Founders Of Zerodha, CRED And OYO Have One Thing In Common And No, It¡¯s Not Wealth Or Success
Success is not guaranteed by possessing an educational degree, and conversely, lack of a degree doesn't equate to failure. Attributes such as practical skills hold more significance than formal education. Real-world experience, adaptability, and an entrepreneurial mindset have propelled many individuals to become exemplary entrepreneurs.
Zerodha¡¯s co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Cred¡¯s Kunal Shah and OYO¡¯s Ritesh Agarwal are classic examples of this. They are all drop-outs!
Nikhil Kamath Is A School Drop-out With A Net Worth Of Rs 9,000 Crore
Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, a prominent stock brokerage platform, is a school dropout. Known for revolutionizing India's trading landscape, Kamath co-founded Zerodha in 2010 alongside his brother Nithin Kamath. Headquartered in Bangalore, Zerodha quickly gained traction for its transparent and cost-effective brokerage services. They made a profit of Rs 2,000 crore in 2023, according to Times Now.
Nikhil disliked attending school and started selling used phones at the age of 14. After leaving school post 10th grade, he worked at a call centre to make money. During this time, he explored stock trading and developed a deep interest in it. This passion eventually led him to co-found Zerodha.
According to Forbes, the 37-year-old has a whopping net worth of $1.1 billion (over Rs 9,000 crore approx.)
Youngest Self-made Billionaire Ritesh Agarwal, Founder Of OYO, Is A College Drop-out With A Net-worth Of Rs 16,000 Crore
At the age of 30, Ritesh Agarwal, the youngest judge on Shark Tank 3, is the visionary behind Oyo Rooms. Born on November 16, 1993, in Bishama Katek, Odisha, Agarwal displayed entrepreneurial zeal from a young age. In 2012, he initiated Oravel Stays, which later evolved into Oyo, ranking among the world's largest hotel chains.
Despite initially pursuing college following St. John's Senior Secondary School, Agarwal abandoned formal education with aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur. Subsequently, he secured the prestigious Peter Thiel fellowship, awarding him USD 100,000 (Rs 80 lakh approx.) and laying the foundation for founding OYO Rooms at a mere 19 years old.
As per Forbes, OYO Rooms boasts a monthly revenue of $3.5 million (Rs 29 crore approx.), while Agarwal's net worth is estimated at Rs 16,000 crore approx., according to DNA.
CRED CEO Kunal Shah An MBA Drop-out With a Net Worth Of Rs 15,000 Crore
Kunal Shah, the founder of CRED, is a notable entrepreneur who did not complete his formal education. Launched in 2018, CRED is a platform that incentivizes users for timely credit card bill payments. Prior to CRED, Shah co-founded FreeCharge, a mobile payments app acquired by Snapdeal and later by Axis Bank.
After earning his Bachelor's in Philosophy from Wilson College, Shah pursued an MBA at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in 2003. However, driven by his entrepreneurial ambitions, he opted to drop out after a year.
Shah explained his decision, stating, "I think there are various reasons for why one chooses to drop off. For me, I realised that I was better off learning on my own than through a structured programme because the curriculums and theories were a lot more designed for scoring marks and not really understanding things," as shared with YourStory.
According to DNA, as of 2021, the 39-year-old Shah had an estimated net worth of about Rs 15,000 crore.
In no way are we endorsing that proper education isn¡¯t important. The examples of successful entrepreneurs who opted for unconventional paths should be seen as unique journeys influenced by individual circumstances, aspirations, and opportunities. In no way does it negate the benefits of a structured education system. Education remains a powerful tool for personal development, opening doors to diverse opportunities and contributing to a well-rounded understanding of the world.
