Lalit Keshre, the co-founder and CEO of Groww, is a name synonymous with India’s booming fintech industry. His story is one of grit, intelligence, and vision. From growing up in a small village in Madhya Pradesh to leading one of India’s fastest-growing investment platforms, Lalit’s journey is inspiring for anyone dreaming big. This article walks through his early life, career, the founding of Groww, the company’s growth, and the lessons his story teaches.
Early Life and Background
Lalit Keshre was born in Lepa, a quiet village in Madhya Pradesh. His father was a farmer, and the family lived a simple life. Education in his village was limited, especially in English, which Lalit knew would be essential for his future. To continue learning, he moved to Khargone to stay with his grandparents and enrolled in the only English-medium school in the district.
This move was a turning point. It gave him access to quality education, which set the stage for the opportunities that would follow. Despite humble beginnings, Lalit’s curiosity, discipline, and determination always set him apart.
Academic Journey
Lalit’s hard work in school led him to appear for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), one of India’s toughest competitive exams for engineering. He succeeded and got into IIT Bombay, one of India’s top engineering schools.
At IIT, he completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering, specializing in microelectronics. Studying at IIT Bombay gave Lalit not only strong technical knowledge but also taught him problem-solving, perseverance, and creative thinking—skills that would prove invaluable in his entrepreneurial journey.
Early Career
1. Ittiam Systems
After graduating, Lalit joined Ittiam Systems, a tech company in Bengaluru. There, he worked on engineering and product development, gaining hands-on experience in technology and understanding how products are built and scaled.
2. Eduflix: First Entrepreneurial Venture
In 2011, Lalit launched his first startup, Eduflix, an edtech platform aimed at online learning. While Eduflix ultimately didn’t succeed, it provided Lalit with his first real taste of entrepreneurship. He learned about challenges like market fit, customer needs, and running a business from scratch. These lessons became a foundation for his future ventures.
3. Flipkart: Product Management Role
After Eduflix, Lalit joined Flipkart in 2013 as a product manager. He was responsible for improving product features, understanding customer behavior, and creating solutions for a large-scale platform. This role gave him insights into running high-growth tech companies and helped him understand the online consumer market—knowledge that would become critical when he started Groww.
Founding Of Groww
Origin and Vision
In 2016, Lalit co-founded Groww along with Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal, and Neeraj Singh. Their goal was simple yet ambitious: make investing easy for young Indians and first-time investors.
Groww started as a mutual fund platform designed to remove confusion and complexity from investing. The idea was to give users a simple, mobile-friendly platform where they could start investing without fear or hesitation.
Early Growth and Y Combinator
Groww’s early promise was recognized when it joined Y Combinator’s Winter 2018 batch, giving the team funding, mentorship, and exposure to a global startup ecosystem. Over time, Groww expanded its offerings to include stocks, ETFs, IPOs, digital gold, and derivatives, transforming into a full-fledged investment platform for all types of investors.
Scaling and Expansion
1. Product Diversification
Under Lalit’s leadership, Groww grew from a mutual fund app to a complete investment platform. By offering multiple products in one place, Groww attracted users who wanted a one-stop solution for investing and wealth-building. This approach helped the company grow its user base rapidly.
2. Technology-First Approach
Groww is a digital-only platform, with no physical branches. The app focuses on simplicity, speed, and user education. Lalit’s technical expertise from IIT and his previous roles ensured Groww’s app is smooth, intuitive, and reliable, which has been key to gaining customer trust.
3. Investor Backing
To fuel its growth, Groww secured funding from top investors, enabling the team to scale operations, improve infrastructure, and expand marketing efforts. These investments helped Groww reach millions of users across India in a short time.
| Milestone | Achievement / Impact |
|---|---|
| 2011 – Founded Eduflix | Gained first entrepreneurial experience and learned lessons from failure |
| 2013 – Joined Flipkart | Developed product management skills and understanding of scaling tech platforms |
| 2016 – Founded Groww | Mission to democratize investing in India, started with mutual funds |
| 2018 – Y Combinator | Gained mentorship, funding, and exposure to global startup ecosystem |
| 2019 – Expanded to Stocks and ETFs | Grew user base, became a full-stack investment platform |
| 2021 – Added IPOs and Digital Gold | Attracted more investors, diversified offerings |
| 2025 – Groww IPO | Lalit Keshre became a billionaire, increased credibility and trust among investors |
| Ongoing – Continuous innovation | Focus on technology-first approach, customer experience, and educational content |
IPO and Wealth Milestone
Going Public:
Groww’s IPO created a major buzz in India’s financial markets. Lalit’s 9.06% stake in Groww made him a billionaire, with his holdings valued at over ₹9,400 crore.
The IPO was not just a financial milestone; it also signaled the company’s credibility and trust among investors.
Leadership Accountability:
Lalit sees Groww’s public listing as a responsibility. He emphasizes transparency, trust, and long-term growth, focusing not only on profit but also on building a company that will last for decades.
Leadership Philosophy
a) Customer-Centric Innovation
Lalit puts the user first. Every feature, interface design, and educational initiative at Groww is aimed at making investing simple and understandable. He believes that technology should empower users, not confuse them.
b) Long-Term Vision
Lalit is building Groww to last. He focuses on sustainable growth, creating systems and products that remain reliable and relevant in the long term.
c) Learning from Failure
Eduflix’s failure taught him resilience. Instead of fearing mistakes, he treats them as lessons, ensuring each decision at Groww is informed by past experience.
Impact and Legacy
1. Democratizing Investing
Groww has empowered millions of first-time investors in India. By simplifying investing and offering educational content, it has helped users make informed financial decisions.
2. Challenging Legacy Players
Groww’s digital-first, user-friendly approach has disrupted traditional financial services companies. Today, Groww competes with some of India’s largest brokerage firms, proving that innovation and customer focus can challenge old systems.
3. Recognition
Lalit’s journey has earned him awards and recognition, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Startup). He has been a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs across India.
Challenges and Criticisms
No company grows without challenges. Groww has faced technical glitches during peak trading times, and as a public company, it now has greater accountability to shareholders. Lalit has tackled these challenges by investing in technology, improving infrastructure, and prioritizing transparency with users.
Key Lessons from Lalit Keshre’s Journey
- Humble Beginnings Are Not a Barrier: Determination and education can overcome early limitations.
- Technical Skills Enable Scalable Solutions: Engineering and product knowledge helped build a reliable fintech platform.
- Failure is a Learning Opportunity: Early setbacks taught him resilience and strategic thinking.
- Customer Experience Drives Growth: Simplifying complex products wins trust and loyalty.
- Long-Term Thinking Matters: Sustainable growth and transparency outweigh short-term gains.
Frequently Asked Questions – (FAQs)
Q1: Where did Lalit Keshre grow up?
He was born in Lepa, Madhya Pradesh, and later moved to Khargone to attend an English-medium school.
Q2: What is Lalit Keshre’s educational background?
He completed both B.Tech and M.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay.
Q3: What did he do before Groww?
He worked at Ittiam Systems, co-founded Eduflix, and worked as a product manager at Flipkart.
Q4: When was Groww founded?
Groww was founded in 2016 by Lalit Keshre and his three co-founders.
Q5: How did Groww expand its business?
It started with mutual funds and later added stocks, ETFs, IPOs, digital gold, and derivatives to become a full-stack investment platform.
Q6: How wealthy is Lalit Keshre?
After Groww’s IPO, his 9.06% stake is valued at over ₹9,400 crore.
Q7: What is Keshre’s leadership philosophy?
He prioritizes customer experience, innovation, transparency, long-term growth, and learning from failure.
You Might Also Like This:
- From YouTube Teacher to EdTech Revolution: Journey Of Alakh Panday
- How Business Magazines Help You Stay Ahead in the Startup Race
Conclusion:
Lalit Keshre’s journey is proof that vision, hard work, and resilience can transform lives. From a small village to leading a billion-dollar fintech company, Lalit has not only built Groww but has also democratized investing for millions of Indians. His story shows that with the right mix of education, experience, and persistence, even the most ambitious dreams can come true.
Groww today is more than a platform—it is a movement shaping the future of investing in India, and Lalit Keshre’s leadership continues to guide it toward long-term success.
Leave a comment