Nikhil Kamath Interviews Famous Personalities

Nikhil Kamath needs no introduction, as many are familiar with him as a co-founder of Zerodha, India’s largest retail stock brokerage. 

He is an investor, a philanthropist, and an entrepreneur. Let us know more about his accomplishments.

Who is Nikhil Kamath?

Nikhil was born in Shimoga, Karnataka, on September 5 to a middle-class Konkani family. 

His father was employed at Canara Bank, while his mother worked as a musician, specialising in the veena. 

Lacking interest in the formal education system, Nikhil didn't study further after class 10. Despite this, he garnered deep knowledge of financial markets through self-study.

From Call Centre Job to Startup Mentor: Nikhil’s Inspiring Rise

Having no formal higher education, Nikhil at 17 began his career at a call centre and earned Rs 8,000 per month. 

Meanwhile, he experimented with stock trading, a talent that later turned his fortune. Thanks to his clear understanding of market trends, which helped him gain constant returns. 

Following his earlier positive outcome, his entrepreneurial skills caught his colleagues attention, who approached him to help them with money management. 

After his final year at the call centre ended, Nikhil managed investments for the entire team. It earned him good incentives, ensuring his financial stability. 

Nikhil carved his own path and rose to prominence as one of the established Indian entrepreneurs.

At present, he is known not only for his in-depth financial knowledge but also for his philanthropic contributions, investments, and mentoring startups.

Nikhil Kamath's podcast, which features Famous persons

Kamath got success with his venture True Beacon, launched in 2020. It is a wealth management company that incorporates Indian public equity with a worldwide outlook. 

The company's emphasis on wealth preservation through advanced strategies, caught the attention of the country's rich investors.

His other major ventures include Gruhas, which he co-founded with Abhijeet Pai, of the Puzzolana Group and Rainmatter, co-founded with brother Nithin Kamath, launched in 2016. 

Beyond his ventures is WTF, standing for ‘What The Future’. It is a thought-provoking platform in which he interviews professionals from politics, entertainment, and the corporate world.

Among the eminent guests Kamath has invited to his podcasts are PM Modi, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, and philanthropist/author Sudha Murthy.

The coverage of topics related to wealth psychology, financial literacy, and startup funding, made him a thought leader through interviews, and social media commentary.

Modi and Nikhil Kamath's conversation

Nikhil Kamath’s podcast rose to fame with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the debut guest. 

In the two-hour podcast, Kamath revealed PM Modi's vision on his life, governance, and India's youth. 

The key topics covered were Modi's childhood, education, personal setbacks, the 2002 Gujarat riots, and the need for young leaders to speed up the country's growth by 2047. 

Besides these, the discussion also featured policymaking and India's global stance on technology. 

You can watch Kamath's full podcast on YouTube and on PM's official website.

Elon Musk and Nikhil Kamath talk

Another prominent guest on Nikhil Kamath's WTF podcast is Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, SpaceX, X, and xAI. 

Kamath's extended conversation with billionaire Musk included topics on investment decisions and the prediction the SpaceX founder made about Artificial Intelligence. 

According to him, the growing use of robotics and AI will outsmart the human workforce in the next 10 - 20 years. 

During the conversation, Musk also valued Indian talent that has benefited America. See the video of his conversation with Elon Musk on X.

About Zerodha

Nikhil co-founded Zerodha with his elder sibling, Nithin Kamath, in 2010. 

It came up with flat-fee brokerage, a new, disruptive approach that became very prominent among retail investors, aiming for cost-effective trading solutions. 

Today, his name is associated with Zerodha, which soared to the largest stock brokerage by active clients in India. 

The three founding pillars that mapped its success included low fees, digital access, and transparency through clear communication of risks and tools. 

Zerodha vs Groww

When comparing the Kamath brothers’ foundation, Zerodha and Groww, the one obvious fact is that they are all India’s leading discount brokers. 

Where Groww excels in active clients, Zerodha leads in profitability, serving experienced traders. 

The other differences include Groww’s emphasis on basic level investment experience, while Zerodha offers an advanced platform and refined tools for active traders.

FAQs

Q: What advice did Nikhil Kamath give to new investors?

A: Nikhil Kamath's advice to young investors includes choosing a specific sector and investment type over multiple ones. He favoured portfolio diversification, stop-losses, and was not influenced by hype.

Q: What do they discuss about technology in Modi Ji and Elon Musk's interview?

A: In Zerodha’s podcast, Nikhil discussed on many issues with Narendra Modi Ji and billionaire Elon Musk. With PM Modi, he debated about his life, governance and the Indian youth. In contrast, Elon Musk discussed the growing influence of robotics and AI. 

Q: What is the net worth of Zerodha and Nikhil Kamath?

A: Nikhil Kamath’s current net worth is $2.6 billion. In translation to rupees, it is Rs 21000. He is India’s youngest entrepreneur. Beyond Zerodha, his wealth comes from True Beacon, Gruhas, and other startups and real estate projects.

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