From being an average student to the visionary founder of the billion-dollar brokerage firm “Zerodha,” in 2010, Nithin Kamath’s journey is one of perseverance and dedication. His hard work and burning desire for change gave him the courage to cross all the hurdles, paving the way for innovative ideas and unique contributions to the financial sector.
8 Lesser Known Facts About Nithin Kamath
- He accidentally discovered trading from his friends at the age of 17 and started his investment journey through penny stocks.
- He spends his leisure time playing guitar and singing with his son Kiaan.
- In his free time, he engages himself in activities like running, swimming, and playing games like basketball and poker.
- He shaved his head in 2022 as a gesture to support her wife, who was suffering from the critical condition of Breast cancer.
- He has a football jersey signed by Lionel Messi, picked up by him in auction.
- He has a few tattoos on his body, one of a Samoan tribal on his left shoulder, a tribal tattoo on his right bicep, and a star tattoo on his right wrist.
- He loves animals and also owns a dog named Hobes.
- He is a fitness freak who is concerned about his health, so he prioritises working out and sets aside time for it.
- Nithin Kamath’s LinkedIn is highly active, as he constantly posts events and learnings from his personal life as well as his opinions on the changes or evolution coming in the financial sector.
Career Trajectory
- Trader and Investor: Kamath’s life and career took a turn altogether at the age of 17 when he discovered trading and became highly intrigued and passionate about being a trader and investor.
- Proprietary Trader: While pursuing his graduation, he worked as a proprietary trader, wherein he had his fair share of highs and lows, giving him valuable experiences and learnings. He worked in a call centre as a telesales executive for 3+ years to clear off all the trading debts.
- Sub Broker and Portfolio Advisor: His breakthrough happened in 2004 after he received a portfolio project from one of his friends, even without holding any substantial degree in finance which gave him the confidence to pursue some major venture in finance further. He further partnered with Kamath associates, functioning as the franchisee of Reliance and provided portfolio advisory services for 6 years till 2010.
- Owner of Zerodha: With his growing passion for capital markets and investments, he eventually came up with Zerodha in 2010, along with his brother Nikhil Kamath, aiming to support traders like them, which now has turned into the largest retail brokerage firm in India, serving 10 million clients without raising any external debt and being bootstrapped altogether.
- Owner of Rainmatter: The company further extended its support to investors, with the Kamath brothers bringing a new venture in 2011 named “Rainmatter” that supports the fintech companies and ventures promoting financial inclusion.
- Owner of True Beacon: The Brothers added one more contribution to financial inclusion and evolution when they came up with “True Beacon”, a hedge fund working on a zero-fee model to support high-worth investors.
Nithin Kamath Personal Details
| Full Name | Nithin Kamath |
| DOB | 5th October, 1979 |
| POB | Shimoga, Karnataka |
| Father’s name | Mr. Raghuram Kamath |
| Mother’s name | Mrs. Revathi Kamath |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Schooling – Local school in Bangalore
Graduation – Bangalore Institute of Technology, Bengaluru |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Stockbroker, and Investor |
| Spouse | Mrs. Seema Patil |
| Net worth | $2.7B (as per Forbes) |
Awards and Recognitions
| Year | Awards |
| 2014 | Emerging Entrepreneur Award by Confederation of Indian Industry |
| 2016 | Top 10 Indian businessman to watch out |
| 2016 | Ranked in Forbes 30 under 30, Finance |
Face Behind the Evolution of the Financial Sector in India
Over the past decade, he made enormous efforts solely aimed at promoting financial inclusion and lent a helping hand to amateur and experienced traders, coming up with three ventures named Zerodha, Rainmatter, and Trubeacon. His story is truly an evidence of how passion and hard work always pay off. With his immense passion and chase for brilliance and perfection, he has made significant contributions to the world of finance and, eventually, the economy.
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