamath has received several honors and awards throughout his career. Here is a revised list:
Emerging Entrepreneur Award (2014) – Conferred by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in recognition of Nithin Kamath’s entrepreneurial accomplishments.
Emerging Brokerage Firm of the Year (2014) – Awarded by BSE and Dun & Bradstreet, acknowledging Zerodha’s emergence as a prominent brokerage firm.
Emerging Brokerage Firm of the Year (2015) – Recognized by BSE and Dun & Bradstreet, highlighting Zerodha’s continued growth and success in the brokerage industry.
Featured Among Top 10 Indian Businessmen to Watch Out for in 2016 – The Economic Times included Nithin Kamath in this prestigious list during their annual business review, recognizing his influential role in the industry.
Forbes India 30 under 30, Finance (2016) – Ranked by Forbes India in their prestigious list of young achievers, specifically in the finance category.
Startup of the Year (Bootstrap) 2016 – Awarded by The Economic Times, acknowledging Zerodha’s successful establishment and growth as a bootstrapped startup.
IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 and Under Self-Made Rich List 2020 – Zerodha secured the top position in this list, highlighting the financial success of Nithin Kamath and the company’s achievements.
These honors and awards serve as a testament to Nithin Kamath’s entrepreneurial prowess and Zerodha’s notable contributions to the brokerage industry in India.
Nithin Kamath – Fun Facts
Nithin Kamath’s interests and hobbies add further dimension to his profile. Here’s a revised version:
Collecting Memorabilia: Nithin Kamath is known to have acquired a football jersey signed by the legendary footballer Lionel Messi at an auction, showcasing his appreciation for sports and collectibles.
Active Lifestyle: Nithin enjoys various physical activities, such as running, cycling, and swimming, which contribute to his active and healthy lifestyle. Additionally, he has a penchant for playing the guitar, showcasing his passion for music.
Inspirations: Nithin Kamath has drawn inspiration from notable Indian businessman Azim Premji, appreciating his accomplishments and perhaps incorporating some of his principles into his entrepreneurial journey.
Literary Interests: Nithin Kamath is an avid reader, and one of his favorite books is “Market Wizards” by Jack Schwager, indicating his interest in investment and financial literature.
Musical Preferences: Pink Floyd is Nithin Kamath’s favorite band, showcasing his appreciation for their music and potentially reflecting his taste for classic rock.
Early Trading Experience: Nithin Kamath started his trading journey at the age of 17, demonstrating his early passion for the financial markets.
Other Interests: Nithin Kamath is a martial arts enthusiast and also enjoys playing poker, indicating his diverse range of interests beyond the realm of finance and entrepreneurship.
FAQs
What is Zerodha owner name?
Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath are the owners of Zerodha.
What is Nithin Kamath’s net worth?
Nithin Kamath’s net worth is $4.5 billion (January 2025).
What is Nithin Kamath’s salary?
According to various reports (2023), Nithin Kamath receives a monthly salary of INR 4.16 crore as his basic pay. In addition, he also receives INR 2 crore as a house rent allowance, INR 1.6 crore as other perquisites, and an additional INR 41 lakhs as various allowances.
What is Nithin Kamath date of birth?
Nithin Kamath was born on 5th October 1979. Nithin Kamath age is 45 years.
What is Nithin Kamath education qualification?
Nithin completed his bachelor’s in electronics and telecommunications from the Bangalore Institute of Technology.
Who is Nitin Kamath wife?
Seema Patil is Nithin Kamath’s wife.
Who is Nithin Kamath’s brother?
Nikhil Kamath, a co-founder of Zerodha, is Nithin Kamath’s brother.
Who is in Nithin Kamath family?
Nithin Kamath is married to Seema Patil, who is also actively involved in Zerodha’s operations. They have a son together. Nithin’s brother, Nikhil Kamath, is his co-founder at Zerodha and handles key business areas like trading and investment strategy. The Kamath family is known for their simple lifestyle and focus on fitness and health.
Who are Nithin Kamath children?
Nithin Kamath and his wife Seema Kamath have a son named Kian Kamath.
What is Nithin Kamath’s mother tongue?
The mother tongue of Nithin Kamath is Konkani.
What inspired Nithin Kamath to start Zerodha?
Nithin Kamath drew inspiration from NSE’s free trading platform ‘NOW’ and recognized the need for disruption in the brokerage industry. He aimed to make trading more accessible and affordable for retail investors, which led to the establishment of Zerodha.
Who are Nithin Kamath parents?
Nithin was born in Shivamogga, Karnataka, India, to a Konkani family. His father, Late U.R. Kamath, was employed as one of the executives of Canara Bank. His mother, Revathi Kamath, taught him to play the musical instrument, the veena.
Is Zerodha good for beginners?
The flat fee model of Zerodha is as low as Rs. 20, which is why many beginner-level traders prefer Zerodha.
How can I get started with Zerodha?
To start trading with Zerodha, you can visit their official website and follow the account opening process. It usually involves providing your personal and financial details and completing the necessary documentation. Zerodha offers online account opening and a seamless onboarding experience.
A name associated with turning the digital face of the job market is Sanjeev Bikhchandani. His venture Info Edge happens to be the owning company for Naukri.com, and in turn, an idea turned out in a billion-dollar enterprise. He had a background of a middle-class family and he has built his path from being a simple marketing executive to a famous entrepreneur by clearly showing his ordinate strength of vision and strong will.
This was about the successful incorporation of Zomato and PolicyBazaar and his own dedication and passion for the future. In this StartupTalky article, we will explore Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s success story, including his early life, history, net worth, childhood, personal life, education, investments, achievements, and more.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Biography
Full Name
Sanjeev Bikhchandani
Born
29 June 1963
Birthplace
Delhi, India
Education
St. Columba’s School, Delhi BA (Hons) Economics, St. Stephen’s College PGDM, IIM Ahmedabad
Height
178 cm (5’10”)
Profession
Founder of Info Edge (India)
Wife
Surabhi Bikhchandani (Businesswoman)
Children
2
Net Worth
INR 18,856 crore
Notable Awards
Padma Shri (2020)
Family Background
Father: Doctor (Government Service) Mother: Homemaker Brother: Professor at UCLA (PhD from Stanford)
Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s early life and education are a story of resilience and ambition and a singular vision of the future. He was born into a middle-class family in New Delhi and grew up with the values of hard work and perseverance instilled by his parents, who were professionals in the medical and engineering fields. The family expected Sanjeev to follow in his elder brother’s footsteps to IIT Kanpur and into medicine or engineering. But the biggest problem arose when he was diagnosed with color blindness, and it effectively closed the door on those career options.
However, this setback did not hold Sanjeev back academically. He graduated in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University in 1984. This is an academic institution that is very rigorous. It has had many distinguished alumni. At St. Stephen’s, he not only learned important stuff in economics but also got used to thinking analytically.
Sanjeev completed his undergraduate studies and then went to the IIM Ahmedabad for his MBA in 1989. This was a very important period in shaping his entrepreneurial aspirations. As a campus volunteer for IIM Ahmedabad, he saw fierce competition among major companies for top talent. But this experience awakened an entrepreneurial spark for the first time since he had not realized that companies were so keen on recruiting skilled graduates.
Sanjeev was a natural innovator, so he opted out of traditional campus placements. Instead, he would go out and approach companies to get interviews and land a marketing job at GlaxoSmithKline (Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers) on the Horlicks brand. He had been given invaluable industry experience and a view into marketing dynamics that this role had given him. With a big salary and benefits, Sanjeev felt unfulfilled and restless and resigned after 18 months to follow his entrepreneurial dreams.
In 1995, he founded Info Edge, which began with salary surveys and reports that offered clues into compensation trends for MBA and engineering graduates. This was the groundwork for what would become a major player in the Indian job market. But the initial period was difficult; there was financial instability and often he had to supplement his income by giving tuition, in addition to what his wife was earning.
It was in October 1996 that Sanjeev attended an IT Expo in Delhi, which introduced him to the World Wide Web for the first time. He was inspired by a Yahoo demonstration and saw the possibility of putting together an online job portal that would collect job listings, a very novel concept in India at the time. This vision became a reality in April 1997 with the launch of Naukri.com, which has a database of less than 1,000 job advertisements from various magazines.
Naukri.com quickly took off because of its novel pricing policy—charging companies INR 350 for a job listing versus INR 3,500 that traditional newspapers charged. Employers and job seekers alike felt a resonance with this competitive edge, and traffic and listings grew exponentially. Naukri.com became the first dot com company to list on Indian stock exchanges in a decade and has set itself up as one of the top job portals in India.
Sanjeev is married to Surabhi Bikhchandani, who is also an IIM Ahmedabad alumni. During the first phase of Sanjeev’s entrepreneurial journey, he was trying to build Naukri.com, and Surabhi was taking care of household expenses with a job at Nestlé. It was critical support as Sanjeev leaped at a safe corporate career to the vagaries of entrepreneurship.
They have worked together to build a successful business and raise a family.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Journey So Far
Info Edge and the Companies
Info Edge was a struggle that took seven years to get off the ground. It included a bunch of small initiatives like training and report writing. It was in 1997, with a simple observation of how his colleagues behaved around job listings, that Naukri.com came to be a breakthrough. Bikhchandani started Info Edge from a servant’s quarter with INR 2,000 capital and grew it into a digital conglomerate worth more than $9 billion with 4,500 employees.
The company added 99acres.com, Jeevansathi.com, and Shiksha.com to its portfolio. He was a businessman who invested in unicorns like Zomato and PolicyBazaar.
Bikhchandani is different because he is frugal and focuses on solving real customer problems. Info Edge’s sustainable growth strategy has been built on his philosophy of valuing customer money over investor money. Below is the timeline of Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s life:
1995: Bikhchandani founded Info Edge in 1995 and the company is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. Through Info Edge, he established many website businesses like Naukri.com, 99Acres.com, Jeevansathi.com, and Shiksha.com. India’s internet industry celebrated a milestone when Info Edge’s IPO in 2006 was successful. The company went public with the name Naukri. This is because more than 70% of the company’s revenue comes from the job portal Naukri.com. In 2020, the company established a venture capital fund, Info Edge Venture Fund to invest in online startup companies.
1997: Bikhchandani founded an Indian employment website, Naukri.com in 1997. He set up the job portal on a server in the United States. It was a website business that helped its users to search online for job opportunities in India. He later established Quadrangle, which is an offline executive search business. Eventually, Naukri.com became India’s largest web-based employment site in 2005.
2004: Bikhchandani founded an online matrimonial portal, Jeevansathi.com. The company uses acustomer-to-customer (C2C) business model. Jeevansathi offline centers were also set up with matchmaking services. The first offline center was launched in Mumbai in 2008. Jeevansathi.com grossed profits for the first time in the first quarter of 2016-2017 and earned INR 65 lakhs before interests and taxes.
2008: Bikhchandani launched the online education site, Shiksha.com in May 2008. It helps its users to select the right college through the comprehensive details of several universities. It provides courses and college selection easy for students willing to pursue undergraduate and post-graduate courses in India as well as abroad. Shiksha.com eventually became the most visited study-abroad website in India with 20 million users every year.
2005: Bikhchandani launched another portal for the real estate database website, 99Acres.com in 2005. It helps users to browse and search for properties through mobile. The company has invested INR 3 crore in Zippserv, a real estate risk assessment company.
2006: Sanjeev founded Naukrigulf.com in 2006 to connect recruiters and job seekers and is headquartered in Dubai. It is the fastest-growing job site in the Gulf. The company has a robust presence across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
2020: Sanjeev was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions.
Info Edge shareholders have reaped rich returns from his early investments in Policybazaar and Zomato. Below is a detailed table showcasing all the investments made by Info Edge to date:
Announced Date
Organization Name
Nov 17, 2019
Burger Singh
Jun 1, 2018
Slurrp Farm
Aug 10, 2015
Wow! Momo
Apr 4, 2023
Stealthed
Feb 22, 2022
Shipsy
Jan 26, 2022
Shopkirana
Nov 23, 2021
greytHR
Nov 25, 2020
Shipsy
Dec 21, 2018
NoPaperForms
Nov 18, 2014
Zomato
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Controversies
The controversy that erupted recently over SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of L&T, who praised a 90-hour work week and six-day work schedule. While interacting with employees, he apologized for not being able to make them work on Sundays and said a controversial remark, ‘How long can you stare at your wife?’ This sparked a huge spate of criticism and memes on social media and drew reactions from prominent industrialists Anand Mahindra and Harsh Goenka.
Interestingly, entrepreneur Sanjeev Bikhchandani told a different story based on a recent meeting with Subrahmanyan. In a detailed post on X, Bikhchandani called him humble and inquisitive about entrepreneurship and digital transformation. In their hour-long meeting, Bikhchandani suggested to L&T that it invest some of the substantial amounts of cash reserves (approximately ₹50,000 crores) that it has in India’s startup ecosystem.
This has set off a larger debate about work-life balance in corporate India. Subrahmanyan’s business acumen and leadership of L&T are no doubt respected, but his comments about extended work hours and his lack of care for family time are not.
The tension between the imperative of aggressive corporate growth goals and the growing importance of workplace wellness has been a focus of attention.
In 2008, Bikhchandani was awarded the “Ernst and Young – Entrepreneur of the Year” for Business Transformation.
In the same year, Sanjeev also won the Dataquest Pathbreaker Award & the Teacher’s Achievement Award for Business.
In 2011, he was conferred the Distinguished Alumnus award by IIM Ahmedabad.
In 2012, he received the CF Andrews Distinguished Alumnus award from St. Stephen’s College.
The Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award, Young Leader in the Business Category for the year 2012, is for him.
He was one of India’s fifty greatest CEOs ever, as per Outlook Magazine in April 2017.
The Financial Express gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in IT in 2019.
Chiratae Ventures honored him with the Pride of India Award 2021 for Lifetime Achievement.
Amity University awarded him an honorary doctorate in December 2021.
He recently received the ET Start Up Awards 2021 in the Midas Touch category in January 2022.
Sanjeev received the Padma Shri Award in 2020.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Unknown Facts
Color Blindness: In his teens, Bikhchandani discovered he is partially color blind.
Early Business Location: His first venture began from the servant quarters of his father, and he paid INR 800 a month as rent.
International Server Setup: When India didn’t have servers in 1997, Naukri.com’s first server was set up in the US with the help of his brother at UCLA.
Early Team Building: He paid people money, but instead of paying money, he gave equity stakes to early team members, which included his brother for 5%, 7%, and 9%, to two programmer friends who built Naukri.com.
Early Internet Days: When Naukri.com was launched, there were 14,000 average web users in India. When newspapers started covering Internet-based businesses in India, the website became popular.
Side Job: To make ends meet, he worked as a Consulting Editor for The Pioneer’s career supplement ‘Avenues’ while building his business.
Market Dominance: Alexa.com shows that Naukri.com gets about 75 to 80 percent of the online job search traffic in India.
FAQs
Who is Jeevansathi owner?
Jeevansathi is owned by Info Edge (India) Limited, the same company that owns Naukri.com, 99acres, and Shiksha.
Who is Naukri founder?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani is Naukri.com owner. He founded the company in 1997.
Who is Info Edge owner?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani is the founder and owner of Info Edge (India) Limited. He started the company in 1995.
Who is Naukri.com CEO?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, an Indian businessman, is the founder and executive vice chairman of Info Edge, the company that owns the job portal Naukri.com.
What is Jeevansathi founder net worth?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani net worth is INR 18,856 crore as of January 2025.
What is Sanjeev Bikhchandani education?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani completed his schooling at St. Columba’s School, Delhi, earned a degree in Economics (Honors) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and pursued an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.
Lakshya Singh
