Nikhil Kamath did not follow the conventional route into India’s business world. He left formal education early, worked at a Bengaluru call centre as a teenager and began learning the stock market alongside his job.
That early exposure to trading eventually became the foundation for a much larger career. Along with his brother Nithin Kamath, he co-founded Zerodha in 2010. The company built its business around technology, lower costs and easier access to the markets.
But Zerodha is only one part of Kamath’s professional story. He later moved into wealth management through True Beacon and startup investing through Gruhas. His podcast and digital presence have also made him a prominent voice in India’s technology and business conversations.
Quick Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Nikhil Kamath |
| Age | 40 Years (2026) |
| Born | 5 September 1986 |
| Birthplace | Shimoga, Karnataka |
| Profession | Entrepreneur and Investor |
| Known For | Co-founding Zerodha |
| Other Ventures | True Beacon and Gruhas |
| Brother | Nithin Kamath |
| Zerodha Role | Co-founder & CFO |
The Early Years: Trading Before the Traditional Career Path
Kamath’s career began well before Zerodha.
He has spoken publicly about leaving school around the 10th grade and developing an interest in earning independently. As a teenager, he sold used mobile phones before taking a full-time job at a Bengaluru call centre at 17.
Kamath has recalled earning around ₹8,000 a month at the time. The job also gave him mornings free, which he used to study and trade equities.
He later began managing money for friends and colleagues. This became an early step towards the investment work that followed.
This period helps explain his later career. Before becoming associated with fintech, Kamath was already experimenting with markets, personal finance and small-scale entrepreneurship.
Zerodha: Turning Market Experience Into a Business
The next major turning point came through his partnership with his older brother, Nithin Kamath.
The brothers founded Zerodha in 2010. They built the brokerage around technology and lower-cost trading. Nithin had already spent years as a trader and wanted to address problems he had experienced with traditional brokerage models.
Nikhil became closely involved with the company’s financial planning and investment side. Zerodha currently identifies him as its Co-founder & CFO, while Nithin Kamath serves as Founder and CEO.
The company’s significance goes beyond its brokerage model. Its technology-first approach and pricing structure helped make online trading more accessible to a wider retail audience.
The brothers also built Zerodha without following the traditional venture-capital route. This became an important part of the company’s identity and its approach to growth.
True Beacon: Moving Into Wealth Management
Zerodha gave Nikhil Kamath a strong position in retail investing. His next major move took him towards a different segment of the financial market.
In 2019, he co-founded True Beacon, an investment management business focused on high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.
True Beacon operates in areas including portfolio management and alternative investment strategies. Its current disclosures list Nikhil Kamath as a Partner and Key Managerial Personnel.
The move expanded Kamath’s role in the financial sector. He was no longer focused only on retail brokerage. He was also involved in managing capital for a different class of investors.
Gruhas and the Move Into Startup Investing
Kamath’s investment interests later expanded beyond public markets.
In 2021, he co-founded Gruhas with Abhijeet Pai. The platform invests in and works with startups across sectors such as climate technology, sustainability, mobility, manufacturing and consumer businesses.
Gruhas describes itself as a seed-to-growth investment platform. Its portfolio includes companies working across areas linked to technology, sustainability and India’s changing consumer market.
This marked another shift in Kamath’s career. His work was moving from financial markets towards operating businesses and early-stage companies.
It also gave him exposure to founders and business models outside the traditional brokerage and investment-management space.
From Finance to Media and Public Conversations
Kamath’s public profile has expanded alongside his business interests.
Through his podcast WTF is with Nikhil Kamath, he has conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, entertainers, athletes and other public figures.
The format covers subjects ranging from business and technology to wealth, careers and broader economic questions. It has helped position Kamath as a prominent voice in India’s digital business ecosystem.
His media work also complements his investment career. The conversations often explore how companies are built, how people approach money and how technology is changing different industries.
As a result, his public identity today extends beyond Zerodha and financial services.
The Viswanathan Anand Chess Controversy
One of the most widely reported controversies involving Kamath came in 2021, when he played former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand in an online charity chess event.
Kamath appeared to win the game, but the result soon became controversial. Chess.com took action over a fair-play violation after Kamath acknowledged receiving assistance from people analysing the game and from computers.
Kamath later apologised publicly for his actions. The incident received significant attention because the event was organised to raise funds for COVID-19 relief.
The episode remains one of the most notable controversies associated with Kamath’s public career.
What Defines Nikhil Kamath’s Business Journey?
Kamath’s career is unusual because each stage built on an earlier interest in markets and capital.
The call-centre job gave him his first independent income. Trading introduced him to financial markets. Zerodha turned that experience into a technology-driven brokerage business.
True Beacon then took him into wealth management. Gruhas expanded his focus further towards startups and emerging businesses.
His career now spans several parts of India’s financial ecosystem. It includes retail investors, high-net-worth clients and early-stage companies.
That range makes Nikhil Kamath’s story more than a conventional founder narrative. His work has increasingly focused on how technology changes access to financial products and how capital can support new businesses.
FAQs
Who is Nikhil Kamath?
Nikhil Kamath is an Indian entrepreneur and investor best known as the co-founder of Zerodha. He is also associated with True Beacon and Gruhas.
How did Nikhil Kamath start his career?
Kamath started earning as a teenager and worked at a Bengaluru call centre at 17. Alongside his job, he began trading in the stock market and later became involved in managing money for friends and colleagues.
When was Zerodha founded?
Nikhil and Nithin Kamath co-founded Zerodha in 2010. The company was built around a technology-led brokerage model.
What is Nikhil Kamath’s role at Zerodha?
Nikhil Kamath is the Co-founder and CFO of Zerodha. His brother Nithin Kamath is the company’s Founder and CEO.
What is True Beacon?
True Beacon is an investment management business co-founded by Nikhil Kamath. It focuses on investment and portfolio management for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.
What is Gruhas?
Gruhas is an investment platform co-founded by Nikhil Kamath and Abhijeet Pai in 2021. It backs startups across areas including climate technology, sustainability, mobility, manufacturing and consumer businesses.
