In one of the most remarkable wealth-creation stories of India’s booming startup ecosystem, Lalit Keshre, the co-founder and CEO of investment platform Groww, has officially entered the billionaire club. The son of a farmer from a small village in Madhya Pradesh is now worth nearly Rs 9,448 crore, thanks to Groww’s outstanding stock market debut.
What began as a modest upbringing in Lepa village has now transformed into a story of grit, innovation, and India’s flourishing digital economy.
A Stellar IPO That Created a New Billionaire
Groww’s shares, listed at Rs 100 on November 12, have surged over 70% in just four trading sessions, touching a record Rs 169 per share. This pushed the company’s market capitalisation past Rs 1 lakh crore, making it one of India’s strongest IPO debuts in recent years.
Keshre currently owns 55.91 crore shares, amounting to a 9.06% stake, valued at Rs 9,448 crore — placing him around the coveted $1 billion mark.
But his journey to the top was anything but ordinary.
From a Farmer’s Village to IIT Bombay
Born into a humble farming family, Lalit Keshre spent his childhood living with his grandparents in Khargone district. He studied in the region’s only English-medium school and later discovered the prestigious Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) almost by chance.
With hard work and self-study, Keshre cracked the exam and secured admission to IIT Bombay, where he completed his BTech and MTech degrees.
This exposure changed the direction of his life.
The Flipkart Days & The Birth of a Fintech Giant
After graduating, Keshre joined Flipkart as one of its early product managers. He led operations for the Flipkart Marketplace and closely observed how technology could change the behaviour of millions of users.
In 2016, he teamed up with three fellow Flipkart executives — Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal, and Neeraj Singh — to launch Groww, a simple, transparent platform to democratise investing for young India.
From mutual funds to stocks, Groww became the go-to app for first-time retail investors post-2017, especially during the pandemic when the startup saw explosive growth.
It’s Not Just Keshre — All Groww Founders Are Now Super-Rich
The blockbuster IPO has significantly boosted the wealth of all four founders:
Harsh Jain — Rs 6,956 crore
Ishan Bansal — Rs 4,695 crore
Neeraj Singh — Rs 6,476 crore
Together, the founders now form one of the richest startup founder groups in India.
Groww’s Rise Mirrors India’s Startup Boom
Founded with a mission to make investing simple and accessible, Groww now has millions of users, strong profitability, and a brand trusted by young investors across the country.
Keshre’s story is more than just a billionaire milestone — it is a reflection of:
●India’s expanding digital economy
●A growing retail investor culture
●The rise of founders from non-metro, non-privileged backgrounds
●A startup ecosystem that continues to create global-scale success stories
From a farmer’s son in rural Madhya Pradesh to the billionaire CEO of one of India’s hottest fintech companies — Lalit Keshre’s journey is proof that India’s next generation of entrepreneurs can rise from anywhere.
