From Village Boy to Billionaire: The Idea That Made Lalit Keshre ₹9,448 Crore Rich

New Delhi: Lalit Keshre, co-founder and CEO of Groww, the parent company of BillionBranes Garage Ventures Limited, has officially joined the list of Indian billionaires. Since Groww’s public listing, Keshre’s net worth has soared, making him one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in India, with his 9.06% stake valued at over ₹9,448 crore. His journey from a farmer’s family in Lepa village, Madhya Pradesh, to the top echelons of the Indian startup ecosystem is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and entrepreneurial vision.

From Village School to IIT Bombay:
Born in a small farmer family in Lepa village, Khargone district, Keshre spent his early years with his grandparents, facing financial constraints. Despite limited educational resources, he attended the only English-medium school in his district, which proved pivotal. Through hard work and determination, he cracked the prestigious Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and gained admission to IIT Bombay.

The Idea That Changed Everything:
After completing his education, Keshre began his career at Flipkart as one of the early product managers, playing a key role in shaping the Flipkart Marketplace. However, he soon realized the challenges ordinary investors face in navigating the stock market, from complex paperwork to lengthy processes. This inspired him to create a platform that would simplify investing for everyone—the idea that later became Groww.

Building a Billion-Rupee Dream:
In 2016, Keshre shared his idea with Harsh Jain, who loved the concept. Soon, Neeraj Singh and Ishan Bansal joined, and together they transformed the vision into a reality. Their goal: make investing easy, accessible, and transparent for every Indian. Groww rapidly gained popularity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of first-time investors joined the platform. By 2021, Groww became a unicorn, and by 2023, its valuation surpassed $3 billion.

Today, a Leading Fintech Success:
Following its market listing, Groww’s market capitalization crossed ₹1 lakh crore, and Keshre’s 9.06% stake catapulted him into India’s elite list of billionaires. His journey—from a small village in Madhya Pradesh to leading one of India’s most successful fintech startups—highlights the power of innovation, determination, and accessible technology in shaping modern India’s entrepreneurial landscape.