Lalit Keshre Named One of the World’s Most Influential Rising Stars by TIME
In a proud moment for India’s startup ecosystem, Lalit Keshre, co-founder and CEO of Groww, has been featured in TIME’s 2025 list of the World’s Most Influential Rising Stars. His inclusion highlights not just his personal journey but also how Groww has transformed the way millions of Indians invest.
From humble beginnings in a small village in Madhya Pradesh to leading India’s largest online stockbroking platform, Keshre’s story is one of ambition, timing, and relentless curiosity.
The Making of a Fintech Giant
What Is Groww?
Founded in 2016, Groww is a Bengaluru-based fintech startup that makes investing simple and accessible. Today, the platform has over 12 million users and is widely recognized for making stock market investing possible even for first-time investors with no financial background.
While stock trading is its core feature, Groww also offers mutual funds, US stocks, fixed deposits, and more. But what really sets it apart is how it blends technology, education, and behavioral psychology to help users make smarter financial decisions.
Not Just an App – A Personal Finance Coach
Groww isn’t just a place to buy and sell stocks. It’s also a learning platform. From beginner-friendly videos and articles to subtle in-app nudges that warn users against high-risk trades, Groww takes a long-term approach to wealth creation.
Instead of chasing short-term market trends, the app encourages financial discipline, helping users build good habits that stick.
From IIT Bombay to Flipkart – Lalit Keshre’s Journey
A Village Boy With Big Dreams
Lalit Keshre grew up in a small village in Madhya Pradesh, far from India’s financial centers. But his life changed when he got access to an English-medium school—a decision that, according to him, opened up a new world.
His academic path eventually led him to the prestigious IIT Bombay, where he first discovered the world of capital markets. It wasn’t through a class or a professor—but through a wingmate who landed an internship at a listed company.
“That’s how I got into the rabbit hole,” Keshre said in an interview with CNBC-TV18 in April 2025.
Early Startup Experiments
Before founding Groww, Keshre dabbled in med-tech and online education startups. These early ventures didn’t take off, but each taught him valuable lessons.
He then joined Flipkart, India’s e-commerce giant, where he worked as a product manager on a project called Flipkart Quick—an early move into quick commerce.
“We were ahead of the curve, but we didn’t have strong conviction back then,” he said. While the project didn’t scale, the experience at Flipkart would prove pivotal—it’s where Keshre met the co-founders of Groww.
Building Groww: A Startup With Soul
The Early Days
In 2016, Keshre and his Flipkart colleagues took a bet on an industry most young Indians found intimidating—investing. At the time, stockbroking in India was dominated by legacy players, complicated platforms, and poor user experience.
Groww changed all that. It offered a clean, easy-to-use interface and stripped away the jargon. More importantly, it earned user trust by being transparent, reliable, and educational.
Focused Growth Over Hype
While many fintech startups burned cash for growth, Groww focused on sustainable scale. The platform’s rise has been largely organic, driven by word of mouth and user loyalty rather than splashy marketing.
Groww is now valued at $7 billion, with its parent company, Billionbrains Garage Ventures, preparing for a highly anticipated IPO.
Philosophy That Keeps Evolving
A Leader Who Embraces Change
Keshre has a refreshing take on leadership. He believes growth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about personal evolution. One of his guiding principles is:
“After every six months, you should feel stupid. Your core values should be nonnegotiable, but your assumptions should keep evolving.”
This mindset of staying curious, questioning beliefs, and staying grounded in values is something he encourages in his team at Groww too.
What’s Next for Lalit Keshre and Groww?
With IPO preparations underway, Groww is expected to become a publicly listed company in the coming years. But more than that, it’s likely to play an even bigger role in shaping financial literacy and investment culture in India.
From educating first-time investors to building a responsible investing platform, Groww is setting new standards for fintech—not just in India, but globally.
As for Lalit Keshre, being featured in TIME’s list is a recognition of both his leadership and the impact of the platform he built. But knowing his mindset, he’s already looking ahead, questioning his own assumptions, and preparing for what’s next.
Final Thoughts
Lalit Keshre’s journey is a powerful reminder that innovation doesn’t always come from big cities or top boardrooms. Sometimes, it starts in a small village, with a curious mind and a commitment to making things better.
By simplifying investing and building a company that puts users first, Keshre has done more than just create a unicorn—he’s sparked a movement toward financial empowerment.
