Nithin Kamath, founder & CEO of Zerodha, is the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 – for his low-margin, high-volume strategy that has transformed the brokerage industry. “A self-made entrepreneur, Kamath has not only bootstrapped Zerodha to a billion-dollar valuation, but has also supported start-ups in fintech and climate space, and is an advocate for social initiatives,” Rajiv Memani, chairman & CEO, EY India, said.
Kamath will now represent India at the global stage at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award in Monte Carlo to be held in June. Kamath was felicitated by Bhupender Yadav, the Union minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
Winners in other categories are:
— Pradeep Rathod, CMD, Cello World, in the Consumer Products and Retail category;
— Rajesh Magow, co-founder & group CEO, MakeMyTrip, in the Services category;
— Himanshu Baid, MD & CEO, Poly Medicure, in the Lifesciences and Healthcare category;
— Meher Pudumjee, chairperson, Thermax, in the Manufacturing category;
— Pirojsha Godrej, executive chairman, Godrej Properties, in the Real Estate and Infrastructure category;
— Kamesh Goyal, founder & chairman, Go Digit General Insurance, in the Startup category;
— Sameer Nigam, co-founder & CEO, PhonePe, in the Business Transformation category; and
— Anish Shah, MD & CEO, Mahindra Group, as the Entrepreneurial CEO.
Addressing the winners via a video message, Piyush Goyal, the minister of Commerce and Industry, said, “This award is more than just an accolade, serving as a beacon of global innovation and a celebration of those who redefine the power of possibilities. I congratulate the winners who turn ideas into industries, dreams into disruption, and challenges into opportunities. May this milestone, further ignite their drive to dream, innovate, and propel India towards Viksit Bharat 2047.”
The EOY 2024 winners boast of a collective revenue of Rs 2 lakh crore with a combined valuation (listed and unlisted companies) of over Rs 15 lakh crore.
Memani added that entrepreneurs are India’s biggest competitive advantage and economic force-multipliers. “The EOY winners reflect the tremendous impact Indian entrepreneurs are creating in India and globally,” he said.
In addition, KV Kamath, the Padma Bhushan recipient and chairman of Jio Financial Services, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to India’s financial services sector.
And S Somanath, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), received the Special Jury Award in recognition of his contributions to India’s space ambitions.