Early Life
Nithin Kamath was born in Shivamogga, Karnataka, into a Konkani family. His father worked at Canara Bank, and his mother taught him music. He completed his schooling in Bangalore and earned a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from the Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT). His early experiences included managing his father's trading account at 17. Kamath began trading stocks and derivatives during college. He also worked in a call center for several years.
Rise to Success
Kamath's entrepreneurial journey took off with the co-founding of Zerodha in August 2010 with his brother, Nikhil. The name Zerodha combines 'zero' and 'rodha,' meaning barriers, reflecting their mission to remove obstacles in trading. Zerodha introduced a disruptive discount brokerage model, charging a flat fee of ₹20 per trade. This strategy made trading more accessible and affordable, attracting millions of clients.
Key Business Strategies
Zerodha's success is rooted in a customer-centric approach, prioritizing technology and financial literacy. Kamath focused on building user-friendly platforms and tools, such as the Kite trading platform and the financial education initiative, Varsity. The company remained bootstrapped, without external funding, allowing for greater control and agility. Zerodha also invested in fintech companies through Rainmatter to promote financial inclusion.
Philanthropy
Kamath established the Rainmatter Foundation to support financial literacy programs, environmental sustainability, and other CSR activities.
