Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath compares trading to dating: 'It's great at first, then it gets bad, but…'

In a world where degrees often overshadow drive, Nikhil Kamath is proof that ambition, grit, and relentless self-education can write their own success story. The Zerodha co-founder, who once dropped out of school after Class 10, recently addressed a hall full of eager graduates with a speech that was anything but conventional. Peppered with wit, humility, and real-world insights, Kamath’s convocation address didn’t just inspire, it disarmed, revealing the unfiltered realities of failure, persistence, and the long game.

Speaking to the students, Kamath candidly walked them through his rollercoaster of a journey—from selling second-hand mobile phones at the age of 15 to co-founding one of India’s most influential financial platforms, Zerodha. Unlike the textbook tales of entrepreneurship, his story wasn’t born in a B-school dorm or backed by an elite degree. Instead, it was crafted in the messy trenches of risk, uncertainty, and sheer repetition.

One of the most memorable moments from his speech was when he likened trading to romantic relationships. "When you start dating someone initially, things are great. Then they get bad. And if you stay the course, maybe they get better again," he shared. The same, he said, applies to the stock market. Initial success may come easily, thanks to beginner’s luck, but it’s staying through the rough patches that builds real expertise. He advises to “stay the course” stressing that weathering the downs is where the real learning happens. The video was shared on Dhirubhai Ambani International School's Facebook page.

About Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha, is one of India’s youngest self-made billionaires, with an estimated net worth of approximately Rs 22,000 crore, according to the latest Forbes data. Kamath’s journey to the top has been anything but conventional. A school dropout, he began his career working at a call centre before diving into stock trading. His entrepreneurial breakthrough came when he partnered with his brother, Nithin Kamath, to launch Zerodha, a discount brokerage firm based in Bengaluru.