Nikhil Kamath

Nikhil Kamath

Personal information
Full name	Nikhil Kamath
Nationality	Indian
Born	5 September 1986 Shimoga, Karnataka, India
Occupation	Entrepreneur, investor and podcaster
Known for	Co-founder of Zerodha and True Beacon; founder of WTFund
Education	Left formal schooling at age 14
Spouse	Not publicly disclosed
Associated organisations	Zerodha, True Beacon, Gruhas and WTFund

Nikhil Kamath (born 5 September 1986) is an Indian entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He co-founded Zerodha with his elder brother Nithin Kamath and later established investment and startup initiatives including True Beacon, Gruhas and WTFund. He is also known for his long-form interview podcast, WTF is.

Kamath grew up in Karnataka and left formal schooling at the age of 14. As a teenager, he began working at a call centre while developing an interest in financial markets. He started trading at 17, learning through practical experience and independent study rather than a conventional university pathway. His early exposure to investing shaped his later approach to building financial services businesses.

In 2010, Nikhil and his brother Nithin founded Zerodha, a brokerage that helped popularise discount broking in India. The company focused on transparent pricing, technology-led services and tools for retail investors. Zerodha expanded through its trading platforms and investor-education initiatives, including Varsity, while maintaining a privately held, bootstrapped business model.

Kamath is the younger brother of Nithin Kamath, Zerodha’s co-founder and chief executive. He has spoken publicly about curiosity, reading, chess and learning from people with different experiences. He generally keeps details of his private relationships and family life out of the public eye.

Zerodha and financial services
At Zerodha, Kamath has been involved in the company’s financial planning and growth. The firm’s low-cost brokerage structure and digital-first model helped widen access to investing for Indian retail customers. The company also developed Rainmatter, an initiative supporting fintech and market-related ventures.

True Beacon and Gruhas
Kamath co-founded True Beacon, an investment management business, and Gruhas, a venture investment platform focused on emerging sectors and real estate-related opportunities. These initiatives reflect his interests beyond brokerage, including capital allocation, entrepreneurship and new business models.

Kamath’s public work includes the interview podcast WTF is, where he speaks with entrepreneurs, scientists, artists and other public figures. In 2023 he launched WTFund, which supports early-stage founders, particularly young entrepreneurs working on ambitious or impact-oriented ideas. His projects have made him a visible participant in discussions about financial literacy, startup creation and responsible business.

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