Early Life
Nikhil Kamath was born on September 5, 1986, in Shimoga, Karnataka, and was raised in Bengaluru. He is from a Konkani-speaking Hindu family. Kamath's father worked in Canara Bank, and his mother ran an event management company. Kamath's early life was marked by a keen interest in financial markets, despite dropping out of school after the 10th grade. He started his career at a call center.
Rise to Success
Kamath's breakthrough came in 2010 when he co-founded Zerodha with his brother, Nithin Kamath. Zerodha disrupted the brokerage market in India with its discount brokerage model, charging low fees and making trading more accessible. Zerodha quickly became a market leader. He later co-founded True Beacon in 2019. In 2023, he committed to give away half of his wealth through the Giving Pledge and is the youngest Indian to do so.
Key Business Strategies
Kamath's success stems from identifying gaps in the market and creating innovative solutions. At Zerodha, the strategy focused on providing affordable and user-friendly trading platforms. True Beacon, on the other hand, operates on a zero-fee model, aligning its interests with those of its clients. Furthermore, he invests in early-stage ventures through Rainmatter, promoting financial inclusion.
Philanthropy
Kamath is committed to philanthropy. He has committed $100 million to the Rainmatter Foundation, supporting solutions for climate change. He also started the Young India Philanthropic Pledge (YIPP). Kamath’s philanthropic contributions, primarily focused on improving education and healthcare for underprivileged communities, have earned him recognition as a leading philanthropist. His estimated contributions have surpassed ₹120 crore.
